Pool cabana guide
Choosing the Perfect Pool Cabanas Designer: Tips and Trends
What to look for in a pool cabana designer, the questions to ask before you hire, and the design trends we’re seeing in GTA backyards.
The short answer
Choose a pool cabana designer who has built cabanas before and can show you, who handles the drawings and permit, gives clear written pricing and is properly insured. Popular trends right now include indoor-outdoor layouts, multi-use cabanas, natural materials like cedar and stone, and clean modern lines.
On this page
Why use a specialist pool cabana designer
A pool cabana sits in a wet, exposed spot, close to property lines, and often needs plumbing and electrical. A designer who builds cabanas regularly knows how to size it for your yard, which materials last around a pool, and what your town will ask for before it issues a permit. That saves redesigns, delays and surprises during the build.
What to check before you hire
Built cabanas before
Experience
Ask to see finished pool cabanas, not just decks or fences. Photos of real projects tell you more than a list of services.
Handles drawings and permits
Process
Find out who prepares the plans, who applies for the permit and who deals with the building department if questions come back.
Clear written pricing
Budget
A good designer gives you a written quote that lists what is and isn’t included, and is upfront about what could change the price.
Style that fits yours
Design
Look for a portfolio with a range of styles, and a designer who asks how you’ll use the space before suggesting a look.
Communicates well
Working together
You should know who your contact is, how often you’ll get updates and what happens at each stage of the build.
Licensed and insured
Protection
Ask for proof of liability insurance and any licences your municipality requires before work starts.
Questions to ask at the first meeting
- Can you show me pool cabanas you’ve built that are similar in size to what I want?
- Do you prepare the drawings and apply for the permit, or do I?
- What is included in your quote, and what would be extra?
- Is the cabana built on site or partly built off-site?
- How long does a project like mine usually take from design to finish?
- Who will I deal with day to day during the build?
Talk to our design team
We design, manufacture and install cedar pool cabanas across the GTA, and prepare the drawings when your town needs a permit.
Current trends in pool cabana design
Indoor-outdoor living
Wide openings, a lounge and a TV under the roof make the cabana feel like another room of the house.
Multi-use spaces
One structure that combines a bar, a change room and covered seating instead of three separate ones.
Natural materials
Cedar siding, stone bases and simple shapes that age well and suit most GTA homes.
Clean, modern lines
Flat or low-slope roofs, simple trim and neutral colours are popular on newer homes.
Year-round features
Heaters, fireplaces and closable openings extend the season into spring and fall.
Custom details
Built-in benches, storage and lighting designed for the space rather than added later.
How we work
1. Site visit and design
We look at your yard and pool, talk through how you’ll use the cabana and design it to suit.
2. Drawings and permit
Our design team prepares the plans and permit drawings when your town needs them.
3. Build and install
Components are built off-site, then installed at your home to keep time in your backyard short.
Frequently asked questions
What does a pool cabana designer do?
A pool cabana designer works out the size, layout, materials and features of your cabana, prepares the drawings, and often coordinates the permit and the build so the finished structure suits your yard and your town’s rules.
How do I choose a pool cabana builder?
Look at photos of cabanas they’ve actually built, ask who handles drawings and permits, get a written quote that lists what’s included, and confirm they carry liability insurance.
Who prepares the drawings for a pool cabana permit?
Usually the designer or builder. At Cedar Wood Structures, our design team prepares the plans and permit drawings when your municipality requires them.
What are the current trends in pool cabana design?
Indoor-outdoor layouts with wide openings, multi-use cabanas that combine a bar, change room and seating, natural materials like cedar and stone, clean modern lines, and features like heaters that extend the season.
Is a custom or standard pool cabana better?
A custom cabana is designed around your yard and how you’ll use it. A standard, pre-designed cabana is quicker and simpler. The right choice depends on your space, style and timeline.
Related reading and services
Looking for a pool cabana designer?
Book a free design consultation. We’ll visit, talk through your ideas and show you cabanas we’ve built.