Whether you have a full house, visiting folks who like to stay the night or kids of any age, a backyard cottage is your friend. Not only does it offer breathing room and privacy, but it has the feel of a getaway, even if it’s just a stone’s throw from the main house. All the better if it’s flexible enough to serve multiple purposes.
The four outbuildings below — whether you call them guesthouses, studios, accessory dwelling units or something else — offer lots of ideas on how to incorporate spaces for working, playing, sleeping and eating in a small footprint without creating a tight squeeze. Have a look, and if you have a backyard cottage of your own, please tell us about it in the Comments.
