What Size Arctic Cabin Do I Need?

Choosing the right Arctic Cabin isn't just about choosing a cabin that fits your available garden space. The size you'll need will also depend on the way you want to use the cabin, whether that's hosting family barbecues, entertaining friends in your home pub, or creating a peaceful space for yoga or a calm home office. With a choice of cabin sizes and configurations, and the option to have either a traditional central BBQ grill layout or a solar dome installed, there's an Arctic Cabin for every lifestyle. This blog explains the differences to help you decide which size is right for you, with examples from some of our owners who chose various sizes to suit their various lifestyles!

Start By Thinking About How You'll Use Your Cabin

Before comparing sizes and configurations, it's a good idea to think about how you actually want to use your cabin in the first place. For some, investing in an Arctic Cabin is about creating an outdoor entertainment space big enough for hosting all the family, and for others an Arctic Cabin is about creating somewhere calm to enjoy alone time away from everyday life. 

It might be worth asking yourself some questions. Will your cabin mainly be used for entertaining, or are you looking for a quiet space to escape to? Do you regularly host large groups, or will it mostly be used by your household? Are you dreaming of a traditional Scandinavian BBQ Cabin, or would you prefer an open garden cabin filled with natural light?

Having an answer to these questions will make choosing the size of your Arctic Cabin a lot easier!

BBQ Cabin or Solar Dome?

One of the first decisions you'll make is whether you'd like a central BBQ grill or a solar dome.

Traditional BBQ Cabins

Our classic, original Arctic Cabins feature a premium Polar Grilli BBQ at their centre, with in-the-round bench seating creating a warm, sociable space where everyone can cook, eat and chat together. It's the perfect choice if entertaining or outdoor living is your priority, allowing you to enjoy barbecues throughout the year, whatever the weather.

Solar Dome Cabins

If you don't want a central barbecue grill and instead need a garden building that has a spacious, open interior layout, you can choose a solar dome instead. The solar dome will flood your Arctic Cabin with natural daylight, and you'll have more freedom to arrange the cabin however you like. Many Arctic Cabins owners choose a cabin with a solar dome as a:

• Home office

• Yoga or meditation studio

• Art or craft room

• Reading nook

• Hobby room

   

7m² Arctic Cabins

Seats 10 people. Best for intimate family dinners, romantic evenings, or smaller gardens.

Our 7m² Arctic Cabin is the smallest barbecue hut in our range, making it an excellent choice if you're limited by the size of your garden, or you're looking to create a cosy, intimate space. This size is great if you plan to use your cabin as a couple or as a household.

As a traditional BBQ Cabin, it comfortably seats up to 10 people around the central grill, making it ideal for family meals, weekend barbecues and relaxed evenings with friends. With a solar dome instead of a BBQ, the same cabin becomes a bright garden retreat that's perfect for reading, crafting, working from home or simply enjoying a peaceful escape from the house.

A fun example of a small 7m² Arctic Cabin would be Daren's Land Rover-themed man cave cabin. Darren had always wanted a man cave where he could relax, display his Land Rover memorabilia, and enjoy more quality time with his family. Therefore, a 7m² cabin was a great size for how he planned to use the space!

10m² Arctic Cabins

Seats 12-15 people. A medium, all-rounder cabin perfect for family entertaining and outdoor living. 

The 10m² Arctic Cabin is one of our most popular sizes because it fits most gardens while offering ample space for relaxing and socialising.

A BBQ layout provides comfortable seating for around 12-15 people, giving you plenty of room to entertain without overwhelming your garden. Alternatively, choosing a solar dome creates a spacious, open-plan interior perfect for wellness, yoga, or even group crafting sessions. This size creates an excellent all-round garden building!

A nice example to check out would be Antony and Emma's 10m² BBQ cabin for family parties and cinema nights. For this couple, a 10m² Arctic Cabin was the perfect size for creating a social space to be used for everything from birthday parties and karaoke nights to children's cinema afternoons, football evenings with friends, and quiet time away from the distractions of the house.

14m² Arctic Cabin

Seats up to 21. A spacious cabin perfect for hosting and entertaining large groups.

Our large 14m² cabins are ideal if you regularly entertain larger groups or want a cabin that offers more flexibility. With seating for up to 21 people around the central BBQ grill, there's plenty of room for family celebrations, dinner parties and evenings with friends. 

If you're choosing a solar dome, the additional floor space opens up even more possibilities. Many owners use the larger footprint to create extension of the home, such as a garden office,  Pilates studio or creative space. 

In fact, we've had owners use the extra space to create a destination in their garden that reflects their own interests and lifestyle. One great example is Tamara's 14m² Swiss ski chalet-inspired retreat. Instead of an entertaining space for parties, Tamara created a cosy alpine-style hideaway, complete with rustic décor, warm lighting, comfortable seating and carefully chosen accessories that make you feel as though you've stepped into a mountain lodge. 

17m² Arctic Cabin

Seats up to 25. An impressively large cabin typically suited to business use or those with spacious outdoor areas. 

If you're a landowner looking for a big outdoor entertainment space to host all the family and friends, or you're a business looking to increase your offerings, a 17m² cabin will provide all the room and opportunities you need. 

Take a look at Celebrity Chef Aldo Zilli's 17m BBQ cabin. As someone who loves to cook both professionally and in his personal time, adding a large barbecue cabin and entertainment space to his outdoor area created another way to enjoy his enthusiasm for food and dining while giving him ample room to host guests.

What Size Garden Bar Do I Need?

If your idea of entertaining involves letting the drinks flow with your own custom built bar, an Arctic Bar could be the perfect choice. Available in 10m² and 14m² sizes, our handcrafted Scandinavian garden bars feature a dedicated timber bar area alongside comfortable seating, creating an authentic pub-style atmosphere in your own garden.

10m² Arctic Bar

Our 10m² Arctic Bar is ideal for most households, comfortably seating up to 12 adults (and another 3 at the bar). It offers plenty of room to enjoy drinks with family and friends, celebrate birthdays, and host year-round parties. This size is perfect for creating your own garden pub without taking up too much garden space.

14m² Arctic Bar

If you regularly entertain larger groups, the 14m² Arctic Bar gives you even more room to socialise. Seating up to 20 adults, it's ideal for big family gatherings, celebrations and evenings with friends, while still providing dedicated bar space and comfortable seating. The larger footprint also gives you more freedom to personalise the interior, whether that's adding beer pumps, bar stools, a sound system, TVs, memorabilia or themed décor to create a garden bar that's completely your own.

Still Unsure?

If you still haven't quite decided on the size you need, we're here to help! Whether you're looking for a large party space to host all of your friends, or you want a cosy cabin to enjoy quality time together as a couple, our team can help you compare sizes, layouts and options to find the perfect Arctic Cabin for your lifestyle and garden.

Get in touch with our team or request a free brochure to explore the full range and start planning your ideal outdoor space.