What is a garden room?

If you want to make the most of your outdoor space, why not build a garden room? You can use this new space for anything you like, from a home office to a games room. It can be lovely to be among nature, and have a separate space away from the home for work, play or hobbies.

Here, we’ll give you the lowdown on garden rooms, including what you can use them for and how to build them. So, let’s get started.

What is a garden room?

A garden room is usually a standalone structure built away from the home, although you can have one attached to the house. They’re often nestled down at the bottom of the garden, with a path leading up to the entrance.

Garden rooms are commonly made from wood, constructed just like a timber-frame house. However, you can also build them from brick or other materials. You can even buy prefabricated or modular garden rooms, which you can assemble yourself in hardly any time at all.

The structure of a garden room will usually be quite simple, with just a one-room floor plan. But where they differ from sheds or other buildings in the garden is that they’re usually fully insulated and fitted with electrics. You’ll also want to put more thought into the decoration of your garden room, bringing in experts for plastering, painting and cladding.

What’s the difference between a garden room and a conservatory?

A conservatory is usually built directly onto the back or side of the house, to provide an extension to the living space. They’ll usually have a fully glazed roof and walls, and built with a minimal frame to maximise the light entering the space.

A garden room also provides extra living space, but usually at some distance from the house. They often include large windows and French doors onto the garden, but have a structure more typical of a house – including insulation, electrics and decorative finishing.

Uses for a garden room

There are so many exciting things you can do with a garden room. In fact, the only limit is your imagination. Here are just a few ideas:

• Home bar or pub
• Office or workspace
• Playroom or playhouse for the kids
• Teenager’s den
• Yoga or fitness studio
• Home gym
• Hobbies or crafts cabin
• Art or sculpture studio
• Pool room or games room
• Home cinema.

If you like (and you have the right permissions), you may even be able to run a business from your garden room. For example, a small hair salon, yoga class or dog grooming business.

How much does a garden room cost to build?

One of the reasons garden rooms are so popular is because they’re relatively cheap and quick to build. However, the total cost will depend on whether you choose a modular or bespoke construction, along with the size and quality of the fitout.

You can keep it really simple and basic, or build an architectural marvel at the bottom of the garden – it’s up to you. Take a look here for our handy guide to the cost of building a garden room.

FAQs

Do I need planning permission to build a garden room?

Most garden rooms don’t require planning consent, as they fall under permitted development. However, you’ll need to keep the building under a certain size and height. Check with your local authority planning department for advice

Do I need to put in an electricity connection?

Even if you don’t need power in your garden room now, it’s important to think about potential future use. It could be worth the initial expense of putting in an electricity connection during the construction of your garden room, rather than the disruptive process of putting it in afterwards.