Garden Studios

Modern Garden Studios

A modern garden studio can become an architectural feature within the garden as well as a practical room.
 

Popular contemporary features include:

• Large areas of glazing

• Sliding doors

• Bi fold doors

• Timber cladding

• Composite cladding

• Flat roofs

• Low pitched roofs

• Rooflights

• Deep overhangs

• Recessed entrances

• Clean simple elevations
   

A contemporary garden studio can work equally well with modern or traditional houses when the proportions and materials are carefully considered.

 

Luxury Garden Studios

A luxury garden studio is usually defined less by size and more by specification.
 

Features might include:

• Large format glazing

• Premium cladding

• Bespoke joinery

• Integrated lighting

• Underfloor heating

• High quality flooring

• Built in storage

• Rooflights

• Feature ceilings

• Specialist electrical systems

• Smart controls
   

Starting with a strong design makes it easier to decide where spending more will genuinely improve the finished building.

 

Bespoke Garden Studios

You may find an existing design that is close to what you want but needs changing to suit your garden or intended use.
 

Our Adapt Your Design service allows one of our existing designs to be modified rather than beginning completely from scratch.
 

Possible changes include:

• Overall width and depth

• Window positions

• Door positions

• Internal layout

• Glazing

• Roof design

• Cladding

• Storage

• Internal room divisions
   

This allows you to create a more bespoke garden studio while still starting from an established design.

 

Garden Studio Buildings With More Than One Use

A garden studio building does not have to serve only one purpose.
 

A larger design could combine:

• Studio and office

• Studio and storage

• Art room and workshop

• Music room and office

• Gym and studio

• Creative space and seating area
   

Planning these uses together at the design stage normally creates a much better result than trying to divide the space later.

 

Choosing the Right Size Garden Studio

The right size depends on what you want the room to do.
 

Before choosing a design, consider:

• How many people will use it

• Furniture requirements

• Equipment

• Storage

• Whether clients or visitors will attend

• Whether the room needs more than one function

• Available garden space

• Access around the building

• Relationship with boundaries

• Future uses
   

It is often worth planning the furniture and equipment at the same time as the building itself.

 

Where Should a Garden Studio Be Positioned?

The position of a garden studio can make a significant difference to how enjoyable it is to use.
 

Consider:

• Natural light

• Orientation

• Privacy

• Garden views

• Distance from the house

• Access

• Trees

• Boundaries

• Drainage

• Electrical supply

• Relationship with neighbouring properties
   

For an art studio, natural light may be the main consideration.
 

For a music studio, separation from neighbouring properties may be more important.
 

For a garden office studio, internet access and connection back to the house may take priority.

 

Do Garden Studios Need Planning Permission?

Many garden studios can potentially be built under permitted development rights, but this should not simply be assumed.
 

The planning position can depend on:

• Building height

• Position within the garden

• Distance from boundaries

• Amount of garden occupied

• Intended use

• Listed building status

• Conservation area restrictions

• Previous planning conditions

• Removal of permitted development rights
   

A studio used as an incidental part of the main house may be considered differently from a building intended as an independent dwelling or separate commercial premises.
 

Where the position is uncertain, planning should be checked before construction begins.

 

Do Garden Studios Need Building Regulations?

Whether Building Regulations approval is required depends on factors including the building's size, location, construction and intended use.
 

Additional considerations can arise where the studio:

• Is positioned close to a boundary

• Contains sleeping accommodation

• Includes drainage

• Contains more complex electrical installations

• Is larger than a typical exempt outbuilding

• Has specialist structural or fire safety requirements
   

Where Building Regulations apply, the technical design needs to demonstrate compliance with the relevant requirements.

 

Building a Garden Studio

There are several ways to build a garden studio.
 

You could:

• Purchase a complete installed building

• Buy a prefabricated unit

• Use a specialist garden room company

• Employ a local builder

• Manage the build yourself
   

APN Garden Rooms offers another route.
 

You purchase the design and technical information first, then decide who you want to build it.
 

This gives you more control over the contractor, materials, specification and overall budget.

 

What Is Included in an APN Garden Studio Plan Pack?

Our Complete Design & Technical Plan Pack provides professionally prepared drawings and construction information for the garden room design you choose.
 

The purpose of the pack is to give you and your builder a clear basis from which to price and construct the building.
 

You can then decide how the project is delivered.
 

Choose a Garden Studio Design

Our collection includes designs suitable for:

• Small garden studios

• Insulated garden studios

• Art studios

• Music studios

• Garden offices

• Modern garden studios

• Contemporary studios

• Studios with storage

• Large multi purpose rooms
   

Choose the design closest to what you need and use it as the starting point for your project.

 

Build More Garden Room for Your Budget

At APN Garden Rooms, we separate design from construction.
 

Instead of buying a complete turnkey garden room from one supplier, you can purchase a professionally prepared design and technical plan pack and then obtain quotations from builders or manage the construction yourself.
 

This gives you greater control over:

• Who builds your garden room

• What materials are used

• How much you spend

• Which products you choose

• When the work is carried out
   

Depending on the specification, contractor and way the project is managed, this approach can potentially produce savings of 40% to 50% compared with some turnkey garden room packages.