For many people living in the UK, a room overlooking the garden is a must-have and considered a traditional choice for most UK homeowners.
The room can be used as a conservatory, sunroom, garden office or even a garden room among many others. A garden room is one of the easiest and best ways to give your property a value boost.
There however lies one danger with investing in a garden house, it might look like a structure bolted onto the house. Urban pods strike the perfect balance of integrating a garden house seamlessly to your home.
Garden Room Ideas and Design
Reasons To Invest In A Garden Room
Almost everyone in the UK wants to stay outdoors and especially during summer. This doesn’t necessarily mean participating in outdoor events but making the most of this time enjoying the weather outside your house.
An airy-garden room makes this possible. The room makes it possible to enjoy your time outdoors regardless of the weather. A garden room is also connected to the house, hence considerably safe.
Investing in a garden room can help bring both aesthetic and practical benefits to your home. It can also be used as an extension of the house.
The solid roof provides the feeling of a traditional extension while the extra windows from the garden room allow more natural light into the home.
Some of the advantages of having a garden room are outlined below.
1. Adds Extra Living Space To The Home
Source: Clarusgardenrooms.com
The garden room is a perfect addition to the home and provides additional space that can be used for various purposes. You can dedicate the room as the kids’ playroom, where you go to read, or simply used it for numerous occasions, such as when having friends over.
Some people also choose to use the garden room as their home office during the summer.
2. Brings More Light Into The House
The additional windows, doors, and Velux roof lights in the garden room allow more natural light into the main house. This means you never have to keep the lights on, even during winter.
In addition to this, the extra space means the main house will be less clutters since some items will go to the garden room. This also helps keep energy bills on the minimal as well.
3. Provides A Balance Between Home and Garden
As the name suggests, a garden room creates an extension of the main house into the garden, giving you the nice view of flora and lush greenery outside.
It also enables you to see and enjoy the view of the garden from multiple angles, a factor that makes the room more relaxing than other rooms in the house.
Many people today prefer homes with a garden room for they have a stylish and lavish look and feel. They also help add value to the property as well.
What to Look for in a Garden Room
1. Choosing the Right Material
Source: Clarusgardenrooms.com
Deciding on the best materials for the garden room can be an overwhelming decision for many. Aluminium is however the strongest materials for glass doors and windows.
It is not only strong and durable, but also very lightweight. The aluminium frames also allow for larger glass panels and even come in a slim frame as well.
This is unlike PVC and timber frames. PVCu frames tend to discolor over time while you’d have to repaint the frame once in a while.
Aluminium doesn’t however require all these, neither does it lose its color or rust. Resilient channels are also made from aluminum. You can use them to soundproof your garden room."
2. Use Fit Bi-Folding Doors
Bi-folding doors help open up an entire wall, hence perfect for a garden room. When folded back, these windows provide flawless transition which again helps bring the outside space into the house.
This transforms the space/property into a fully-functional open space that can be used for entertainment, work, and living. The folding doors also allow more natural light into the room and the house as well.
3. Design
The garden house needs to match the main house. It wouldn’t be wise to have them appear as if they are separate. To ensure the design flows with the main house, install matching flooring, and use soft furnishings such as matching curtains and blinds.
Check out peel and stick vinyl flooring as an option. If installing a fresh floor seems too expensive, you can then work on other aspects of the garden room to make it even more appealing.
Continuity is key in the property, hence guests and even friends shouldn’t spot the difference.
4. Color Theme
The bi-folding aluminium doors come in a wide variety of colors – you can use this to your advantage to ensure they blend with the existing theme.
You might even try something new by choosing bi-folds in vibrant colors such as bright pink, mint green, or orient red to add a splash of color to the property.
If you however went for timber, you can then have the bi-folds painted to give the same effect. You can have a hue of timber effect added on the aluminium doors to give it a similar look and feel.
This way, you won’t have to struggle to maintain the doors.
4 Ways To Make A Sunroom More Comfortable
If you’re looking for ways to enhance the comfort and convenience of your sunroom, you’ve probably already considered the main aspects such as A/C and furniture.
However, comfort goes beyond just having a convenient place to relax in a temperate environment, as there are lots of things you can do to make a sunroom a more inviting place to be.
With that said, here are four ways you can make a sunroom more comfortable.
1. Install Custom Window Blinds or Curtains
The idea of installing blinds or curtains in a sunroom is one that is often overlooked because the entire point of this room is to provide access to unhindered views.
However, blinds are definitely a convenience that can come in handy to make the space more comfortable on particularly hot days.
2. Add A Drink Station
One thing that can really make a sunroom a more comfortable relaxed environment is having a collection of cold drinks on standby.
Instead of putting yourself in a position of having to walk to the kitchen every time you need a beverage, consider the convenience of having a mini-refrigerator installed just for this purpose.
Likewise, you might want to add a portable kitchen island that can be used for meal preparation within the sunroom, which can be great for having indoor summer picnics and get-togethers.
3. Try Smart Glass
Smart glass is a revolutionary new type of glass that can be remotely controlled to change the tint and transparency at the touch of a button.
Of course, switching your entire sunroom to smart glass will be a significant investment and is going to wind up being much more expensive than simply installing a system of blinds and curtains.
See how smart glass work in this video:
4. Add Fans
Generating a nice breeze is a guaranteed way to make any spot more comfortable, especially when the sun is beating down on you directly.
Most people love the warmth and brightness of a sunny day but aren’t huge fans of the excessive heat that comes with it. Installing a ceiling fan not only solves this dilemma but also add aesthetics to your room.
Mounting oscillating fans throughout the sunroom is a great way to ensure that you can stay cool on the hottest days without having to burden your home’s A/C system.
Giving Yourself a Sunny Indoor Sanctuary
Ultimately, taking the steps above to improve the comfort of your sunroom is something that every homeowner should commit to in order to give themselves a welcoming indoor sanctuary where they can soak up the sun.
With the ability to control how much sunlight is entering the room, promote optimal airflow and ventilation, and access drinks conveniently without having to make your way to the kitchen or another area of the home, you’ll have an ideal spot to get your tanning on and absorb much-needed vitamin D from the sun’s rays.
Ideas for a Garden Office to Boost Your Creativity
Such an area in your outdoor living space can be where you go to when you need to get away from the indoor distractions and get some work done.
If you are working from home and contemplating a garden office, hopefully these tips will have you well on your way to creating a productive environment.
But is also should feel homey and cozy throughout the year. Below are a few ideas on how you can make the perfect garden room.
Invest in A Good Building
Lots of people opt for garden sheds or summer houses as their garden office, but the reality is they don’t last as long, the aren’t very well soundproofed and need a fair bit of maintenance.
If you plan to use the outdoor room every day, then you must go for something with a solid foundation and construction.
There are great steel building companies who can provide you with a steel building that would be the perfect office space.
They are built to withstand any weather, they are environmentally friendly – and can last over 50 years with minimal maintenance.
The finishing can have a brick-effect cladding or one that mimics stone, timber, and various other textures ranging from a rustic style to a more modern look.
If you’re interested you can get more info here.
Research your Furniture Well
The reality is you will be spending a lot of time in your office, so you want to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. As such, don’t scrimp on the furniture.
You want comfortable chairs that have the right height and back support– and desk and storage facilities that will be able to hold all of your files and documents.
Make sure you read online reviews to see what other people had to say about the products. We listed the best garden furniture you can look into.
Ideally, a garden room does not have to be a place where you can go and work; it can also be where you can relax and unwind. That is why it needs some practical yet comfortable furniture and fittings.
Pick sofas or chairs that have plenty of cushions. You also should make use of your vertical spaces to create some storage. You can do this by installing some shelves.
Making the room feel and look comfy does not have to cost you much. You can search for what you need at your local charity shops, bargain stores that sell second-hand stuff, and even try your luck at yard-sales.
You may find some vintage things such as lamps, chairs and plant pots. In addition to plant pots, be sure to check out our compilation of plant stands that will fit your garden room design.
Get the Lighting Right
Source: bmmagazine.co.uk
As you are in your garden, the good news is you will be able to enjoy lots of natural light. When it does come to the darker nights – you want to make sure you have the interior lighting you should too.
The right lighting can improve your productivity and overall work experience, so think carefully. To make the most out of the natural daylight, make sure you position your desk near a window.
You can install solar lights in your pathway which will not only help you save money on your electrical bill, but also add some aesthetics to your garden.
Make Sure there is Enough Electrical Sockets
If you are working from home and need access to emails, online resources etc – the likelihood is that you will need to have power to plug in computers, printers, phone chargers and such like.
To make sure you aren’t cluttering up your office space with lots of extension cables flying around – ensure that you have enough power sockets and that they are placed appropriately.
It’s no use having one power socket at one end of the space, and all of the electrical equipment at the other.
Throw In Some Cozy Blankets
For some people, blankets are an essential thing, just like how shoes are to others; you can never have a lot of these. If the outbuilding you intend to install is a shed, garden room, or a conservatory, blankets will be a fantastic addition to the final setting.
You need them to insulate yourself, especially during the nippy winter days. You can stock up an array of blanks and pile in a box located in a designated corner of the room.
They will be what you need on a chilly evening with a good book in hand or when you are doing some knitting.
Include Some Good Reading Materials
What better way to relax and enjoy your afternoon loafing in our garden as with a great read in hand while settled on a comfy chair!
Therefore, consider including a few good books and magazines in your garden room that you can grab whenever you feel you need to unblock your mind or find some inspiration.
Remember To Add Plants
What is the point of having an outbuilding when it lacks any sign of natural life? However, that does not imply that you cram loads of plants into the garden room.
Take your time and think through your options. You will want plants that are not too demanding to maintain and keep alive. So, cacti and succulents are among some of the top choices so check out our list of growing guides below:
Strings of pearls or hearts are an excellent option if you want plant life weaving along the traces, shelves, and exterior walls. You can also hang a macramé planter for that extra touch.
Hang a Mirror or Two on the Wall
Hanging two mirrors on either side of the wall gives the impression of a much larger room. It also amplifies the amount of natural light in both the room and the house as well.
One of the main reasons behind investing in a garden room is to let natural light into the house.
Wrapping Up What to Look for When Choosing a Garden Room
A garden room can be used all year round – this includes winter and summer. That said, you need to ensure it is thermally efficient to avoid attracting high energy bills.
You can do so by installing high-performance double-glazed windows, and ensure it is adequately insulated. Doing this will help keep the house cool during summer, and warm in winter.