
Garden Room Ideas
Practical and inspiring ideas for creating a garden room that works for you
A garden room can be far more than a simple building at the end of the garden.
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It can become a home office, gym, studio, music room, bar, hobby space, wellness room, reading room or somewhere to relax away from the main house.
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The best garden room ideas begin with how you want to use the space.
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Once the purpose is clear, you can start to think about:
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size
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layout
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glazing
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furniture
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storage
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lighting
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cladding
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heating
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insulation
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landscaping
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privacy
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cost
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At APN Garden Rooms, we believe the most successful garden rooms are designed as proper living spaces rather than simply upgraded sheds.
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Garden Room Design Ideas
Good garden room design is about balancing appearance with function.
Before choosing a style, think about:
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how the room will be used
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how many people will use it
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whether it will be used all year
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whether you need plumbing
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where the best views are
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how much privacy you need
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how much garden you are prepared to lose
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Popular garden room design ideas include:
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contemporary flat roof rooms
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pitched roof studios
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timber clad garden rooms
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rooms with side canopies
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garden rooms with large sliding doors
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corner garden rooms
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L shaped garden rooms
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rooms with covered terraces
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multi purpose garden rooms
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The building should work with the garden rather than simply occupy it.
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Small Garden Room Ideas
Small garden rooms can be extremely useful when the layout is carefully planned.
A compact room may work well as:
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a single person office
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reading room
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art studio
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treatment room
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music practice room
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hobby room
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small gym
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For smaller rooms, efficient planning is especially important.
Consider:
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outward opening doors
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sliding doors
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built in shelving
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compact desks
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wall mounted storage
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carefully positioned windows
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lighter finishes
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minimal furniture
A small garden room does not need to feel cramped.
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The key is to make every part of the room work.
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Garden Rooms for Small Gardens
A small garden does not automatically rule out a garden room.
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In fact, a carefully positioned room can sometimes make the garden feel more organised.
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Good ideas for smaller gardens include:
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placing the room across the rear boundary
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using a corner of the garden
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keeping the footprint compact
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using vertical cladding
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reducing unnecessary external projections
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keeping landscaping simple
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using planting to soften the building
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Large areas of glazing can help make a small room feel brighter, but too much glass can reduce usable wall space.
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Balance is important.
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Garden Room Interior Ideas
The inside of a garden room should feel comfortable, practical and connected to the garden.
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Popular garden room interior ideas include:
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light timber finishes
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painted plaster walls
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slatted timber feature walls
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built in shelving
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timber flooring
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large format flooring
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acoustic wall panels
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integrated lighting
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concealed storage
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natural fabrics and finishes
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The interior should reflect the use of the room.
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A garden office, gym and music room all need different layouts and finishes.
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Garden Room Decor Ideas
Decor can completely change the feel of a garden room.
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Some homeowners prefer a calm, minimal interior.
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Others want something more colourful or expressive.
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Popular garden room decor ideas include:
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artwork
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indoor plants
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feature lighting
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rugs
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timber panelling
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decorative shelving
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soft furnishings
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acoustic wall panels
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statement furniture
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textured finishes
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Plants work particularly well because they visually connect the room with the garden outside.
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Garden Room Furniture Ideas
Furniture should be considered at the design stage, not afterwards.
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Popular garden room furniture ideas include:
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built in desks
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wall mounted shelving
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compact sofas
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storage benches
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folding tables
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modular seating
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fitted cupboards
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slimline desks
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floating shelves
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storage ottomans
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In smaller rooms, multifunctional furniture can be particularly useful.
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A storage bench, for example, can provide seating and hide equipment at the same time.
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Garden Office Ideas
A garden office is one of the most popular uses for a garden room.
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Good garden office ideas include:
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placing desks away from direct glare
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creating separate work zones for two people
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adding built in storage
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including good task lighting
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providing reliable data connections
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installing plenty of sockets
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allowing for heating and ventilation
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keeping some wall areas free from glazing
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The desk position should normally be decided before the windows and doors.
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That helps the room feel like a proper workplace rather than a garden building with a desk added later.
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Garden Office Interior Ideas
A garden office interior should be comfortable enough for long periods of use.
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Consider:
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ergonomic furniture
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good task lighting
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neutral wall colours
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acoustic treatment
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cable management
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shelving
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storage
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natural light
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ventilation
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A good office should feel separate from the house while still being comfortable enough for daily work.
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Garden Room Gym Ideas
A garden gym needs more planning than many people expect.
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Useful garden room gym ideas include:
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rubber flooring
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mirrors
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high level ventilation
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air conditioning
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strong floor construction
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open wall areas
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integrated storage
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sufficient ceiling height
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sound control
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Always check the dimensions of larger equipment before deciding on the room size.
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Treadmills, rowing machines and cable systems can take up a surprising amount of space.
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Garden Office and Gym Ideas
Combining an office and gym can work well in a larger garden room.
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You can create separate zones using:
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furniture
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floor finishes
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lighting
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partial screens
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storage
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changes in wall treatment
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The office area should remain visually calm, while the gym area can be more robust.
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Garden Bar Ideas
Garden bars can turn a garden room into a social space.
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Popular garden bar ideas include:
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built in bar counters
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back bar shelving
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under counter fridges
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feature lighting
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stools
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wine storage
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external serving hatches
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covered terraces
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outdoor seating
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A bar does not have to dominate the room.
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A compact fitted section can allow the room to remain flexible for other uses.
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Garden Room Bar Ideas
A garden room bar works particularly well when it connects directly to outdoor seating.
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Ideas include:
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sliding doors onto a terrace
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side canopies
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external counters
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integrated lighting
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covered seating areas
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fire pits
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outdoor kitchens
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This can make the garden room feel like part of the wider garden rather than a separate building.
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Garden Room Extension Ideas
Some homeowners use a garden room almost like an extension to the house.
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While the building remains detached, it can still provide valuable additional living space.
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Popular uses include:
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family rooms
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workspaces
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gyms
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hobby rooms
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wellness rooms
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studios
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entertainment rooms
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The key difference is that the room is accessed across the garden rather than directly from the house.
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Corner Garden Room Ideas
A corner garden room can be a very efficient use of space.
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It may work well where:
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the garden is wide
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there are mature trees
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the best view is diagonal
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you want to preserve the central lawn
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privacy is important
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A corner position can also help the building feel less dominant.
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Garden Room Cladding Ideas
Cladding has a major impact on appearance.
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Popular garden room cladding ideas include:
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cedar
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thermowood
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painted timber
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vertical cladding
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horizontal cladding
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composite cladding
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dark stained timber
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mixed cladding systems
Vertical cladding often creates a more contemporary appearance.
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Horizontal boards tend to feel more traditional.
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Dark finishes can help a garden room blend into planting.
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Cheap Garden Room Ideas
Keeping costs under control does not mean choosing a poor quality room.
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Good cheap garden room ideas usually involve simplifying the design.
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You can reduce cost by:
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using a simple rectangular footprint
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choosing standard size doors and windows
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limiting unnecessary glazing
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avoiding complex roof shapes
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keeping plumbing close to existing services
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reducing structural complexity
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sourcing materials directly
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obtaining multiple builder quotations
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Good design can often save more money than cutting the specification later.
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Garden Room Plans
Garden room plans should show more than just the external dimensions.
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A useful plan should consider:
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finished internal size
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wall thickness
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glazing
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doors
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furniture
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storage
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electrics
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heating
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lighting
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plumbing
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circulation
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Good plans can also help builders price the work more accurately.
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Garden Room Layout Ideas
A practical layout normally begins with furniture.
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Before placing windows and doors:
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position the desk
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position the gym equipment
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decide where the sofa will go
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identify the main working wall
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decide where storage is needed
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This helps determine:
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where doors should be
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where windows should be
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which walls need to remain solid
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where sockets are required
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how people will move through the room
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A simple layout can make a relatively small garden room feel far more spacious.
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Outdoor Garden Room Ideas
A garden room works best when the surrounding garden is considered at the same time.
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Outdoor ideas may include:
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decking
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patios
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pergolas
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covered seating
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planting
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lighting
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fire pits
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pathways
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water features
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The transition between the room and the garden can be just as important as the building itself.
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Garden Room Inspiration
Good garden room inspiration often comes from the site.
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Look at:
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existing trees
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planting
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views
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sunlight
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privacy
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neighbouring properties
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access routes
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existing patios
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garden levels
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The room should feel as though it belongs in the garden.
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How APN Garden Rooms Can Help
At APN Garden Rooms, we start with the design.
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Our garden room collections give you a professionally designed starting point that can then be adapted around:
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your garden
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your intended use
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your preferred size
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your chosen materials
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your budget
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You are not tied to one installer or one supplier.
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You can use the design and technical information to obtain competitive quotations from local builders and trades.
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Build Your Own Garden Room and Potentially Save 40 to 50%
Turnkey garden room companies usually include design, sales, management, overheads and profit within the final price.
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By separating the design from the build, you can take greater control.
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Using an APN Garden Rooms plan pack allows you to:
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choose the design you want
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adapt it if required
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obtain your own builder quotations
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source materials directly
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choose your doors and windows
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choose your finishes
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manage the build yourself if you wish
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Depending on the design, location, specification and how the project is managed, it may be possible to save around 40 to 50% compared with some equivalent turnkey garden room packages.
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The aim is not to reduce quality.
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It is to reduce unnecessary layers of cost.
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Start With the Right Garden Room Idea
The best garden room is not necessarily the largest or most expensive.
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It is the one that suits:
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your home
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your garden
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your lifestyle
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your budget
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Start with the idea.
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Choose the design.
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Adapt it if necessary.
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Then decide how you want it built.
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Browse our garden room designs and find the starting point for your project.
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