by Nigel Hilton
Having your own special place where you can venture off too whenever things get tough, and you need a break - is essential. We all need that special spot where we can relax in and close ourselves away from the world if need be. Everyone knows that life can get tough, and we all deserve a time out.
But what about if you built your own den instead? Sure, it's easier to just buy something nice that you can put in your garden, but where's the fun in that? Part of the positive experience that comes from having a safe haven, is building it - yourself. It's really not as hard as you may imagine. As long as you have a basic plan, general knowledge of putting things together, or even just being good with your hands with a spark of creativity, there is no reason you can't do what needs to be done. If you have the tools, materials, and of course the protection that you can see here - then the possibilities are endless.
Decide on a blueprint
Cabins can come in all different shapes and sizes, so it all depends on what you're after and how much space you have to fill. You will need a basic floor plan that you can use as a guide when building. There are actually plenty of these that you can find online, so you don't need to create one yourself, all you need to do is figure out the measurements that you need, and you're good to go. A lot of them are free, but you can expect to pay for some if they are a little more complex in design. So do all the research you can until you're happy with a blueprint that meets all your needs.
Choose the material
You need to have a think about what kind of material you want to work with. Metal, brick, stone, wood - there are plenty of different options, but the easiest to work with (especially if this is your first time) is wood. But then you need to think about what kind of wood you'd like. It's important to remember that logs can shrink and expand depending on the temperature or the weather, so you should familiarise yourself with this before picking a type. You can find all the information that you need online, or you can call someone that knows the ins and outs if you prefer. Think about the environment that you live - do you get more sun or rain, or even snow?
Set up a budget
This is really important because it's very easy to get carried away in the excitement and process, and think that you have a lot more money to work with than what is actually in your bank. So be realistic and come up with a budget that will cover the costs of all the things you need to create your special place. You will need to think about the tools that you need to purchase, all the different materials that you will use to build the space, and any help you may require if you aren't able to keep everything a one-man job.