How to
Choose a Garden Room That’s Just Right for You

In this three-minute read, we look at the growing
popularity of garden rooms as places to work and play.

Garden
room. Man cave. Home studio. Shoffice (shed/office). Call it what you will but
having a standalone space in the garden where you can work, unwind, or pursue a
favourite hobby is one of the fastest-growing property trends in recent years.

Now,
garden sheds are nothing new; Britain’s first shed was built in 1481. But a ‘garden
room’ is far more than the old-fashioned lean-to your granddad used to store
the lawnmower.

Garden
rooms are high-spec spaces with plenty of mod cons: mains electricity, heating,
and WiFi. They also often include full-height glazing, a kitchenette, toilet,
hot tub, bar, or home cinema.

If
you’re considering investing in a garden room, here are some tips to help you
get it right.

Identify
its purpose

Start
by having a clear idea of how you’ll use the space. Will it be an office, yoga
studio, gym, or games room?

If
you don’t have a strong vision, your garden room could turn out to be a
glorified storage cupboard, crammed with boxes and odds and sods.

Find
the right location

If
space is tight, your options will be limited. However, if you have a big
outdoor area, give careful consideration to the location and orientation of
your garden room.

If
you’re creating a mini music studio, opt for a location some distance from the
house so that noise isn’t an issue. On the other hand, a children’s playroom
might be best near the house, so you can keep an eye on the little ones.

Also,
remember that:

• An east-facing garden room will catch the
  morning sun (ideal for early bird, work-from-home types).
• A west-facing garden room will get the afternoon
  sun (perfect for a post-work parents’ chill-out space).
• A south-facing garden room will catch lots of
  sun (great in the winter months) but will get quite warm in summer, so
  consider adding a louvred canopy.

Insulation

Keep
your garden room cool in summer and warm in winter (and save money on heating)
by opting for insulated walls, roof, and flooring.

When
architects, builders, and manufacturers talk about insulation, they use the
term U-value. The lower the U-value, the better (the best insulating materials
have a U-value nearing zero).

Landscaping

It’s
called a garden room for a reason, so make sure your space is surrounded by
lush greenery – being close to nature is good for your mental health, after
all.

Plant
trees, shrubs, and bushes around your garden room so that it feels like an
integral part of the space.

Planning

Before
you get started, always seek confirmation from your local authority about
whether any outbuilding you’re thinking about needs planning permission.

For
more advice about how to add value to your property and market trends, get in
touch with us here at CWB Property.