BIG PROJECT
Outdoor living SPECIAL
Here’s how you can ACHIEVE THE DREAM without spending a fortune…
FEATURE: JULES BARTON-BRECK.
GOOD IDEA!
Lay a mini deck in front of your garden room to create a new zone
THAT’S CLEVER!
Matching your fence colour to an accent tone on the building ties the look together
Just imagine being able to step away from all the goings-on indoors and escape to an all-weather place that you can call your own (with space to share if necessary!). It appears we’re all spending more and more time in our outside spaces, and the huge trend in garden rooms shows that we really don’t want to leave!
Whether you’re working from home, dreaming of setting up your own business, fancy a home gym or need a spare bedroom or simply some extra living space, a garden room gives you year-round floorspace for far less than the cost of building an extension or converting the loft. It’s a smart investment too, potentially increasing the value of your property by up to 5%.
And with garden room prices coming down over the last couple of years, and more options coming onto the market, there are ways to achieve the dream without breaking the bank. Our in-the-know information and advice will ensure you make the right choice whatever your budget or garden size.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
Let’s bite the bullet and start with the price. Garden rooms range from around £1,500 to well over £25,000, and it’s important to understand what’s worth paying for, and what’s not. Almost all will come with roof and wall insulation as standard, so the room can be used all year round unlike a summerhouse – and this is essential, or it’ll be too cold in winter and unbearably hot in summer. But then consider what your needs are. The first question to ask is how long do you want this building to last for, as the more you spend, the higher the quality of construction materials to ensure longevity will be.
Next consider how much time you’ll be spending in it. Higher-spec buildings will normally have double-glazed glass doors and windows, which will make a huge difference to how comfortable the environment inside is. The option of choosing French, sliding or bifold doors, as well as being able to customise specifications, will mean you can tailor-make the room to your personal preferences.
And what will you be doing in it? Some come electrically wired-up with the cables incorporated within the wall structure, and there’s a huge range of security locking features. If you’re simply going to be using the building as an all-weather entertaining area, a retreat to craft or indulge in a hobby, or a den for your teenage kids so you can have some peace, then a more basic structure is probably all you need. But if you’re planning to use it as a bas
