Fifty years ago, lean-tos were incredibly popular. They were simple constructions people added to their homes to provide them with more space for storing all their tools and garden equipment.
But today, they are making a comeback, thanks to advanced materials that make them better, plus crowded urban and suburban environments. People need extra, functional space to support their lifestyles and give them the living environment they want.
This post is a little different from the norm. Here, we take a look at the magic of lean-tos and how they can transform your lifestyle. If you’re on the fence right now, here are some of the reasons why you should consider building one next to your home:-
Cheaper Than Conventional Garages Or Extensions
The beauty of lean-tos is that they are considerably cheaper than conventional garages or extensions. While the former two options require the building of cavity walls and gable roofs, lean-tos, do not. These only need the simplest construction to provide the interior space you need.
The word “lean-to” comes from the fact that the structure relies on the main house to provide it with support. Usually, you don’t need to dig foundations; a concrete base will suffice.
Family Bonding
Lean-tos are also a great place for family bonding. People can afford to be less formal and more spontaneous because the damage that can be done from making a mess is smaller.
Lean-tos provide plenty of functional space for indoor picnics on a Sunday evening, board games, and story-telling. They’re also perfect for star-gazing, and feeling like you’re sort of outside.
Morning Rituals
The lean-to can also be a prime location for morning rituals, like yoga, meditation, and even cold plunges. Having a separate space that’s away from the rest of the home improves focus and lets you concentrate more on your movement patterns, breathing, or other aspects of your surroundings.
Lean-tos tend to offer peaceful surroundings, too. Keep them away from loud household appliances, like coffee grinders, if you plan to use them for these kinds of activities.
Technology-Free Zones
Related to this concept, you might also want to dedicate your lean-to as a technology-free zone. Initiating a policy for keeping smartphones, tablets, and computers elsewhere can contribute to your sense of well-being.
Creative Expression
You might also consider using your lean-to as a space for creative expression, whether you’re an artist, musician, or sculptor. The informal separate space doubles perfectly as a studio or workshop, providing you with the room you need to pursue your creative pursuits freely.
Again, that’s because lean-tos do not have the same formality as the rest of the home. You wouldn’t use your living room for painting or sculpting, but you might use a separate building with a concrete or tile floor, set up next to your home.
Energy Efficiency
Another reason for considering lean-tos is that they can increase the energy efficiency of your home, particularly on sunny days. Materials can trap incoming solar radiation, making the room feel considerably warmer.
Consider a triple wall polycarbonate sheet option with UV protection built-in. These materials block out harmful sun rays while trapping the infrared radiation that keeps you warm.
The level of energy efficiency you achieve determines how much you can use your lean-to throughout the year. The more heat you trap, the more likely you are to benefit from it during the winter.
Improved Property Value
Another way a lean-to could transform your lifestyle is by increasing the value of your property. Buyers may be willing to pay more if they know they will get extra space in return.
Lean-tos can sometimes improve the value of a property by more than they cost to erect. You may find that you get a 150% return, just because you are providing potential buyers with more space to store their belongings.
Remember, lean-tos are easy to make large, as long as your lot will allow it. You simply construct the opposite wall and then place the roofing, connecting it to your house. Again, you don’t need to do any foundation work.
A word of caution, though: make sure you use quality materials when constructing your new storage space. Cheaper options are far less likely to go down well with buyers. You don’t want your property to look shabby.
Multi-Functional Spaces
A lean-to is also a multifunctional space. It’s much easier to convert it into a master room than any other in your house (unless, of course, you have a drawing room or other non-descript space in your home).
Lean-tos, for instance, are the perfect place for home gyms and doing exercise because it doesn’t matter if you drop weights on the floor.
Multifunctional spaces also make great party rooms. Keeping everyone in the lean-to helps to prevent them from traipsing mud into the house or causing damage in your interiors.
Extra Garden Storage
You can also use your lean-to as extra garden storage space. Having additional room to keep items like lawnmowers, trowels, and garden spades is always handy, particularly if your shed is full.
Lean-tos are also large enough for you to bring part of your garden indoors for the coolest part of the year, doubling as greenhouses. You can use them for vegetable planters and nurseries, getting plants started before transplanting them outdoors.
Al Fresco Dining
Another benefit of lean-tos is the al fresco, outdoor dining they offer. Having an external area where you can enjoy more informal, open-air dinner experiences can be highly beneficial for your well-being and ability to entertain guests.
Granted, lean-tos don’t quite provide the same experience as patios, but they are similar. Just like the latter, they provide a covered, semi-outdoor space where it doesn’t matter if you spill food or drink on the floor. You’re not going to damage anything.
Lean-tos tend to be a great place for hosting events during the winter months, like New Year’s and Christmas. When you have dozens of people in the same space, plus hot food and space heaters, the entire room can warm up quickly, making everyone feel cosy.
Relaxing Retreat Space
Lean-tos can also transform your life as relaxing retreats. Having a serene sanctuary to unwind, read a book, or enjoy the sights and sounds of nature around you can be a wonderful experience.
For many people, the bathroom typically serves this function. But you don’t always want to wash. That’s why the lean-to is another excellent option. You can go there whenever you want to chill out, listen to music, or simply soak up the atmosphere.
Placing a lean-to next to shrubs or trees can help to give it a sense of mystique, too. Again, doing this can help you feel more relaxed, particularly if surrounded by greenery.
Year-Round Comfort
Another option is to transform your lean-to into a comfortable space that serves you year-round. You could add things like adjustable shades, blinds, and heating and cooling systems to adjust to the outside temperature.
Shoehorning year-round comfort into your lean-to is actually easier than you might think. Many companies now offer solutions to keep the environment consistent throughout the year so you can relax whenever you want.
Just make sure to properly insulate the lean-to. Otherwise, your bill will be sky-high.
Increased Natural Light
Infusing natural light into a regular home is challenging. Windows must provide the bulk of the illumination since skylights are only suitable for the roof.
But with lean-tos, the entire roof becomes a skylight, providing you with far more access to natural light than you thought possible.
Some people use corrugated metal as their roofing material but if you want to let light in, you’ll want something translucent. Polycarbonate is an excellent option for this purpose as it lets in light but also provides insulation at the same time.
More Living Space
Lean-tos also enhance your quality of life by providing you with additional living space. Instead of cramming everyone into a few square feet, you have more room to diversify space heterogeneity in your home.
What does that mean in English? It simply means you can have more areas in your home that provide you with bespoke functions. For instance, you could use the dining room for formal evening meals, leaving informal brunches with kids to the lean-to.
On a more basic level, a lean-to simple provides you with more space to spread out. People don’t need to feel like they are living on top of each other, which can happen in more cramped environments.
Indoor-Outdoor Connection
Finally, a lean-to can provide you with an inexpensive way to create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. These structures create a profound sense of flow, helping you enjoy your indoor comforts while also convincing you that you’re in an outdoor environment.
Being in a lean-to when the rain is pattering on the roof or the sun is beating down is a relaxing experience. You feel more like a part of nature than staying in a stuffy office or sitting in your living room all day long.