Should I build a garden room? Yes, but firstly consider the reason why you are building it. Clients that love their garden rooms don’t just build them for extra space, it is how you use this space to change your daily life. Garden rooms can give you separation from your main house without distance. That’s why they work so well as home offices, you are creating a genuine mental boundary whilst adding extra square footage to your property. Garden rooms will become part of your routine and not just your property. You can step outside and mentally switch modes which is hard to replicate inside your home.
Successful garden rooms are designed like a real room. Make sure to install proper electrics, heating and allow good natural light. Make sure you have all year round usability to avoid disappointment. A garden room can be one of the highest-impact upgrades you could make, changing the way you work from home.
You need separation, not just extra space: Clients will report this as the biggest benefit when working from home.
Your existing home can’t easily adapt: Garden rooms can often be cheaper than a full extension when you need the extra space. It can be expensive and disruptive to move house so garden rooms can give you useable space faster.
You will use it every day: Whether it be a home office, gym or art studio, the cost of building a garden room can justified when you consider the daily function.
Thinking long term: A well built garden room can add roughly 5-10% to your property value.
In most cases, no, you do not need planning permission to build Garden Rooms, they usually fall under Permitted Development rights. Always check your local restrictions.
This obviously varies, however the cost of a well built Garden room typically averages between £15,000 – £35,000 depending on the size and specification. Cheap builds often end up cold or unusable in winter, costing more to fix later.
If you are considering building one, the question that matters most isn’t “Should I build it?” but “What role will this space play in my every day life?” Once this question is answered, the decision will become much clearer.
Clients often underestimate how much space they may need. Think about the usage first, how many people might need to use the space and then work out what you may need to fit in the space with a detailed floor plan.
As soon as you add these you start to look like a self contained living space, so as long as the room is clearly not a separate dwelling then it is usually fine. A smart approach is to add a WC only and keep food prep to a minimum i.e kettle, coffee machine, small fridge.
Yes. You need to make sure it is properly insulated, has double glazing and has heating for those winter months.
Garden rooms are surprisingly versatile. Their uses really depend upon your lifestyle and needs. Home office – this is probably the top use so don’t forget to add Wi Fi. Gym or fitness studio – to avoid gym travel. Creative studio – great for art, music, writing or content creating. Chill out/garden lounge – a nice escape to the garden to read. Kid’s playroom/teen hangout – keeps noise and clutter out of the main house and allows a social space. Business use – hair salon, therapy room or small showroom for visiting clients. Bar Area – Socialising with friends and family.
Yes, if you follow some simple rules:
If the Garden Room is in your back garden and not the front garden.
If it doesn’t take up more than 50% of your total garden space.
If it’s single storey.
If it’s within 2 metres of your boundary, the roof pitch must be a maximum of 2.5m, otherwise up to 4m pitched roof.
It’s not used as a separate living accommodation.
If you do not live in a restricted property type or area i.e a Conservation area.
You should always check with your Local Council for further guidance.
Pick your function first and then Design around that. Make sure the space is large enough, has lots of light and storage. Garden Rooms do not need to match your existing home but would preferably have a cohesive connection in some way.
