The UK weather can be unpredictable, which means opportunities to spend time outdoors can be limited even during the summer months. But thanks to the rising trend for garden rooms, there is a way that you can get the most out of your outdoor spaces whilst remaining sheltered from the elements – and better yet, you can also maximise your living space, storage space, and any other type of usable space in the process of having one built.
As well as making an aesthetically pleasing addition to your carefully manicured garden, these versatile structures offer a multitude of benefits besides, and make for a practical and visually appealing solution for various needs. Offering the perfect way to bring the outdoors indoors and vice-versa – both of which are also major trends in the home and garden design space at the moment – there are numerous reasons investing one could be a move you’ll wish you’d made sooner. We asked the experts at Quick-Garden.co.uk to share their top five to get you started.
Versatility
The great thing about garden rooms is that they are endlessly versatile, and ultimately, can be anything you want them to be. From music rooms to man caves, libraries to social spaces, the possibilities are endless – and if, at any time, you get bored with the original use or find yourself needing more space for other purposes, then you can easily change things up with minimal fuss. Other popular uses to get you feeling inspired include home offices and gyms, but essentially, a garden room is a flexible space for you to do with exactly as you wish.
Connection with nature
There’s a reason that bringing the outdoors indoors has proved to be such a popular trend, and garden rooms offer a unique opportunity to connect with the outdoors whilst enjoying the comfort of indoor living. The key is in the design, and opting for a garden room that features large windows or sliding doors so that plenty of light can flow in is key. From inside your garden room, you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the plants, flowers and wildlife outside – something that has been shown to boost productivity and enhance your overall sense of wellbeing. So if you’re planning on making your room into a home office then you can be sure you’ll get plenty of work done, or if you’re envisaging a relaxing space, then it’ll be just that.
Increased property value
From a practical standpoint, adding a garden room to your property is a wise move in more ways than one, because as well as increasing the amount of functional space you have available to you, it can also significantly enhance your home’s market appeal and resale value. Whether or not you’re thinking of selling up any time soon, garden rooms are becoming increasingly sought-after by luxury home buyers and could make all the difference between someone purchasing your property and another. The better-designed and more expertly constructed your garden room, the more it will boost your home’s value and potentially fetch you a higher return on investment for your home when the time comes to move.
A cost-effective and time-efficient solution
Traditional home extensions or renovations can cost eye-watering amounts, and often, jobs like these drag on for far longer than originally intended, bringing undue stress into your home while you wait for the work to be completed. Garden rooms offer an appealing alternative for expanding your living space, and require less materials and lower cost to build as well as taking far less time and labour to bring to fruition. You might still need planning permission, but some garden rooms do not – it all depends on their size and where they are going to be located, so be sure to look into this before going ahead with the project. Those that don’t are an even more attractive prospect because they also minimise any administrative obstacles you may have to overcome to get the job done.
Enhanced lifestyle
Beyond the practical considerations, a garden room can dramatically elevate your day-to-day life by providing you with a dedicated space for what you need one for the most. If your home is busy with family then having a secluded corner to escape to to relax with a cup of tea and a book can significantly reduce your stress levels and provide you with some much needed respite, while if the children are always making a mess with toys and games in the living room then creating an outdoor playroom just for them will reduce clutter and ensure that everyone is happy. However you choose to use your garden room, you’ll be surprised at just what a positive difference it can make to your lifestyle.