12 outdoor shower ideas from rustic to semi-luxury!

At our summer cottage, the garden is one big open space waiting to be converted into a series of 'rooms'. I have so many dreams of how to make the most it, from flowerbeds and a vegetable patch, to an outdoor kitchen and hot tub. But where to start? 

I know exactly where! One of my biggest dreams is to be able to shower under the open sky. For those of you living in warmer climes maybe this is something you enjoy often. In Scandinavia, where the weather can be, shall we say, temperamental, it's something of a luxury! 

But wherever you call home, isn't the idea of washing off the sand from the beach surrounded by bird song or, if you live in the city, showering away the stresses and strains of the day in the evening sun wonderful?

Here are 12 outdoor showers I am using as inspiration for our summer cottage, some rustic, some more substantial! Do you have a favourite? 

The unshielded shower 

Sometimes, it's enough just to make use of what you already have, a tree, the garden wall, side of the house, or a simple shower surrounded by greenery!

Sometimes, it's enough just to make use of what you already have, the garden wall, side of the house, or a simple shower surrounded by greenery! 

The semi-shielded shower

This type of shower uses the structure you already have - whether it'a the side of the house or a garden fence, but also includes an added section to create an L-shaped space.  Notice how the soil directly beneath has been dug out and replaced with simple pebbles, topped with a small wood decking for comfort. 

The shower above uses an upturned pot for towels and other items. 

I love the use of a wooden ladder to hang towels.

A bench provide s a nice spot for shower gel, a lantern and other bits and pieces. 

Here a section between the main house and guesthouse has been used as an outdoor bathroom complete with a bench, hooks and wind-chime for the ultimate in relaxation! 

The private shower

While it's lovely to be able to see the shower from a distance, you might also value some privacy - in which case these ideas might be more your style! 

A spiral structure is great for stand-alone showers - while the lovely natural wood blends in with nature and serves as a place to hang towels. Here are some dimensions to follow if you're thinking of building something similar. 

This stand-alone shower has a full structure more like a cubicle - with space for a small bench and towel hooks. 

This structure makes clever use of the garden fence to create an ivy covered alfresco shower. 

I love the idea of an outside mirror - it's taking the outdoor bathroom idea to the next level! Plus it will reflect the surrounding nature and sunlight! Whether you go large or small (like the mirror below) is up to you! Both are lovely though! 

I hope you've enjoyed this round-up! Is there a style that stood out to you in particular? 

Are you thinking of building an outdoor shower this spring? If so, check out this DIY guide by Better Homes & Gardens. 

There are a variety of outdoor showers available online from off-grid solar to fully plumbed hot water. I'll let you know which one I find for our garden when we get nearer the time. 

Maybe you already have an outdoor shower? If so, please do share your tips and experiences with us! 

You can find more outdoor bathroom inspiration here today: 

16 beautiful outdoor bath and shower ideas

10 summer cottages with inspiring outdoor spaces

An idyllic swedish summer cottage with outdoor shower and kitchen

Stor kram! 

Niki

1. Dwell 2. anon 3. AAL design 4. Birgitte Wolfgang Bjørnvad / Bolig  5. Frederikke Heiberg / Femina 6- 9 Anon.10. Birgitte Wolfgtang Bjørnvad / Bobedre 11. Employee shower at the Grounds for Sculpture 12. Sibella Court

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A White Swedish Apartment with Lovely Outdoor Lounge Area

The leaves are starting to unfurl in Sweden which means gardens and balconies have been a hive of activity: sweeping, pruning, scrubbing down furniture - you name it. While we know in our hearts of hearts that the temperatures could very well plummet later this week, there's an optimism in the air that lunches alfresco are just around the corner! 

That's is probably why this fresh white apartment in Gothenburg caught my eye. It has all the trappings of an ideal My Scandinavian Home contender: a lovely mix of old and new, Scandi design pieces (keep a look out for the vintage Dux chair and Frama stool) and plenty of plants. But also, the small garden has been converted into a charming outdoor sitting room - complete with sofa, coffee table and parasol, offering the perfect place to relax with a book on a sunny afternoon. 

Välkommen! 

Here's the floor plan in case you're curious: 

Glossary: Kök - kitchen, Sovrum - bedroom, Bad - bathroom, Vardagsrum - sitting room, klädkammare / förråd - wardrobe / wardrobe, and uteplats - outdoor space. 

Lovely! So fresh, yet with a touch of charm. 

I think the garden design is really clever, with a semi-circular bush shielding the space from the communal pathway. 

Is there anything that stood out to you about this Swedish home? 

See more white-themed home tours in this archive. 

Wishing you all a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Stadshem (currently for sale!). 

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Our New Foldable Outdoor Furniture at the Cabin

Sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words are my own and only work with companies I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the wonderful brands that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

Hej! In Sweden, the Easter week serves as an ideal opportunity to re-open the summer cottage after a long winter. Hearths are swept, cobwebs banished and now that the snow has thawed, furniture can be lifted outside once again. What a great moment! 

Having completed our tiny cabin in 2022, our attention has turned to the garden and one of the biggest steps was to choose a garden table. For someone who struggles to make decisions (ahem understatement!), this was no easy feat. Especially as I had criteria to fill such as it needing to be lightweight and easy to store away in winter as well as small enough to fit on the cabin decking (or moved around at whim!). And of course it needed to look beautiful too!  

In the end I settled on the beautiful Danish BM630 dining table from Carl Hansen & Søn. Designed by Børge Mogensen in the late 1960s, it's part of the Deck Chair Series and the table is made from solid teak. I fell in love with the slatted lines - and how practical it is as it folds completely flat!  

I love this view of the church. Every Saturday at 6pm the bell rings for the best part of five minutes (driving Per insane in the process!!). It is a tradition called 'helgmålsringning' that stems back to olden times to signify the start of weekend mass and the weekend as whole. 

I selected the BM4570 dining chairs to go with the table - also designed by Børge Mogensen and part of the same Deck Chair Series. They're made from solid teak with a suspended seat in water resistant Sunbrella fabric so we don't need to worry about a little rain here and there (important in this part of the world!). Best of all, they fold neatly away and can even be hung on the wall when not in use! 

And finally, since I was looking for a few versatile pieces, I chose the BM5768 deck chair footstool which doubles up as seating and a little teak BM5868 side table from the same collection. They're so nifty as they can be moved with you as you follow the sun! 

I hope you like our new outdoor table and chairs set! Now all we need is some sunshine. Roll on summer, we're ready for you!

In case you're on the look out, Carl Hansen & Søn has lots of other beautiful outdoor furniture too - the new collection in particular looks beautiful! 

Have you started preparing your garden for the summer yet? If so, you might like to check out these posts for some outdoor inspiration: 

8 ways to pep up your outdoor space, scandi style

A Swedish house with an outdoor kitchen and sofa area

7 boho ideas for outdoor areas (big and small)

10 ways to maximise your balcony or tiny outdoor area

Or perhaps you live in the southern hemisphere and winding down for the season? If so, do you do like the Swedes and store your furniture indoors or cover it up for protection? I'd love to know what's the norm around the world! 

I'll be back tomorrow with a final post before the holidays, hopefully see you then! 

Stor kram' from Sweden! 

Niki

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A Cosy Cabin Where the Outdoor Space Takes Centre-stage

I've gone a little off piste this week. OK, majorly off-piste, with not one but TWO cabins Down Under. The first: a garden hideaway, was on Wednesday, and the second - today! But who can blame me when they exude relaxed charm? 

The Woods Ocean Grove is made up of two cosy cabins nestled in the woods in the Ballerine Peninsula, Wadawurring, Australia. With the roar of the ocean and calls from the bush forever present, the property has been designed to embrace the great outdoors with an al fresco dining area, kitchen, bathroom and fire pit. 

Living in Sweden, I understand the allure of embracing the great weather when it arrives - and love the idea of carving out zones in the garden (or even a little balcony). Don't miss the snapshots of the interiors too - full of easy vintage style as well as colours and materials inspired by the ocean and bush beyond, drawing the outside in. 

Lovely inspiration for a balcony. I really like how they've added bar stools and a bar for coffee... wine.... If your balcony is covered, a swinging chair is a great idea too! 

The tiles in this outdoor bathroom give the space a complete look and an air of permanency. And you can never go wrong with a clawfoot tub, right? 

Outdoor curtains add a whimsical, soft touch to spaces which could otherwise come across 'hard'. In this instance, it's a perfect way to ensure privacy in the bathroom too! 

Anyone for tennis?

I actually used to play college tennis (many moons ago)! My serve is so bad these days though I prefer Padel. But I'd be happy to pick up my racket for a swing on this court! 

Could you imagine staying at The Woods Ocean Grove too? Find out more here. 

How great is the outdoor space? I know we don't all have gardens as big as this - but it's still amazing what you can do with a balcony or even a windowseat - and by adding lots of blankets, cushions and oil lamps you can enjoy it long into Autumn, maybe even winter! 

I've also always loved the idea of using colours that reflect your surroundings. Granted that in a city this can be tricky - but there's nothing to stop you from bringing in chestnut browns, rust and burnt orange come autumn, and vibrant green shades in the spring, storing and brining out items is such a quick way to refresh the home and embrace each season - and means you'll appreciate what you have even more. Do you like to update your home for the season? 

Have a fabulous weekend! I'll be back on Monday with a Scandinavian home tour! 

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography by Marnie Hawson, styling Belle Hemming Bright. Shared with kind permission. Last picture by Nikole Ramsay. 

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Tiny cabin update: Our Outdoor Sitting Room

Thank you to Brafab for a great collaboration 

Hello friends. I thought I'd share a small update from our cabin in the Northwest tip of Skåne today. As many of you know, we finished the build last spring (full tour here). And we'd been so busy counting down the days until we could move in that we hadn't thought about the garden. So much so, that when we arrived the cabin was like an island surrounded by mud! Eager to rectify this before the summer, we rapidly had a deck built and set about sowing the lawn. Admittedly the grass is a bit patchy still and in need of some weeding - but it's hard to get up from our lounge set to get around to it. And this friends, is what I wanted to share with you today! 

At a summer cottage, particularly one with a small living space like this one, I've learned the outdoor space as just as important as the indoor space. Up here, life spills outs 24/7 as one day leaks into the other - I'm sure it's the same where you are too! 

So, the next step was to add some seriously comfy outdoor seating. After a lot of research, we 

settled on the Lyra sofa and armchairs by Brafab. And I have to say, it's one of the best additions we've made to our cabin. We're talking plump cushions and a seat deep enough to tuck your feet up under you. In fact, several of our friends who stopped by for a coffee / drinks this summer have now bought a set too! 

I particularly like the black powder-coated stainless steel and synthetic rattan on the armrest. But also, the cushions are made using water repellent fabric specially designed for outdoor use which means we don't need to sprint around bringing the cushions in every time it rains (which would be often - and with a cramped living space a no-go!). Instead, we just move them inside for the winter (or for completely crazy weather like the recent 'storm Hans' a few weeks ago (when storms have a name you know you're in trouble, right?). 

The other new addition is the Indus coffee table - made from teak ribs and a black metal frame. It was important for us that it was big (it's 135 cm long) so you're never far from your morning coffee, cinnamon bun, glass of wine!

And finally, the parasol! I have to say, we tempted fate with this one. It had been sunny all summer and then the parasol (Trieste in natural) arrived and I'm not sure we saw the sun from then on - isn't that always the case? But the good thing about a parasol is that they're not just designed to keep you in the shade, there's also something cosy and comforting about sitting under them at night, don't you think? 

This one measures 2.5 metres, tilts and is made from beechwood. It can be fairly breezy up in the Northwest corner of Skåne so we've used the Grosseto base made from 70kg of granite (it's on wheels which makes it easy to move around). 

What you don't see, is that I also planted 19 plants - which doesn't sound like much but when you have sandy soil like ours it was a major job! So actually, I was quite grateful for all the rain after all! Let's hope they survive! 

And now, we're hoping for a 'second summer' so we can relax and enjoy the great outdoors for a little while longer! 

I hope you like our outdoor space so far.  If you have any questions about anything you see, please do give me a shout in the comments below! 

Have a 'trevlig helg' (nice weekend) folks, see you Monday! 

Niki

PS Brafab can be found in retailers throughout Europe (our sofa was acquired via Bramöbler). To find your nearest retailer tap here.  

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