Gazebos have gained popularity in recent years as a trend for wining and dining outside has become more and more trendy. A gazebo then is the prefect way to enjoy a family meal or a chat with friends while being surrounded by the gardens of your home. On a balmy summer's night, whiling away the hours in your own gazebo is a great way to spend your time.

There are many, many gazebo designs to choose from so how do you go about choosing which is right for you? This article will endeavour to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different gazebo designs.

First of all where are you going to put your gazebo? Do you want it to be the centrepiece of your garden or hidden away in a serene corner of your grounds? You should also be aware of other buildings on your property and the positioning of your gazebo in relation to these other structures.

You should also think about how you're going to cultivate the surroundings of your gazebo. Will it be swamped with foliage to make it seem part of the garden? Flowers and shrubs are a nice touch to give your gazebo the appearance that it "belongs" in your garden. You could even lay down a stone pathway leading up to the gazebo's entrance.

There are many types of gazebo materials to choose from ranging from wood to vinyl and even aluminum. The most tasteful of these is reckoned to be the cedar or pine options. You can also go for a vinyl look, it all depends on the surroundings and your predicted use for the gazebo.

Once you've chosen the material you need to decide on the shape of your gazebo. Will it be octagonal, rectangular or oval. You could also go for a double or a single roof style, the double gives the roof a layered and more impressive look. Of course the simplicity of the single roof is no bad thing.

All in all, a gazebo is a great add-on to your home environment purely because of the customisation that you can apply to it. Buying a garden shed for instance is a little limited, you just have to pick one which you hope will fit in the most with your garden. There are so many features, sizes, colours and materials with the good old gazebo however that choosing one simply becomes a pleasure. Go ahead and enjoy poring over the designs for your garden gazebo.