Garden offices are quickly becoming one of the most desirable additions to a home. With the increase of people working remotely and starting their own small businesses a garden office gives you a private and cosy space at home for you to work distraction free. Having a separate office space at home really helps you maintain a healthy work life balance.  For families with children a garden office is also ideal to get your head down in peace without the hustle and bustle of home life. Technology and Wi-Fi is now at a suitable level across most of the UK ensuring you can maintain a steady internet connection even if your router is in your home.  A well-designed garden office will give you all the best benefits of working from home while improving your productivity.

Evaluate What You Need?

Your first step of garden office design will be evaluating what you need it for. Asking yourself questions like what day to day work will you be doing there; will you be inviting round colleagues and will you be conducting meetings within your office. These questions can really help you plan ahead from the outset. If you plan on having visitors to your garden office, then a bigger space with room for a meeting table or sofa will be ideal. If your garden office is going to be a space, just for you to work quietly then you can opt for smaller cosier environment.

Do You Need Planning Permission?

The vast majority of garden offices will not require planning permission. There has never been so much freedom to develop your home because of recently relaxed permitted development rules in England. Most people can construct a garden office with ample space without the need for planning permission. In the design phase of your build your contractor will be able to suggest if a planning application will be required or what tweaks can be made to your design to ensure you don’t have to go through the planning process.

What Electrical Equipment Do You Need?

A crucial feature of your garden office will be the electrical outlets. No one wants to run wires from their home to their garden especially in the winter months. By evaluating what electrical devices you will be using you will save yourself headaches down the line. Most garden offices will come with enough electrical outlets however if you are undertaking a larger development for you and a few colleagues then maybe you may need to incorporate extra power outlets into your design.

How is it Made?

When most people envision a garden office, they think of a log cabin. These are ideal for garden offices giving you a warm shelter to work in that will feel cosy all year round. Another option if you are thinking of a larger development is a full annex which will consist of being built out of brickwork rather than wood.

Insulating Your Garden Office

While garden offices do not require insulation it is best practice to think about getting yours adequately insulated to ensure it is comfortable to use all year round. A well-insulated garden office will help it retain heat during the winter meaning you will have to spend less on energy bills heating it. When it comes to insulation you will have a couple of choices there is:

– PIR (polyisocyanurate rigid boards)

– Wool Rolls

– Foam boards

Your insulation will be well hidden by your installer during the installation process. If you already have a garden office or log cabin, then you can purchase an insulation kit like this one.

Energy Efficiency

You can ensure your new garden office is more energy efficient by adding additional features aswell as insulation. Your windows and doors will be a key factor in the energy efficiency of your new office. You should look to be using UPVC doors and windows for your garden office. These are some of the most energy efficient windows and doors types and makes them perfect for a garden office of any size. Good quality UPVC windows and doors will not only help you stay warm in the winter but also allow for enough ventilation to cool the building during the hotter summer months.

Some of the best windows and doors on the market are supplied by Eurocell

Best Ways to Heat Your Garden Office

Even when insulated during the coldest of winter months you may need to look at alternate methods of heating your garden office. If this is the case then you could invest in a oil fired heater. These heaters warm a room very quickly and help them maintain warmth in even the coldest of winters.
You can find some oil fire heaters on amazon here

Life Changing Spaces Ltd Can Build You a Garden Office

If you have clear view on what you want for your garden office and what it will be used for then it is time to start the fun part! Getting an industry expert to construct your garden office or garden room for you. Life Changing Spaces Ltd have over 20 years’ experience building stunning log cabins, garden rooms, extensions, and garden offices.

If you would like a free quote, then you can contact us on –

Email: info@lifechangingspacesltd.co.uk

Call: 07813 909694

We look forward to hearing from you and getting started on your next garden office. We cover Greater Manchester and the Northwest.