Over the past couple of years, possibly no addition to a home has been as much of a desirable feature than a garden room. Offering space to work, play or host guests, discovering how to build a garden room will give your house so many more possibilities.
Less intrusive and more affordable than traditional extensions, garden room ideas let you separate off sections of your life. Plus, it’s a natural place to seek quiet, or contain noisier pursuits, like if someones learning anew instrument.
‘A garden room can give you the opportunity to create a space outside of your home within the boundaries of your garden,’ says Jamie Wilson, Founder, Life Space Cabins. ‘This may be for a number of reasons; A place to escape to and read a book, a family craft space or simply an additional room to entertain friends. The uses are endless but the opportunity to create a unique space just for you can be hugely exciting.’
Read on to discover everything you need to know about how to build a garden room.
Image credIt: Future PLC/Colin Poole
By definition, a garden room is a glazed extension with a fully tiled roof. Garden rooms can either be freestanding, which is a popular choice for home offices, or attached to an existing building. ‘More people now choose a garden room rather than looking at conservatory ideas, since their solid roof construction makes them highly suitable for year-round living,’ notes David Salisbury of David Salisbury Joinery.
The simplest cabin or summer house is similar to a shed, with either shiplap walls and cedar roof shingles or a log-cabin construction. These are usually supplied in pre-fabricated panels and, if you’re a skilled DIYer, you could put one up yourself.
More advanced garden room designs, with sliding glass doors or a deck, for example, will need to be built on site by a specialist. Once the concrete base or piles are in, installation can take from one day to two weeks.
Image credit: Modulr Space
When deciding upon a garden room, think carefully about how you’d like to use the space – and your budget for garden room costs. ‘If you are considering sacrificing some of your garden or outdoor space for a garden room make sure you have really considered how and when you will want to use it,’ advises Jo van Riemsdijk, Director, Modulr Space. ‘Any garden room should be an extension of your living space as opposed to subsequent to it.’
Once you know what you want to use the space for, you can start planning the other details. For example, consider how large you want it to be versus how much of your garden square footage you’re willing to sacrifice. ‘Will you want to use the room all year round?,’ adds Jo. ‘If so – you should think about the insulative U value and also how you will heat it when the weather gets cold.’
Location is one of the first things that should be considered. ‘Where does the sun rise and fall?,’ asks Jamie from Life Space Cabins. ‘Be aware of your family. Don’t build it somewhere which entails a big climb or long walk if Granny is going to be a regular visitor.’
Avoid positioning the garden room near growing trees, and ensure there’s access for maintenance. You’ll also need to think about access for delivery, though panels could be carried through the house.
As for securing your garden room, it’s best to fit locks on doors and choose toughened glass. Check that the locks comply with your home insurance requirements. It’s worth considering external lights, a burglar alarm and Venetian blinds to prevent anyone seeing in.
Next, consider the layout. ‘Think plan versus nooks and alcoves,’ says Jamie. ‘You want to encourage being together whilst maintaining a peaceful place. Think about a large window seat to create a calm solo space without being hidden away. Think about how the space will adapt as your family grows or gets older?’
Connectivity is also important right from the off. ‘Have a think about how you will connect with each other,’ suggests Jamie. ‘Can you go without the internet or perhaps a cinema screen is the ultimate way your family can spend time together.
Finally, have fun with designing the garden room. ‘This could be your opportunity to design some really playful elements into a space,’ points out Jamie. ‘Sliding doors, hanging chairs, bookshelf, hammocks or craft table.’
Image credit: Life Space Cabins
There isn’t an across the board answer on this one.’ Typically cabins within the domestic curtilage don’t require planning permission or building regulations, as permitted development allows you to build (within strict criteria) without a full planning application,’ points out Jamie from Life Space Cabins. ‘There are some exceptions – if you are within a conservation area; a National Park; near or in the curtilage of a listed building or in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB then you will need to acquire full cabin planning permission.’
‘A general rule of thumb is that you won’t need planning permission for an outbuilding with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and a maximum roof height of four metres with a dual pitched roof,’ adds Jo from Modulr Space. ‘Even so, a structure that might not require planning consent in one set of circumstances might need it in another. Whatever you are building, it’s always worth consulting your local planning officer first.’
So while typically if your garden or summer house ideas are away from the house, takes up less than 50% of the garden and is smaller than 15 sq m, you’re unlikely to need planning permission or Building Regulations Approval. Remember that is you intend to have people sleeping there this can affect planning permissions, too. However always check with www.planningportal.gov.uk, and consult your local council’s planning department.
Image credit: Future PLC/Claire Lloyd-Davies
How to build a garden room will be impacted by neighbours to some degree. How close you can go varies depending on local restrictions and the height of your new building.
While you should always check with your local council there are some rule of thumb guidelines to bear in mind. ‘A garden room should always be built with at least half a meter around it in order for the structure to be maintained,’ advises Jo from Modulr Space. ‘If the roof of your garden room goes to the max of 4 meters with a dual pitched roof – your garden room should be at least four meters away from any boundary.’
Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Eltes
To maximise the potential of your garden build all year round you should look for a design that is well insulated. If your garden room is insulate well and fit double-glazed windows, you’ll be fine to still use it for the colder months. ‘ Look for the U value – the lower the figure – the more effective the insulation,’ advises Jo from Modulr Space.
An electrician can run a cable from your house to the room to power lights and heating to ensure the space is useable throughout the darker, colder months. Some garden rooms mat also have underfloor heating and thermal glazing systems to minimise heat loss.
In addition to heating, lighting is important. In some cases, downlighters, sockets and wiring may be pre-installed in the panel walls, too.
Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme
Garden rooms can be made from all sorts of different materials – both indoors and out. Timber and metal solutions are the most popular for the exterior.
‘Think hygge when choosing the right interior materials,’ advises Jamie from Life Space Cabins. ‘Wood creates a lovely welcoming smell and softness to the space. But vinyl flooring is having a comeback with plenty of colours to choose from. It makes a hard wearing choice. For cabin foundations, ground screws can be used instead of a concrete plinth. Cement is energy intensive to produce whereas ground screws are much less disruptive to the earth, allowing the site to be used for other purposes in the future if required.’
‘As a general note, ensure timber is responsibly sourced (locally sourced, FSC or PEFC certified, or marked where possible),’ adds Jamie. ‘Avoid using materials that have a larger carbon footprint in favour of alternative UK sources. Don’t be afraid to ask a supplier where materials are sourced from.’
Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole
How you use a garden room depends on the build, as to whether or not you run electrics to a new garden building or simply upgrade the shed.
For garden office ideas, the primary considerations are internet strength and lighting. Make sure you can do your job safely and with ease, otherwise you’ll never use the space.
Are you considering using your garden room as a home gym? ‘Talk to your supplier about whether you might need a reinforced flooring system,’ advises Jo from Modulr Space. ‘Some units are created from SIPS panels and a dropped heavy weight on the floor could damage the structure.’
‘You should consider head height. Will you be able to use the room as a gym or will you need to go for an increased height if you are tall? Remember that permitted development allows for 2.5 meters in height on a boundary moving to 4 meters at the peak of a roof if the unit is 2 meters away from any boundary.’ Expensive gym equipment can be an investment, so ensure your security is up to scratch.
For a garden games room you’ll need plenty of space to play table games – L247cm x W153cm for a table tennis table, for example. Make this the main factor when planning the layout and size. Fancy making yours a music room? Look for a specialist company that offers sound-proofing.
‘Look for designs and structures that offer longevity and the ability to be used for alternative functions’ says Jo. ‘Ultimately – you get what you pay for with garden rooms. As opposed to a house extension – they offer good value if you pick one that will be around and useful for a long period of time.’
The post How to build a garden room – from planning permission to materials appeared first on Ideal Home.
Updating your garden can feel like an almighty project, and it can be hard to know where to begin. Overhauling your outdoor space means thinking about your garden as a whole – from your lawn and borders to patios, furniture, and storage.
And all these individual elements soon rack up. Cut the cost of your garden makeover with our budget garden ideas, tips, and tricks from experts.
It’s the year of the garden, but also the year of the cost of living going through the roof. Here’s what garden designers had to say about keeping costs down while still achieving a high-end look in your space.
Image credit: Dobbies
If you’re already contemplating making some changes, now is the perfect time to look at the space you have with fresh eyes. Imagine it’s not your garden, but that you’re a garden designer transforming the space for a client on a tight budget.
Your Garden Made Perfect designer Tayshan Hayden-Smith says the best way to make a statement in a garden on a budget is to use the space in new and inventive ways. ‘Anywhere has the potential to be a garden,’ he argues.
‘A wall, the floor, a ledge, a pot… nature will find its way,’ the low-cost builds expert adds. ‘Get creative with the way you use space.’ If your garden ideas and layout have been the same for several years, now is the time to shake things up and reimagine the space to better suit your needs.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Douglas Gibb
Even in a tiny garden, you’ll want to have a couple of zones: a space for entertaining, an area for growing your own veg, and perhaps a patch you’re leaving to grow wild. One cost-effective way to delineate zones in your garden is to group together pots of beautiful exotic plants with giant leaves.
These will form a natural screen, making your space feel more private, as well as creating a striking feature. Using planting instead of trellises, pergolas or walls to zone your garden will give you flexibility and means you don’t have to spend money on hard landscaping. Sophie Birkert, a designer from Screen With Envy recommends planting Canna Musifolia.
This variety has dramatic, paddle-shaped leaves and exotic flowers (although you will need to find a frost-free place to store it in winter). Sophie also suggests planting a banana palm, such as Red Abyssinian, Colocasia (Elephant Ears), and Fatsia Polycarpa ‘Green Fingers.’
Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore
Lighting can totally transform your garden, and there are loads of cheap options. Solar stakes are brilliant and you can arrange them however you like and watch them come on in the evening.
There’s no professional landscaping required, just pick up some solar lights, some festoon lighting and lanterns and create lots of ambience.
Image credit: Colin Poole
If patio ideas or a garden path are part of your vision, there are ways to save without compromising on style. ‘If laying a patio is in your budget, an oversized garden paving slab in a light, neutral colour will give a contemporary look,’ says garden designer Heather McDougall.
‘To save money on laying a slabbed path, use slabs intermittently. Use complementary coloured pea gravel to fill the remaining areas.’
This idea has become a big trend that we spotted at the Chelsea Flower Show 2021. The ‘patchwork patio’ or ‘tapestry lawn’ is all about mixing paving and soft planting to create a colourful checkerboard effect.
Use half the amount of paving and sow wildflower seeds in the gaps to cut costs on your garden makeover and create a whimsical point of interest.
Patio aside, if you had planned to incorporate paving into your front garden ideas but don’t think you have the budget for it, gravel and pebbles could be a cheaper alternative. This gravel effect can also look lovely as a border or can be used to go around other features in an outdoor space — like underneath this sun lounger bench.
Image credit: Future PLC/James French
Garden designer Jilayne Rickards says her approach to garden design is to do as little as possible with the site rather than remove everything and replace with new. This kind of method is sustainable and keeps costs down.
‘Try and work with existing soil rather than replacing it, use existing plants that are healthy and useful and plant to support the existing wildlife whilst trying to increase biodiversity,’ she advises.
Image credit: Future PLC/Joanna Henderson
If you really want to save money, spend time watching lots of tutorials online and learn from your mistakes. There’s no reason you can’t DIY a garden pergola, potting bench or raised beds, and it’ll give you something you’re really proud of.
‘Look online for creative solutions and try to learn how to build, implement and grow,’ says low-cost builds expert Tayshan Hayden-Smith. The designer from Your Garden Made Perfect (available on iPlayer) says ‘Labour is often very costly on garden builds and if you can get some of that work done yourself, you’ll be able to save loads.’
Take pride in the process of building something and watching it evolve in your garden. You’ll also end up with something totally unique.
Image credit: Tom Meadows
Garden designer Jack Wallington tells Ideal Home, ‘I always think of gardens across the long term, think about how the things you buy will last across ten years rather than a quick fix for this year.’
It can be tempting to go mad on discounted pieces to fulfil your budget garden ideas. But planning for the future and investing in products that will stand the test of time is actually a better use of money, rather than opting for flimsier, cheaper items.
Jack adds, ‘Too often, people buy throwaway items or bargain plants thinking they’re saving money, and then feel frustrated when the cheap furniture breaks or the plants die, leading to repeat expenses the following spring.
‘Choose plants much more carefully, doing research into each one to check size and that it matches the conditions of your garden. A shrub or perennial that likes your garden’s soil and climate, and won’t out grow your space, will give you value for years, if not decades.’
Image credit: Colin Poole
For those really looking to save the pennies, another top tip from Jack is to get stuck in and grow plants yourself. This is even possible in grassless garden ideas using pots and vertical garden ideas like the one above.
‘Of course, another way to save money in the garden is to grow most of the plants yourself from seeds or cuttings,’ he adds. ‘Coordinate with friends to do the same and between you, you’ll have a garden centre’s worth of plants to share.’
Follow our guide to how to make compost for even bigger savings.
Image credit: Claire Lloyd Davies
‘Always question if you really need lots of hard landscaping,’ says Jack Wallington. ‘It’s often the most expensive element in a garden.’
There’s also the option to do it yourself, rather than hire a professional landscaper — as this will no doubt save on garden landscaping costs. There are lots of books, online guides or even short construction courses to help you along. And most building materials are easy to find at garden centres and builders merchants. Just be prepared to get stuck in.
Also, be sure to consult our garden landscaping ideas.
Image credit: Colin Poole
The truth is, there may be no need to splash out on new pieces, as you might already have materials around your home and garden you can use for your garden makeover. It’s also worth buying second-hand items to keep costs down, and looking at places like Facebook Marketplace and FreeCycle.
Another classic budget-friendly option is learning how to make pallet garden furniture. You can buy three pallets for as little as £7.50 on eBay – just add paint and cushions and you’ll have yourself a two-seater outdoor sofa.
‘I love upcycling existing elements within a garden rather than adding to landfill, says Ana Sanchez-Martin. ‘Last year I managed to save a beautiful old Victorian greenhouse working with a wonderful craftsman who helped me repurpose it and give it a new lease of life.’
Ana says it was a labour of love to clean and restore the old cast iron and design and make new fittings for it, but the result was beautiful, and kind to nature.’
Jilayne Rickards agrees saying: ‘Using pre-owned furniture or ornamentation gives a garden automatic character and, even within a contemporary setting, something aged acting as a counterbalance is wonderful to see.’
Image credit: Simon Whitmore
Clean your BBQ and get another year out of it, because you might reap the financial rewards. Data from comparison website PriceRunner shows that October is the best time to get a great deal on the best BBQs, as retailers clear out older models to make room for new ones for the following spring.
Also, according to Luxury Rattan, February 7th is the best time to buy outdoor furniture in order to avoid the mad rush come spring.
Image credit: Future/David Giles
Just like the inside of your house, paint is always a brilliant, cheap way to give your space a refresh. Whether it’s a shed, summer house or some garden chairs, sometimes old furniture just needs a fresh lick of paint to give it a new lease of life.
Jack says: ‘Old garden furniture is often thrown away but can easily be spruced up with a good sanding down and painting with exterior paints. Outdoor paints come in a wide variety of colours now. Not only does this save money, it’s more sustainable by saving good furniture from adding to landfill.’
Richard Berry, Marketing Manager of Lidget Compton, adds: ‘Repainting outdoor buildings is a great way to transform the overall look of a garden, yet is relatively inexpensive.’
‘Outdoor furniture and buildings are exposed to various types of weather, be that mild or extreme, so it’s important to choose the appropriate paint when renovating your garden for longevity and to cut future costs.’
Image credit: Colin Poole
‘Quality furniture made of metal or wood will last for many years if protected with covers in the winter months. Hard landscaping like patios and fences installed by a professional should last a decade, if not more,’ adds Jack Wallington.
‘Approaching gardens in this way with a higher investment in the first year than you might like, ultimately brings you much bigger savings with each passing year.’
In terms of the materials themselves, Dulcie from Selby Landscapes says, ‘Softwood timber decking doesn’t last as long as composite decking, but stone would also give this best quality and longevity for most areas.’
Our ways to cut the cost of a garden makeover should save you a pretty penny. Check back regularly for more brilliant money-saving ideas.
The post 13 ways to cut the cost of a garden makeover – expert tips to save appeared first on Ideal Home.
