Best Garden Dome for a Teenager's Den

Why teenagers (and parents) love it

Every parent of teenagers knows the dream: somewhere for them to hang out with friends that isn't the middle of the house. A garden dome delivers it brilliantly.

• Their own space. A den of their own, to game, hang out, play music and escape, that feels independent and grown-up, which teenagers crave. The novelty factor of a dome doesn't hurt either; it's genuinely cool.
• You get the house back. Friends round? Gaming marathon? It happens in the dome, not your lounge. Peace restored, everyone happy.
• Close enough, far enough. In the garden, so they have space and privacy, but a few steps from the house, so it's still on your doorstep rather than off somewhere unsupervised.
• Built to cope. As a material, polycarbonate is around 250 times more impact resistant than glass and flexes rather than shatters, so the panels take the rough and tumble of teenage use far better than glass.
• Year-round. Not a summer-only hangout: with a heater on, it's cosy and usable in winter, so it earns its keep all year.

Choosing the right dome

• Size for friends. A solo retreat needs less than a den where a group games and hangs out. As a guide, the Mini seats 4-5, the Standard 6-8 and the Large 12-16, so size up for the crowd a teenager attracts.
• Specification: Ultra. Its panels are 30% thicker than Original, with stainless steel bolts, nuts and anchors, which makes it our pick for most gardens, including windy ones, and a practical choice for a den that's used hard all year. Original suits a sheltered garden and lighter use; Extreme, our strongest 3 mm specification, suits anyone who wants maximum panel thickness and robustness, including on an exposed or coastal site. The Large comes in one specification, with maximum-thickness panels.
• Plan power early. Gaming, screens, sound, charging: a teen den lives on electricity, so have a proper supply installed by a registered electrician (Part P applies in England and Wales), with RCD protection and outdoor-rated sockets, rather than trailing extension leads from the house (see our electrics guide).

Kitting it out

• Comfort. Beanbags, a sofa, soft furnishings: somewhere to sprawl. Rugs and throws make it cosy and quieter (see our furnishing guide).
• Screens and sound. A TV, a gaming setup or projector, and good speakers: the heart of any teen den. Plan sockets to suit.
• Lighting for mood. Start with the free Ambient LED lighting kit that comes with every dome, then add their own colour-changing lights, LED neon signs or dimmable lamps: teenagers love atmospheric lighting (see our lighting ideas).
• Climate. For winter, a thermostatic electric heater with tip-over and overheat cut-outs is the simple, safe choice: keep it well clear of the panels, beanbags and throws, and switch it off when they head back in. Any fuel-burning heater needs ventilation and a carbon monoxide alarm, so for a den, electric is the sensible option. In summer, the roof vents, windows and door keep the air moving, so it's comfortable whenever they're out there.
• Privacy and blackout. Our sunshade privacy panels fit panel by panel on the back and sides, wherever you want shade and privacy. They shade rather than fully black out, so for darker gaming or film sessions add blackout blinds or lined curtains inside (see our privacy and blackout guide).

A sensible word

The sliding door doesn't lock as standard, so it's a brilliant space for them to use, but it isn't the place to leave valuables overnight. Bring consoles, laptops and phones back into the house at night, or keep them somewhere secure. If you need lockable storage for expensive kit, a lockable shed or garden room wins on that front. Treat the dome as a comfortable hangout, not a strongroom.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: polycarbonate material data from A&C Plastics, Piedmont Plastics and KASTLITE.