I’ve been around enough gardens over the years to see how garden rooms have gone from being a bit of a luxury to something plenty of people are seriously considering. The quality of what’s being built now is genuinely impressive, and I’ve seen some cracking examples that show just how far this industry has come. If you’re thinking about adding one to your property, it’s worth looking at what different companies around the country are doing well.
The Home Office That Actually Works
Up in Scotland, there’s a company called Garden Spaces who’ve been building some really thoughtful home office pods. I came across one of their builds in Edinburgh that had proper insulation, full electrics, and underfloor heating. The client worked from home full time and needed something that felt professional without being clinical.
What struck me was the attention to detail with the glazing. They’d positioned large windows to catch natural light without causing screen glare, which sounds simple but makes all the difference when you’re in there eight hours a day. The exterior was clad in Western Red Cedar that had already started to weather beautifully. This wasn’t just a shed with a desk in it. It was a proper workspace that happened to be at the bottom of the garden.
Garden Rooms as Creative Studios
Down in Cornwall, I saw what a local outfit called Cruise Garden Rooms had done with a pottery studio. The client needed something with loads of natural light, good ventilation for when the kiln was running, and enough space to store materials and finished pieces.
They’d built a structure with a pitched roof and a full wall of bifold doors that opened onto a paved area. On decent days, the potter could work with the doors fully open. The ceiling height gave the space a real sense of openness, which matters when you’re spending long stretches working on detailed pieces. The building sat on a proper concrete base with a membrane underneath, so there were no issues with damp or uneven floors.
The Garden Room Gym
A company called Green Retreats built something quite clever in the Cotswolds for someone who wanted a home gym but didn’t want to give up a bedroom for it. The garden room they designed had rubber flooring, reinforced joists to handle heavy equipment, and enough power supply to run a treadmill, sound system, and lighting without tripping the electrics.
What made it work was the planning. They’d positioned it far enough from the house that music wouldn’t disturb anyone, but close enough that you didn’t need to trek across a muddy lawn in January to get there. The large sliding doors meant equipment could be moved in and out easily, and there was still plenty of natural light for daytime workouts.
Entertaining Spaces Done Right
I’ve seen some lovely garden rooms designed purely for entertaining. There’s a firm in the Midlands called Smart Garden Offices who built what was essentially a garden pub for a client in Warwickshire. Fully insulated, with a small bar area, comfortable seating, and skylights that made the space feel bigger than it actually was.
The exterior matched the main house with render and timber cladding, so it didn’t look like an afterthought. Inside, they’d run proper lighting circuits with dimmers and installed a small fridge and sink. For anyone who likes hosting but doesn’t want people traipsing through the house all evening, it was spot on.
The Multi-Purpose Room
One of the most practical garden rooms I’ve encountered was built by a company in Sussex. The clients wanted something their teenage kids could use as a den, but that would eventually become a guest room or home office when the kids moved out.
The design was deliberately flexible. Neutral decoration, good storage built into the walls, and a layout that could accommodate different furniture arrangements. They’d included a small toilet and sink in one corner, which added to the versatility. When you’re investing several thousand pounds in a garden room, building in that kind of adaptability makes good sense.
Getting the Groundwork Right
What separates decent garden rooms from poor ones often comes down to the base and the connection to the main property. I’ve seen expensive buildings let down by inadequate foundations or poor drainage around the structure.
The best installations I’ve come across all had proper bases, usually reinforced concrete with a damp proof membrane. The area around the building needs thinking about too. If you’re working with experienced garden landscaping services, they’ll sort out pathways, drainage, and landscaping that makes the garden room feel like part of the garden rather than something plonked down as an afterthought.
What to Look for in a Garden Room
Build quality varies wildly, so it’s worth doing your homework. Visit showrooms if you can, or better yet, ask to see completed installations. Check what thickness insulation they’re using, what glazing specification they fit, and whether the electrics will be certified by a qualified spark.
Ask about warranties too. A ten year structural warranty is fairly standard for decent manufacturers. Anything less suggests they’re not confident in their own work.
The Planning Question
Most garden rooms under a certain size don’t need planning permission, but there are rules about how close they can be to boundaries and how much of your garden they can occupy. Building regulations might apply if you’re including a toilet or kitchen facilities. Get this checked before you commit to anything. No point spending twenty grand on something you’re then told to take down.
Making It Work for You
The best garden rooms I’ve seen are the ones where someone has thought carefully about how they’ll actually use the space. A home office needs different considerations to a gym, which needs different considerations to an art studio. Work out your priorities, get quotes from a few reputable companies, and don’t just go for the cheapest option. This is something you’ll hopefully use for years, so it’s worth getting right.
