Pool Cabanas

A standard issue storage shed rarely makes for a great pool cabana. Many of the sheds you'll find at the big box home improvement stores aren't intended for human habitation ... they lack the dimensions and finish quality, much less the ambiance and creature comforts. A pool cabana has to be spacious enough to allow room to both change and lounge about. While a pool cabana's walls needn't be finished with drywall, they should be built with materials that convey relaxation.

Here's another pitch for renewable natural materials.

Cedar siding -- whether it's planking, tongue and groove, or board and batten -- is absolutely ideal. Your guests don't want to look at unfinished particle board that's been wrapped with vinyl siding. Natural cedar siding is great to look at, both inside and out. Pine can also work well.

Look for adequate headroom, operational windows, adequate ventilation, and a doorway system that will hold up to years of use and abuse. If you're planning to use the structure as both a pool cabana and a pump house, it's a good idea to separate the two uses into their own rooms. In these cases, you may want to include some form of insulation between the pump room and the living area, to provide a bit of sound proofing.

Adding utilities to a pool cabana can add a great deal of versatility, along with expense. Running electrical service the right way -- through underground conduit -- is something best left to those well-versed. Keep in mind that it's likely that your local municipality will require a permit and need to inspect the installation. Running water out to the pool house is a good bit more complicated. A good old garden hose and an outdoor solar shower with natural drainage might suffice.

While a good number of companies offer shed kits online, only a select group are suitable for use as pool cabanas. Cabana Village, Spirit Elements, and Summerwood all offer structures that are intended for pool cabana duties.