1. Low cost, high gain
If you’re looking for somewhere to work from home, then the relatively low cost of a garden office vs a home extension is an attractive prospect. According to MyBuilder, the average cost of extending your house can be as much as £75,000 for just 30m² extra space. Compare this to a high specification custom garden room at around £30,000, and you could add value to your home without the huge disruption caused by a traditional extension project. It might not add quite as much value overall, but it’s easier to install and more versatile.
You might ask yourself, “can I use a garden room all year round?” And the answer is yes. The best garden rooms come fully insulated and ready for year-round enjoyment. No matter what the weather’s like outside.
There are plenty of interesting garden room designs to choose from, whether you decide to self-build with a kit, or have one delivered and fully assembled on-site by a team of professionals. The best garden room can blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living as well. Want to know how much your home is worth? Get an instant valuation in just a few clicks with our comprehensive evaluation tool.
2. Garden office
Since the move towards working from home revolutionised so many of our daily grinds, the demand for a dedicated place for remote working has exploded. According to the ONS, nearly a third of the UK workforce are in a hybrid role, so having somewhere to tap away at a keyboard is essential.
The separation from home and work is incredibly important. A quiet and comfortable distraction-free zone at the bottom of the garden is a great way to both boost productivity and create a physical separation between where you work and rest. You can get more done during your working day, and all without squeezing onto a busy train or sitting in traffic for hours.
Another benefit is that you can set your home office up however you like. Huge desk with a multi-screen setup?
3. Man-cave, she-shed, or teen-den
A garden room doesn’t need to be strictly for business.
Building a garden room can be the answer to an overcrowded house, or it can simply become a place to unwind after a long day in the office. An upgrade from a draughty and damp shed, it’s the ideal spot to indulge in your favourite hobby or craft.
Fancy yourself a film buff? Then a garden room can even become your own home cinema.
Having a place within the boundaries of your property that you can send your teenagers off, without the fear of them roaming the streets, is an ideal use for a garden room. A teen-den can be a safe place for them to entertain themselves, while you get to reclaim the remote control inside the house.
4. Granny annexe
More properly known as a “secondary dwelling”, a garden room can easily become a comfortable place for a loved one to reside. Some people, especially elderly relatives, struggle to retain independence during their twilight years, so having somewhere separate from the main living space is an ideal compromise.
Just imagine a retirement flat, but at the end of the garden. A kitchen, bedroom, and living space all plumbed in to the mains, with electricity and heating to create a separate living space for someone you love.
A garden room can easily become an attractive and accessible place for anyone to stay in. It could even become a guest house or holiday rental- The options are endless.
Bear in mind that if you want to convert a garden room into a granny annexe, it becomes an ancillary building, so you’ll need to get planning permission in most cases. Curious to find out your home’s value? Book a free house valuation with a local estate agent you