Garden Rooms With Storage and Sheds

Garden Room With Side Storage

Side storage is one of the most practical layouts.
 

The main room occupies most of the building, with a narrower storage section running alongside it.
 

This can work particularly well where the storage area has its own external door.
 

The result is effectively two rooms under one roof:

Main Garden Room + Separate Store
 

The store does not necessarily need the same level of internal finish as the occupied room.
 

That can help keep costs under control.

 

Garden Room With Shed Storage

A shed section can be designed to suit the way the homeowner actually uses the garden.
 

It can include:

• wall hooks

• shelving

• tool racks

• bike brackets

• cupboards

• workbench

• charging points

• mower space
   

Designing this in from the beginning is usually much better than trying to fit storage into whatever space is left over.

 

Two Room Garden Shed

Some homeowners search for a two room garden shed when what they really need is a garden room with a separate storage compartment.
 

One room can be fully finished and insulated.
 

The second can be simpler and used for storage.
 

This arrangement can be useful for:

• office + shed

• studio + store

• gym + bike room

• hobby room + workshop

• bar + storage

• garden room + utility area
  
   

Garden Shed Home Office

A traditional shed can sometimes be converted into a home office, but there are limitations.
 

Many standard sheds are not designed for:

• year round insulation

• large glazing

• heating

• airtightness

• good ventilation

• permanent electrical installation
   

A purpose designed garden office with shed storage generally provides a much better long term solution.
 

The office can be built as a proper insulated room, while the storage section remains simpler.

 

Garden Sheds and Offices

There is no reason why these need to be separate projects.
 

The same building can be designed to satisfy both requirements.
 

This can reduce:

• visual clutter

• duplicated foundations

• duplicated roofs

• separate doors

• separate planning considerations

• wasted gaps between structures
   

It can also help create a much more professional finish.

 

Integrated Storage Versus a Separate Shed

 

A separate shed can be useful, but integrated storage has several advantages.

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Better Appearance

Everything looks like one building.

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Better Use of Space

There is no wasted gap between two structures.

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Easier Landscaping

Paths, patios and planting can be planned around one building.

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More Secure

Storage can be designed with proper doors and locks.

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More Flexible

The size of the store can be adjusted to suit what needs to be kept inside.

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Storage Does Not Need the Same Specification

 

One of the biggest cost advantages is that the storage section does not necessarily need to match the internal specification of the main room.

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The occupied room may need:

• insulation

• plasterboard

• heating

• finished flooring

• glazing

• decorative finishes

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The storage section may only need:

• secure walls

• suitable floor

• lighting

• ventilation

• shelving

• durable internal finish

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This means the additional floor area can potentially be created much more economically.

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Bike Storage

 

Bicycles can take up a surprising amount of space.

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A dedicated bike section can include:

• wall mounted racks

• floor stands

• helmet storage

• charging points for electric bikes

• tool storage

• cleaning equipment

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Keeping bikes in their own compartment also prevents mud and dirt entering the main garden room.

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Garden Tool Storage

 

Garden tools are another obvious use.

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A properly planned store can accommodate:

• lawnmower

• strimmer

• hedge trimmer

• spades

• forks

• ladders

• pressure washer

• hoses

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Shelving and vertical storage can make a relatively small area work very efficiently.

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Storage for Outdoor Furniture

 

Garden furniture often needs to be protected during the winter.

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A storage section can provide somewhere for:

• cushions

• parasols

• chairs

• covers

• outdoor heaters

• accessories

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This can help extend the life of the furniture and keep the garden looking tidier.

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Garden Room With Workshop Storage

 

Where the garden room is also used for DIY or hobbies, a workshop section may be useful.

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This could include:

• workbench

• tool storage

• power sockets

• shelving

• machinery

• material storage

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The workshop can remain separate from the cleaner office or leisure space.

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Garden Room With Gym Storage

 

A gym can benefit from storage for:

• weights

• mats

• resistance bands

• bikes

• sports equipment

• towels

• cleaning products

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This can leave the main floor area clear for exercise.

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Garden Room With Storage for Families

 

Family homes often accumulate a large amount of outdoor equipment.

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A combined garden room and storage building can help manage:

• children's bikes

• scooters

• sports equipment

• toys

• garden furniture

• camping equipment

• seasonal decorations

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The storage section can be sized around the household rather than relying on a standard shed size.

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Concealed Storage Doors

 

Storage does not have to look like a conventional shed.

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The door can be designed to blend into the cladding.

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Possible options include:

• flush timber door

• concealed door

• matching vertical cladding

• dark framed door

• wide double doors

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This can make the storage section much less visually obvious.

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Large Doors for Bikes and Equipment

 

Where bulky items need to be stored, make sure the door is wide enough.

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Trying to manoeuvre a lawnmower or bicycle through a narrow standard door quickly becomes frustrating.

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Depending on the use, consider:

• wider single door

• double doors

• sliding door

• outward opening doors

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The access should be planned around the largest item that needs to go inside.

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Internal Access or External Access?

 

Both options can work.

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External Access

This is usually best for:

• garden tools

• bikes

• lawnmowers

• dirty equipment

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It keeps the storage area separate from the main room.

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Internal Access

This may be useful for:

• office storage

• files

• hobby materials

• drinks

• clean equipment

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Some designs may benefit from both.

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L Shaped Garden Room With Storage

 

L shaped garden rooms work particularly well with integrated storage.

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One wing can contain the main occupied room while the shorter wing becomes:

• shed

• bike store

• workshop

• utility room

• storage

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This can also help the building fit awkward plots and garden corners.

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Storage and Outdoor Kitchens

 

A garden room with an outdoor kitchen may also benefit from storage.

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This can accommodate:

• BBQ accessories

• gas bottles where appropriately stored

• cushions

• utensils

• outdoor dining equipment

• cleaning supplies

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A dedicated store helps keep the kitchen area uncluttered.

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Planning Permission

 

A garden room with integrated storage may still potentially fall within Permitted Development rights where the relevant conditions are met.

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The complete building needs to be considered together.

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Key issues include:

• total footprint

• height

• position

• boundary distance

• property type

• existing development

• intended use

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The fact that part of the building is storage does not mean it can be ignored when assessing the overall development.

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The 50% Rule

 

Permitted Development generally limits the amount of land around the original house that can be covered by extensions and outbuildings.

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A larger combined garden room and shed will therefore use more of that allowance.

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Existing buildings may also need to be considered.

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These can include:

• extensions

• garages

• sheds

• other outbuildings

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Height Near Boundaries

 

If any part of the building is within 2 metres of a boundary, the maximum overall height under Permitted Development is normally 2.5 metres.

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That applies to the whole combined building.

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This should be considered early because an additional storage section can change the relationship between the building and the boundary.

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Building Regulations

 

Building Regulations requirements depend on the size, position, use and construction of the building.

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The storage section may have different requirements from the occupied room.

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The project should therefore be designed as a complete building rather than assuming that both areas need exactly the same construction specification.

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Foundations

 

Combining the room and storage into one building can simplify the foundation strategy.

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Instead of constructing separate bases for a garden room and shed, one coordinated foundation system may be possible.

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The correct solution will depend on:

• ground conditions

• building size

• construction

• nearby trees

• site levels

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Structure

 

The internal wall between the main room and store can also contribute to the overall structure.

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Depending on the design, it may help support:

• roof joists

• beams

• wall framing

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This can sometimes make the building structurally more efficient.

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Ventilation for Storage Areas

 

Storage areas still need ventilation.

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This is particularly important where the store contains:

• bicycles

• damp garden tools

• outdoor cushions

• timber

• equipment

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Good ventilation can help reduce condensation and musty conditions.

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Electrical Supply

 

Even a simple store can benefit from power.

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Possible uses include:

• lighting

• battery charging

• electric bike charging

• power tools

• freezer

• garden equipment

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If the building already has an electrical supply for the main room, extending power into the storage section can be relatively straightforward if planned from the start.

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Design the Storage Around What You Own

 

Do not simply allocate an arbitrary 1 metre or 2 metre wide compartment.

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Make a list of what actually needs to go inside.

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Measure:

• bicycles

• lawnmower

• shelving

• ladders

• tools

• garden furniture

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Then size the store properly.

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This can avoid building storage that is either too small or unnecessarily large.

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Garden Room and Shed Plans

 

Proper plans make a significant difference when combining multiple uses.

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The drawings can show:

• main room dimensions

• storage dimensions

• internal partition

• door positions

• shelving

• glazing

• roof

• foundations

• electrical points

• ventilation

• external appearance

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This gives builders a much clearer basis for pricing.

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Adapt an APN Garden Room Design

 

Many APN Garden Room designs can be adapted to incorporate storage.

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Possible changes include:

• add side storage

• add rear storage

• create an L shaped store

• add bike storage

• create a workshop

• add double doors

• reposition glazing

• alter the internal layout

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You can start with a design you already like rather than commissioning a new building from scratch.

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One Building Instead of Two

 

For many homeowners, this is the biggest advantage.

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Instead of buying a premium garden room and then positioning a basic shed beside it, the two functions can be designed together.

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That can create:

• cleaner architecture

• better use of garden space

• simpler landscaping

• more useful storage

• better security

• a more valuable finished project

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Potential Savings of 40 to 50%

 

Depending on the design, location, specification and how the project is managed, it may be possible to reduce the overall cost by around 40 to 50% compared with some equivalent turnkey garden room packages.

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The aim is not to build a cheaper room.

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It is to spend more of your budget on the room itself and less on the layers surrounding it.

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That could mean:

• better glazing

• better insulation

• better cladding

• better internal finishes

• a larger room

• more money left for landscaping or furniture

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Start With the Design

 

The first step is choosing the right garden room.

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From there, you can:

• use the design as shown

• adapt it to suit your garden

• obtain planning advice if required

• add Building Regulations information where needed

• request builder quotations

• source products and materials

• control the final build cost

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Choose the design. Control the build. Keep more of the budget.

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Browse Our Garden Room Designs

Explore the APN Garden Rooms collections and find the design that works for your space, your lifestyle and your budget.

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