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When space is tight at home, the obvious option for most homeowners is to plan an extension. This is an easy choice because house extensions are usually promoted by architectural firms as they improve marketability and function. But garden rooms are also a great way to gain extra space.
Traditional extensions like conservatories, orangeries, and glass extensions are often attached to the main house to provide extra room for the kitchen or the living area. While they are great for increasing a home’s value, the process can be tedious and costly.
Garden rooms are usually a more cost-effective way to increase your living space than a traditional extension. Homeowners spend only half of what they would usually invest for a home extension. Since garden rooms are free-standing structures, they do not require planning permission as long as a certain protocol is observed. Moreover, they are much faster to build, which makes them convenient even during the time of construction. You can still enjoy privacy in the main house while renovations are happening, because the room is not adjoined to the home.
Because garden rooms are separate, it is easier to design them using the materials that you prefer. There is no need to conform to the existing architectural structure of the main house. Timber and steel are the usual options for traditional aesthetics, while modern architecture promotes glass panels for a sleeker look. GlasSpace offers a variety of glass products that can elevate the style of your garden room.
Transforming your existing space into a garden room can be quite beneficial. Those lucky enough to have a garden at the rear of their homes can opt for this stylish, yet functional addition to their property. Self-contained garden rooms are in fact an excellent financial investment, with the potential to add value to your home without the hassle of major building work.
Having seen a surge in demand during lockdown with professionals working from home, garden rooms are a popular garden trend – and they can be used in lots of other ways too.
The most common uses of garden rooms
Garden buildings are a future-proof solution to adding space and value to a home, without having to go through tedious bureaucratic processes. These rooms are usually considered as “Permitted Development” on a property, which simplifies planning permission requirements.
Outstandingly practical, and also cost-effective, garden rooms are a low-effort way to create extra space at home.
Here are a few of the most common uses of garden rooms:
- Garden office – As mentioned above, garden offices gained popularity during lockdown, when professionals across the country saw them as a more practical alternative to working from the dining table or sofa.
- Craft studio – Whether you own a small business, or you’re looking for a quiet place to enjoy your hobbies, garden rooms make for amazing craft studios, giving you space to focus without distractions.
- Games room – Let’s be honest, what child or teenager wouldn’t love to have their very own games room? With the abilitiy to evolve as your family grows, a games room can accommodate anything – from board games to gaming consoles – that can no longer fit in your children’s rooms, freeing up precious space in your home.
- Garden gym – The much-desired home gym! Many of us dream of having one, and it does come with a few perks. Gone are the days of queuing to use a machine at the gym, plus a garden gym is a safe space where you can exercise in private whenever and however it suits you.
Additional perks of garden rooms
Garden rooms come in different shapes, forms, and materials, from wood to metal. When looking for the perfect room, it’s good to keep a few key factors in mind. The most important of these is who will be using the garden room, and why?
Choose a garden room that is well insulated if you are planning to make use of it throughout the year. Log cabins, for instance, are a highly-insulated solution that will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, while keeping running costs low too.
When it comes to the weather, you can never truly predict when and if it will start raining, so it’s hard to know when you’ll be able to spend time in the garden. Much like a conservatory, a garden room is an ideal outdoor space that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Garden rooms allow you to bring the party inside, without actually leaving your garden.
A log garden room like the one pictured below by log cabin manufacturers Norwegian Log can easily transition from an enclosed, cosy room to an open, breezy space. Having smart bi-fold doors at the front of your garden room will also let plenty of light in, allowing you to make the most of daylight while enjoying a clear view of your garden.
A flexible space that can change over time
If you had to define garden rooms in one word, it would probably be “flexible”.
Whether you’re a professional working from home, a hobbyist in need of a place to craft, a fitness fan who likes to work out at home, or a parent looking to free up some precious space in the house, a garden room might just be the answer to all of your problems.
And, if after a few years of serving its purpose it’s time for a change, you can always transform your garden room into a completely different space. You can even take it with you when you move!
How would you use a garden room to increase space in your home?
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