Blog>Cost Guides>How much does it cost to build an art studio?
Last updated: 15 February 2024
How much does it cost to build an art studio?
For any budding artists having an at-home studio is a must-have. If you are working with paints and other materials, you need to have your own space to be creative and not damage anything. This cost guide will outline how to build an art studio and how much it may cost to build an art studio.
For any budding artists having an at-home studio is a must-have. If you're working with paints and other materials, you need to have your own space to be creative and not damage anything.
This cost guide will outline how to build an art studio and how much it may cost to build an art studio.
Art studio cost
| Outbuilding type | Low cost | High cost | Average cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete garage (on a new concrete foundation) | £4,200 | £10,000 | £7,100 |
| Small garden office | £6,000 | £9,000 | £7,500 |
| Prefabricated timber summer house | £2,750 | £10,250 | £6,500 |
| Brick-built garage | £17,500 | £26,500 | £22,000 |
| Last updated: May 2024 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | |||
It can be in upwards of thousands, or it can be a lot cheaper! Art studio costs will vary on the facilities you require for your studio. If you're converting a space in your home then it will cost less than if you need to build an entirely new area of your home, like a shed, outhouse or garage.
How to build an art studio at home
For understanding how to build an art studio, think about the space you need first. Do you have a spare room, garage or shed to convert? Or do you need a new space altogether?
If it's the latter, then you may need to build an outbuilding - a shed, summer house or garage type structure.
Building your new space
Building an art studio in your back garden
If you're building a new structure in your garden, then you will need to build either a shed, summer house or outbuilding.
On average, you can expect to pay around £4,250 for a basic timber structure, all the way through to around £7,100 for a concrete garage. The costs will entirely depend on the size of your outbuilding and the material and labour for the project.
If a new outbuilding in your backyard is the way for your new art studio, check out our outbuilding costs.
Converting an existing space
'Converting' your space has a few different meanings depending on your situation. If you're simply moving furniture around then converting your space will rely on work from yourself and not cost much at all. The only cost would be the new furniture for your studio.
If however, you're looking to convert a loft or garage, then this will cost a lot more.
As a rough guide, the cost to convert your loft into an art studio will be around £27,500 to £70,000. With a variety of loft conversion types, we recommend checking out our loft conversion cost guide.
If you're considering a garage conversion, then the cost for this is anything from £9,500 to £45,000. Again, for more information on this, check out our garage conversion cost guide.
Fitting out your new art studio
| Low cost | High cost | Average cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art studio desk | £100 | £700 | £400 |
| Art supplies wall storage | £36 | £315 | £75 |
| Shed Complete studio | £8,690 | £16,450 | £12,570 |
| Handyman per hour | £20 | £30 | £25 |
| Crane hire per hour | £80 | £700 | £390 |
| Last updated: May 2024 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | |||
Before you go out to buy all of your equipment for your studio, you may need the help of a tradesperson to fit the interior of your new space; whether a converted or new space. A handyman/woman costs between £20 and £30 an hour and will be able to quickly fit any shelves, storage units and any fiddly products for your studio with ease. Maybe you have a fiddly easel that just won't stand right!
Building an art studio at home should not be that difficult as long as you're converting a room. All you need is some extra space and an idea of what equipment you need. You can purchase at-home studio desks with multiple functions for between £100 and £700.
If you are working within a small space, try turning a corner of your bedroom into an art studio. Using wall storage for art supplies will also help leave you more desk space.
If installing wall storage, you can easily hire a handyperson to hang your wall fittings securely. This is particularly important if you will be storing heavy equipment like paint cans that could make a mess if they fall.
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FAQS
Is an at-home studio a good investment?
An at-home art studio will add value and interest to your home, making it go up in value.
How can I heat an at-home art studio?
You can buy affordable electric heaters for your studio. A more permanent heating solution could be a small log burner or stove. You may want to consider insulating your art studio too.
Can I build an at-home studio myself?
We always recommend leaving construction work to the professionals. It is the safest and most efficient way to build an at-home studio. An incorrectly built shed could be very dangerous and will deteriorate faster.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
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