Whether your family needs more space for play, hobbies, work or study – or you simply want a summer sitting room, a garden room room is an ideal solution. They can come as simple as you want, barely more than wood and a bit of paint, or something more luxurious with windows and french doors.
Garden room design ideas
1.Take shelter in a hidden pod that blends seamlessly into the garden
Made from reclaimed rusted metal sheeting and rough-sawn reclaimed timber and planted with wildflower and grass-filled roof, the lived-in look of this cosy seating pod makes it look like it’s been in your garden for years. Inside, it features wraparound bench seats with lift-up lids for stashing cushions and throws, while the vertical log stores either side of the entrance are ideal for storing a winter’s worth of stove fuel.
2. Invest in a living wall that won’t detract from your home
Image credit: eDEN Garden Rooms
If your house is quite traditional looking, you may be put off by investing in a modern garden room. The outdoor studios that eDEN Garden Rooms offer can include an exterior living wall to soften the linear design of the contemporary structure, making it blend into the surroundings beautifully.
Inside they can be designed to your requirements with storage, power sockets and lighting fitted and ready for use.
3. Avoid commitment with an easy-to-put up, glamorous garden tent
Not just for weddings and garden parties, a garden tent is a great option if you want some shade in the summertime, with the option of taking it down when the weather changes. The Raj Tent Club has a wide range of easy-to-erect garden tents covered in cotton canvas that offer shade from the sunshine, refuge from a rain shower and even double as a guest bedroom in high summer.
4. Double up on the space with a living room and storage shed
This double summerhouse combines a smart open fronted room, with ample space for dining furniture or lounge seating and a separate studio room on the other side with double lockable doors that you can use as a storage shed or a home office.
5. Keep it simple and traditional with a posh potting shed
6. Prepare for any future house moves with a portable shepherd’s hut
Because it’s on wheels, a country-style shepherd’s hut is a great option if you see yourself moving home in the near future as you can take it with you. Priced from £19,800, Plankbridge’s huts come fully insulated and with optional extras like wired electrics, bunk beds, kitchenettes, wood-burning stoves and even shower rooms.
Planning permission isn’t usually required for shepherd’s huts provided they’re in your garden and is for personal use only, however with any big investment, it’s always advisable to check with your local council first.
7. Light up the barbecue, whatever the weather, with an outdoor kitchen
Outdoor kitchens are growing in popularity in the UK, partly due to the unpredictability of the weather, but also so we can use our barbecues for longer than the sunshine allows. The largest supplier of Morsø stoves in the UK, Osoliving, has developed an open garden kitchen with a Morsø outdoor oven as the centrepiece. The price includes a Forno Oven with door, built-in Forno table,flue pipe, Tuscan grill, ash scraper,pizza peel, fire tongs, Forno protective cover and four bar stools with cushions.
8. Skip the ornamentation with an affordable summerhouse you can build yourself
With four large windows and wide opening double doors, the Clover summerhouse is the perfect spot to cool down in the sunshine. With plenty of space for a sofa and coffee table, the summerhouse comes ready to build (or you can pay the extra £279.99 to have it installed) and once up, the shiplap wooden boards are ready to paint in a colour of your choice. What’s more, the doors are lockable so you can use it to store your garden furniture safely throughout winter.
9. Add an extra guest room to your house with a garden annexe
Go the whole hog and invest in an outdoor ‘granny flat’ for a space that doubles as a guesthouse for visiting friends and family as well as a cool summer hangout, home office or den. With sizes ranging from 5x3m to 14m x 3.5m, the Annex provides an end-to-end service, starting with applying for planning permission on your behalf (if required). Then building and installing your studio complete with kitchen, electrics, plumbing, insulation, glazing… the lot.
10. Enjoy panoramic views of your garden from a round summerhouse
Made from Scandinavian Redwood, the four windows and double doors that wrap around this elegant summerhouse make the most of the garden views. Available in a choice of four painted finishes, delivery and assembly come as standard and quality brass fittings include window latches, door mortice lock and hook catches to secure the doors in an open position.
11. Let in the light and air with a slatted wooden pavilion
Looking for something more robust than a pergola? This pavilion provides heaps more shelter, while allowing plenty of natural light and air in thanks to the open porch design and open louvred panels on each side. It comes ready to install and untreated so you can paint if whatever colour you like.
12. Folding windows mean you enjoy your garden room come rain or shine
With bifolds that concertina back to expose the entire room to the garden, the Vista 43 garden room from Norwegian Log provides the perfect spot to enjoy a G&T as the sun goes down. With power sockets and LED lighting throughout, it also boasts wifi-controlled heating so you can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet, whatever the weather.
13. A rotating pod will let your follow the sun throughout the day
‘Garden pods are ideal for dining, studying or entertaining,’ says Vicky Angell, buyer for outdoor living at John Lewis & Partners. Consider the pod size carefully: think about how many you’d like to seat, and how it will look in the garden – too big and it may be overpowering.
‘A rotating design that can be angled away from wind and towards the sun can help make best use of the space at all times of the year,’ adds Vicky. A roof cover, blinds or solar-control glazing will help to deflect heat and ensure a comfortable temperature, even on the hottest day.
14. Create a divide between your work and home with a garden office
A garden office is a dream scenario: freedom from commuting while maintaining a safe distance from domestic temptations such as dishwasher-emptying or fridge-raiding. For comfortable year-round use, the building should be fully wired, insulated and heated, with access to wi-fi. ‘By taking the shelving across the rear of this garden office, we have provided the opportunity to add colourful displays, as well as practical office storage,’ says Rodrigo Moreno Masey, founder of Moreno Masey. It also boasts a special roller window that glides up at the touch of a button.
15. Be inspired by your home to create a quintessentially English summer house
Taking design inspiration from your home is a great way to ensure a new garden structure feels authentic. ‘A traditional summerhouse is perfect for a country setting as it is quintessentially English,’ says Kathryn Morris, summerhouse sales manager, Scotts of Thrapston. ‘Architectural features to look for include cedar shingle roofing and decorative leaded glass.’ Period features can also be practical. Some Scotts of Thrapston designs include a rotating base, a mechanism popularised by the Victorians, which can be turned to face the sun or change your view.
16. Why not upgrade an existing shed with a little paint and TLC
Explore the potential of existing buildings: with a coat of paint and comfortable furnishings, the humblest shed can be repurposed as an artist’s studio or writer’s retreat. ‘Fresh colour can transform a plain outbuilding quickly and inexpensively,’ says Becky Rackstraw, colour expert at Protek. ‘A little imagination, alongside a suitable colour palette, will create a haven for hobbies. Adding exterior paving or gravel by doors and high-tread areas will help keep the interior clean.’
Garden rooms – everything you need to know How much do garden rooms cost? Garden room can vary hugely in price depending on whether you are happy to put in a little elbow grease to build and paint the room yourself, or looking for something more intricate. At the bottom end of the spectrum a build your own summer house can cost just under £700. At the top end for a custom garden room, complete with all the comforts of a house, including power sockets and light fittings, can cost you between £22,00 and £58,745.
Do you need foundations for a garden room?
Without a strong and solid foundation, you risk damaging your garden building beyond repair once installed. If the company you’re buying from doesn’t include foundations in the price, you’ll need to hire a builder to do the job for you. A flat and level surface of paving slabs or concrete, no less than 10cm thick is ideal and remember to leave around 50cm clearance if you’re building near walls, fencing or trees.
How to maintain a garden room
Aim to give the exterior of your garden room a wipe down with warm soapy water once a year to wash off any dirt. Painted garden rooms will need a fresh coat of paint every few years to keep the wood in tiptop shape. Cedar clad structures require little to no maintenance the wood is naturally resistant to rot and fungal growth, however the wood will change colour from the rich red to a silver grey over time. Keep the area around the base of your garden building clear of long grass and leaves, too.
Can you add connecting services to a garden room?
Adding electricity and plumbing to a garden room is an expensive outlay and in some cases, can require that you secure planning permission beforehand. If installing electrical sockets and switches, your building must be watertight and ideally insulated for safety. Adding sinks, showers or washing machines require a plumber to install a fresh water pipe running from your house to the garden building and a separate waste pipe running out again.
Do you need planning permission for a garden room?
Permitted Developments allow you to add a single storey garden building to your property, provided it is under 2.5m in height (if within 2m from the property boundary), doesn’t exceed 50% of the total land area around the house and must not be self-contained living accommodation. You can install a Bathroom,Bedroom,kitchen without requiring planning permission provided that the space is just for personal use, say a hobby room, art or yoga studio or even an occasional guest room for friends and family.
If you live in a listed building or you plan to use your garden room as an Air B&B, you will need planning permission. As a rule, it’s always safer to check with your council before taking the plunge.
So take some time and create your own garden retreat.