The options for creating extra living space in the garden are limitless, from a cosy seating pod to an art studio or yoga retreat. A garden room offers a great alternative to moving house or building an extension, and can be cost-effective too. Often referred to as a shed, summerhouse or garden office, garden rooms can be bought from DIY retailers, home-furnishing shops and dedicated firms online or in store. They vary in price, from simple wooden structures to bespoke luxury spaces that have been designed with a particular use in mind. It’s important to compare prices and features across different suppliers, including the cost of installing utilities if these aren’t included in professional installation.
If you are considering a shed, summerhouse or garden office, be sure to take the size of your property into account, as well as how you’ll use it. Consider how much time you’ll spend in the space, whether it’s for leisure or work purposes, and prioritize which activities are most important. It’s also worth thinking about how the garden room will fit into your landscape, and its potential as a focal point of your garden.
Adding a garden room near me can transform the way you enjoy your garden, creating extra living space for relaxing, entertaining or working from home. Buyers are increasingly incorporating loos and showers into their designs, too. Some bespoke designers will provide conventional solutions that tap into the mains sewerage system, but most buyers choose to install their own private facilities in order to save money and ensure they comply with planning permission regulations.
The design of your garden room should blend in with your home and suit the style of your garden, either with a subdued color scheme or brighter hues that will act as a focal point. Look at the architecture of your house and make notes of elements you like or want to emulate, and look at examples of garden rooms from other gardens in your area for inspiration.
Once you’ve decided on a layout, it’s worth choosing the right plants for your garden room to add texture and colour, as well as providing shelter. Plants with multiple season interest are ideal, as are those that are low-maintenance and easy to care for. Shrubs and hedging provide structure, while groundcovers and perennial flowers such as bulbous oriental lilies, thyme, sweet alyssum and shrub roses provide colour and fragrance.
You can also add more permanent planting to your garden room, such as a hedge or tree or even a vegetable plot to grow your own food. This will create an instant sense of privacy and enclosure, while allowing you to eat fresh and local produce throughout the year. A well-stocked bird feeder and garden wildlife box will encourage a range of feathered friends to visit, too. Using a mix of permanent and seasonal plants will give your garden room the look and feel of a truly living, thriving space.