Outdoor bathrooms aren’t just for backwoods homes without indoor plumbing. With outdoor bathroom facilities, you can limit traffic into the house during summer parties and enjoy nature’s comforts to the fullest. Whether you’re entertaining a crowd in the backyard or just want a bathroom nearby for outdoor activities with the family, installing an outhouse means you won’t have to go indoors until bedtime.

Choosing an Outhouse Design

Modern outhouses can contain a variety of features and appliances, including sinks and outdoor showers, based on your family’s needs. Your setup options depend on whether the outhouse will be connected to your home’s plumbing line, run on a limited water source or operate using a composting system.

Low water toilet systems and waterless composting toilets are environmentally friendly options that require minimal effort to dispose of the composted materials. Although composting toilets work efficiently in all types of weather, pipelines for outdoor plumbing can sometimes freeze in cold temperatures. Your outhouse plans should include safe drain sites if you plan to install a remote composting toilet and proper heating equipment for the winter months if a basic hose or pipe line will be used to supply the water source.

Some alternative options are the incinerating toilet, which reduces all waste to a disposable ash, and the chemical toilet, which contains a chemical deodorant. An incinerating system (available in gas or electric) is the least economical, producing significant energy costs for the owner. Chemical toilets, such as Porta Potties, can be purchased or conveniently rented for specific engagements.

No matter what type of system you choose for your outdoor bathroom, you should design it with flexibility in mind and be prepared for minor relocations if any complications arise. Also, remember that local regulations may affect your disposal options and should be researched before you decide on the best outhouse plan.

Personalizing Your Outhouse

Every space in your home, indoors or outdoors, offers an opportunity to express your family’s unique style. Outhouse decor can be as simple or as elaborate as you desire, with the furnishings and accents reflecting the interior design of your home or outdoor living space.

You can stick with a classic wooden outhouse or personalize the design with color, sophisticated brick or tropical-inspired materials, such as bamboo reeds and waterproof thatch. Interior accents can include plants, vases, floor mats and any other accessories that catch your eye. There are countless ways to make your outdoor bathroom unique.