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Garden room ideas
A garden room can be an office, a studio, a gym or simply somewhere quiet to be. Here are the most popular ways to use one, and the design choices that make a garden room a pleasure to spend time in.
The short version: start with how you'll use the room, then choose the size, glazing and finish to suit. The best garden rooms do one or two jobs really well, sit comfortably in the garden, and are warm enough to use in January.
Ideas by how you'll use it
A garden office
The most popular use by far. Put the desk side-on to the window so you get the view without glare on your screen, plan plenty of sockets, and sort the wifi before the room goes in. Read the garden office guide.
A studio to make things in
Painting, pottery, sewing, woodwork: a separate room means you can leave things out and walk away. Big north-facing windows give the most even light for artists, and a sink is worth considering if you work with paint or clay.
A music room or podcast studio
Distance from the house is a big help with noise. Ask for extra acoustic insulation, solid doors and double glazing, and keep the room off the boundary if your neighbours are close.
A garden gym
A gym needs more than an office does: a stronger floor, more headroom and plenty of ventilation. Think about the equipment first and size the room around it. Read the garden gym guide.
A sauna or wellness room
Saunas range from compact barrel designs to full garden rooms with a sauna, shower and relaxation area. They bring their own electrical and ventilation needs, so involve a specialist early.
A garden bar or games room
A bar, a pool table or a golf simulator turns the garden into somewhere to gather. Golf simulators need surprising headroom and width, so check the specification before you pick a room, and remember the 2.5m height limit near a boundary. Check the height rules.
A summer house you can use all year
A traditional look with French doors and a pitched roof, built and insulated like a garden room so it's comfortable outside the summer months.
A hideaway for reading or quiet
Not every garden room needs a job. A small, cosy space with a comfortable chair, a heater and a view can be the room you use most. Shepherd's huts and small cabins suit this well.
Thinking of a guest room? A room someone sleeps in counts as living accommodation, which needs planning permission and building regulations approval. Check before you design it in. See the planning guide.
Design ideas that make a difference
Dark cladding
Charred, black or deep green timber makes a garden room recede into the planting rather than dominate the garden. Lighter timber looks warmer but weathers to silver-grey unless it's treated.
Glazing where it counts
Big glass doors look wonderful but lose heat in winter and gain it in summer. Put the biggest glazing where the view is best, and use smaller windows on the side that gets strong afternoon sun.
A canopy or overhang
An overhanging roof over the doors keeps rain off, shades the glass in summer and gives you somewhere to sit outside.
A path and planting
The route to the room matters more than people expect. A proper path you can use in slippers in the rain, with planting around the building, makes it feel part of the garden rather than dropped into it.
Lighting
Plan outdoor lights on the path and by the door, and warm, dimmable lights inside. It's much cheaper to wire lighting in while the electrician is there than to add it later.
Ideas for small gardens
- Go into a corner. Corner and L-shaped designs use space that's often wasted.
- Combine it with storage. A garden room with a shed section at the side means one building instead of two. See the guide to garden rooms with storage.
- Keep it low near the fence. Within 2m of a boundary, the whole building must be no more than 2.5m tall to avoid needing planning permission.
- Use glass to borrow space. Glazing that faces the house makes the garden feel connected rather than divided.
Interior ideas
Treat it as a room, not a shed. A proper floor finish, a rug, lined walls, blinds and a small heater make the difference between a space you visit and one you live in.
Questions people ask
What can I use a garden room for?
Most people use them as offices, studios, gyms, music rooms, games rooms or quiet hideaways. Using one as a bedroom or somewhere to live needs planning permission.
How can I make a small garden room feel bigger?
Use glazing facing the house, light colours inside, built-in storage, and keep the floor clear. Corner and L-shaped designs make the most of small gardens.
Garden offices
Garden room costs
Planning permission