Siting your building well

Sun comes first for anything you'll spend time in. A home office or studio benefits from north-facing glazing (soft, even light with no glare); a greenhouse wants maximum southern exposure. Watch the site for a full day before you decide, not just at the hour you happen to be outside.

Drainage is the quiet decision that prevents the biggest problems later. Site your building where water already runs away from it, not toward it — and grade or add a gravel apron around the perimeter if it doesn't. This matters more than almost any other siting choice.

Access matters for the build and for daily life afterward: can materials reach the site without crossing a finished lawn or squeezing through a narrow gate? And once it's built, is the path from the house one you'll actually want to walk in the rain?

Last, confirm setbacks — the minimum distance from property lines, your house and any easements — with your local building department before you finalize placement. It's the one siting mistake that can't be fixed after the foundation goes in.