Garden Rooms were one of the Top Ten Home Improvements Last Year

Given the events of the last two years or so, the popularity of garden rooms in the UK is hardly surprising. While we have long had a love affair with our gardens and sought to enjoy all that outdoor living had to offer, a certain pandemic came along and saw our garden space taking on a new meaning.

Tired of 12 months or more of being confined to a kitchen table, workers branched out and began to realise the benefits of a garden office. A regular feature in UK gardens since the mid-2000s, 2021 saw them exploding in popularity.

Perhaps you are looking at how to make the most of your garden space? Maybe you're seeking a luxury garden room, a garden gym, or a garden office pod? No matter what you’re looking for, when it comes to garden rooms they are certainly not all created equal.

We’re going to explore the options that you have when it comes to your very own garden room. We’re also going to explore the benefits of a steel frame garden room so that you can decide what would work best for you.

Garden Room Considerations

Before you go ahead and buy your garden room, you’re going to need to pause and consider a few things. Are you looking for a luxury garden room or something maybe that will come in at a lower price? Are you looking for bespoke or ‘off the shelf’? Do you know what you want to use your garden room for and the features that you might benefit from?

Looking at price is often where people start when considering a garden room in the UK. It could be that you’re looking at one of the traditional summer houses that are made of wood, a log cabin, or even a steel frame garden frame. Your choice will have an impact on the price, but also on the

quality. Some of the cheaper options will allow you the choice to self-build which can bring some savings.

If you’re able to spend more and look at garden pod options, you will find that what you get is a structure that is much sturdier. These will also be insulted and heated meaning that they can be enjoyed the whole year round - a must with the great British weather!

Another consideration that you’ll need to give if you want to join in the great garden room phenomenon, is the space that you’re going to need and where exactly you will place it. While it’s often not required, just be sure that there is no need for planning permission before you get too carried away with your plans.

Popular Uses for a Garden Room in the UK

While garden rooms certainly took off last year, there was a great deal of variation when it came to how people were intending to use them. Of course, the rise in home working saw the garden office really take off, and this is something that we’ll look at in more detail shortly. Some of the other common uses for garden rooms in the UK include:

A home gym

Multi-purpose space

An area for socialising and entertaining

A music room or space for hobbies such as arts and crafts

Yoga Studio

Children’s playroom

Observatory

A top-of-the-range steel frame garden room is going to last you at least 40 years. With that in mind, it could be that the use of your garden room varies over time. Maybe now you need a garden office. Down the line, you may transform this into a luxury garden room used for entertaining. That means that when you’re first looking at your choice of the garden room, it is worth planning for the longer term.

Garden Office - work from home in style

One of the most popular uses for garden rooms, on the back of the pandemic, has been as a garden office. For some, this became a necessity rather than a luxury. Where space was tight inside, making the most of the outdoors made perfect sense. It also allowed people to shut the door on work for the night and go ‘home’ as if they spent a day at the actual office.

If you’re looking at using your space for working, a garden office pod is a great choice. With this, you’ll find that you can include all of the electrics that you need to run your equipment, as well as

your broadband.

Of course, to finish off the perfect garden office, you’re going to need to furnish it well too. You’ll need to think about the best in office desks, chairs, and any other equipment that will allow you to work in the utmost comfort.

How much will I need to spend on a Garden Room in the UK?

The cost of garden rooms can vary greatly. We have already looked at some of the options that are available, and each of these will carry a different price tag. Perhaps you’re just looking for something simple. In this case, you can pick up a log cabin for around the £4,500 mark. You’ll need to put this up yourself, but it is a great budget option. The downside is the lack of insulation which restricts how many months of the year you can enjoy your new space.

If your budget will allow, you can find a garden room that is more sturdy and, more importantly, insulated. Insulation may be an extra cost, but it’s certainly worth it if you can then use your outdoor space for 12 months of the year. You may have the option here of installing yourself, or you may need to budget for a professional to do this for you.

If you’re wanting to go full in and reward yourself with the very best, then you will need to consider a steel frame garden room. At the higher end of the market, starting prices are around the £20,000 mark. We’ll go into more detail around exactly what that will get you a little later.

Bespoke vs budget

A look at the cost of a garden room in the UK love shows just how wide the range is. You may be wondering what the differences are with a bespoke garden room compared to one that you can buy on a tighter budget. Some of the biggest benefits that you’ll receive by going bespoke with a

garden pod are:

A garden room built just for you

Thicker walls and sturdier construction

Higher quality materials

Insulation

Double glazing

Heating

Air conditioning

Underfloor heating

A guiding factor as to what you will actually need goes back to those first considerations. It is all about knowing what you are planning to do with your garden room and what you need to get the very best out of it.

Do I really need insulation and heating?

Whether it’s a luxury garden room or your perfect garden office, you need to know how much use you want to get out of your space. If you are wanting to get the best out of your garden room, you want to be able to use it all year round. The great British weather means that is not always guaranteed and so you need to take some extra steps yourself.

To use your garden room for the full 12 months, you’re going to need to make sure that it is cool enough during the summer months but is also able to keep you warm when the cold weather kicks in.

Of course, the location of your room may help to some extent. Placing it where you get the best from the sun can give your garden room a little boost. However, there is no getting away from the fact that garden rooms in the UK really do need heating and insulation, unless you are only looking for minimal use throughout the year.

Where’s the best place to position my garden room?

The truth is, there is no one set location that can be given for a garden room. The position that suits you will depend on the size of your garden, the size of your garden room, and exactly what you are looking to achieve. Many people think about the sunlight or shade that they will get and choose a position based on this.

While sunlight and shade matter, it is also worth thinking about your view. When your start enjoying your luxury garden room or working away in your garden office, what would you like to be able to see? There may be some parts of your garden that are visually more appealing than others.

Of course, if you have any features, such as large trees or a garden pond, these are going to have an impact and where your garden room can go. When choosing the garden room that is right for you, it is worth exploring how easy they may be to move, just in case you change your mind!

Will a garden room add value to my home?

Just like going ahead with the likes of an extension or loft conversion, the addition of a garden room can add to the value of your home. Just how much it may add will depend on a variety of things such as the style of your outdoor space.

If you are looking at a steel frame garden room, this is a fairly substantial investment. It is one that is worth making so that you can enjoy all of the comforts and luxuries that it affords. While adding value to your home is possible, it shouldn’t be the driving factor behind your decision.

When you have experienced all that a bespoke garden room can bring, you may decide that should you, move, you don’t want to leave it behind. Make sure you explore how easy it would be to take your garden room with you should you ever move.

Where can I buy a garden room?

Where you can buy a garden room from in the UK, will depend upon the type that you’re looking for. You may be able to buy flat pack budget options from the likes of DIY chains. There are also companies that specialise in just garden rooms who will be able to give you a more personalised service.

If you are looking for a steel frame garden room, one that is of the very best quality, and completely bespoke, there is only one real choice: OffPOD.

Why choose OffPOD?

At OffPOD, we provide garden pods that are as unique as you are. Every garden building that we supply is 100% bespoke. You get to choose its size and you get to choose its design. Of course, we’re on hand to guide you and to make sure that you get the very best garden room for you.

With OffPOD, you are getting the utmost in luxury. These are garden rooms that are designed and built to last but are also at the top end when it comes to comfort. With insulation and heating (and even the option of underfloor heating), you get to enjoy your garden office or luxury room all year round.

OffPOD offers steel frame garden rooms and these come with some great benefits that see your garden room lasting:

Unlike timber, there is no splitting or cracking to worry about

Moisture won’t lead to warping or rotting

There’s no need to worry about woodworm or insect infestations

Steel is not porous so that means that mould and mildew are not a concern

Whether you're looking for a garden office, a home gym, a place to entertain, or anything else, OffPOD garden rooms offer the solution. What you get here is service and quality that can’t be

matched elsewhere.

If you want to make the most of your outdoor space, why not get in touch today and let us show you all that we have to offer?