Garden rooms are an excellent way to add space to your home and demand for them is growing, in part due to their multipurpose nature. If you have ever longed for a home gym, an entertainment room, a fitness studio, a library or simply a place where you can meditate or spend time with your best friends, a garden room can facilitate that. These stylish and functional spaces can even be used as kids’ playrooms, giving your children the perfect space to enjoy themselves.
For many homeowners, extending the main house is an unwanted or impossible solution to gaining some extra space. If your home does not give you the scope to extend outwards and you do not want to endure the cost and disruption of loft or basement conversions, a bespoke garden room guarantees a versatile space that takes advantage of any extra room you have outside instead of filling up your living room with homeworking supplies, toys and other clutter.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about installing a contemporary garden room intended as an extra living space for the family, including how to plan this type of outbuilding.
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Why build a family room in your garden?
By utilising any outside space you have, a garden room provides the perfect place for relaxing and spending time with the family away from the main house but still on your property. A family garden room can be a flexible space for parents and children alike to utilise any day of the week for a variety of purposes.
Unlike a games room which is filled with amenities like a pool table, a family room should be multipurpose and fit for work as well as play. This allows a lot of creative freedom to furnish your room in a style that suits each member of the family, mixing functionality with comfort and entertainment.
Importantly, garden rooms are extremely safe and secure, giving you peace of mind and reassurance that all your valuable equipment or technology will be protected. Constructed from strong, durable materials, garden rooms are designed and built for longevity. They are excellent at withstanding all types of adverse weather conditions and can be expanded to include decking or a roof terrace to enjoy the outdoor space with family and friends on warm sunny days.
Planning a family room in your garden
There are several important considerations to bear in mind when you are planning your family’s perfect garden room.
Firstly, you should reflect on the size of the room that you want. In part, the size of your garden will be instrumental in how big your garden room can be, but it is essential to consider how much of your garden you want to dedicate to your family room. With the modular Garden Retreats pods, you can install multiple rooms of differing sizes, with one central room as a ‘neutral’ zone for all the family to enjoy.
Planning the types of facilities and equipment that you wish to install in your new garden room can be extremely helpful. Knowing what amenities you need will make the design process easier. For example, if you plan to continue homeworking and want to use the space as an office during the day, but bring in the family to eat dinner and watch movies in the evening, you will need a good power supply. Luckily, this is integrated into the design and build of a Garden Retreats pod.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, focus on the level of insulation that is necessary for your garden room. If you are only planning to use it as a summer retreat, you will not need as much insulation as you would require for a room that is to be in use all year round.
The Garden Retreats pod
Garden Retreats pods are the perfect solution to adding an extra, spacious room to your garden. We offer various pod sizes, with a modular pod to suit every budget. You can add more pods if you require more space or move to a new house with a bigger garden, allowing you to fully tailor your pod to your family’s specific needs and requirements.
Garden Retreats pods offer a range of advantages, not least the fact that they can be easily relocated if you move to a new home. This makes them extremely versatile and adaptable and ensures that you will not have to leave your garden room behind when you move to a new house. The pods are extremely durable and are crafted from high-quality carbon fibre, meaning that they will not expand or deteriorate as a wooden summerhouse might do.
As an extra bonus, they are clad in composite material as standard. Therefore, your garden room will not suffer from rot or condensation, which can be particularly beneficial for uses such as a home gym studio. Garden Retreats pods are zero maintenance and built to last, with an industry-leading British warm roof system and a U-value of 0.18.
Our pods are extremely customisable, giving you the choice between bifold or patio doors and allowing for an optional roof terrace with spiral staircase or decking, which can be included during the initial installation or added at a later date. All Garden Retreats pods are wired and fitted with a consumer unit, internal sockets, spotlights and smart phone-controlled heaters included. They are ideal for year-round usage and will suit every purpose, including home fitness studios or bars and even premises for commercial businesses.
Frequently asked questions
How should you design a garden games room?
A garden games room can be customised to give you space and amenities that are necessary for your personal needs. Select the types of games equipment that you want to install in the room, such as a pool table or a table tennis table. With a power supply installed, you can enjoy playing video games and with soundproofing, you can ensure that you do not disturb your family or neighbours whilst simultaneously benefiting from improved acoustics when you listen to your favourite music as you play a game of pool.
How should you design a garden study room?
A study room should be designed so that it is conducive to maximising your work potential. Try to ensure that your garden study is free of any other distractions that may detract from work or studying. Read our guide for more information on home studying garden room design tips and ideas.