Garden room mistakes

Designing a garden room can transform the way you live, but it's essential to avoid common design mistakes that can effect your long-term enjoyment of the space.

1. Not Informing Your Neighbors

Just because you don’t need planning permission it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t inform your neighbours, as the sudden appearance of a large structure can be upsetting for them, particularly if it affects their view or natural light.

Not informing them can cause unnecessary stress. It’s better to let them know your plans in advance. A simple conversation or sharing a sketch can go a long way in building goodwill and avoiding misunderstandings. It's a better if everyone is appreciated and considered.

2. Poor Orientation and location

Perhaps the most important decision when planning a garden room is deciding where it should go in your garden. They are often placed at the end of a garden, but take the time to consider whether this is the best location for your garden room, rather than opting for the standard choice.

Poor placement can result in excessive heat, insufficient light, or a lack of privacy. It can also block picturesque views from your house, or offer unappealing opinions from inside the garden room itself. Consider what you’ll see from the garden room, and how it looks from the house. Will it catch the sunrise? Will it obstruct the view from your kitchen or living room? Will neighbours overlook you? Thoughtful orientation helps maximise natural light, privacy, and visual harmony with the home and garden."

3. Too Many Windows

Generally people would like as much glass as possible in their garden rooms.This can look great, but might not be that practical, as the more glass you have, the less usable wall space you have. So, when considering the size and position of your windows and doors, think about where you will position your furniture, which way the building is facing, and the direction of the sun, to avoid, for example, having a constant glare on your computer or TV screen.

Skylights on the roof or high-level windows located above eye level are always a good idea. A pergola or brise soleil in front of windows and doors can also give you extra shade, as well as privacy from neighbors who might look down from the upper floors of their property.

When people are looking to use the garden room to work from home, they automatically suggest that they position themselves facing the house and looking out of a window. This sounds good, but doesn’t always work that well. From the garden, you may end up looking at the back of your computer screens or even untidy cables under the desk, if it isn’t fitted properly. Also remember, everyone in the house will be looking at you (especially younger kids or pets who want your attention)."

4. Subdividing the Room Internally With Stud Walls

Garden rooms are not that large, and usually have fewer windows than a house, diminishing the light flow and openness that is the charm of a garden room. So, breaking up the space into smaller rooms can make it feel poky and is not advisable, it's far better to zone the space with furniture, free standing room dividers, open shelving, or tall indoor plants, which add warmth and allow the light to flow.

5. Cutting Corners With Cheap Materials

As tempting as it might be to cut corners on cost, it is short-sighted when it comes to choosing quality materials for your garden room structure. Inferior materials can end up costing more in the long term, as they are usually less durable and can weather poorly.

Low-cost, low-quality materials may seem like a smart saving, but they can weather poorly. Ideally, prioritise materials that offer both durability and beauty, charred larch, composite cladding, and EPDM rubber roofing. These not only last longer but also ensure your garden room continues to look fantastic for years.

Add a bathroom if you can, as they come in handy when friends and family are staying over during the holidays, or when kids come back from university, they love to live in them too."

6. Poor Insulation

A well-insulated garden room will stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, enabling you to enjoy it more all year round.

Buildings can be unbearably hot in the summer and very expensive to heat in the winter. Adding extra insulation can help with both of these issues. It will also save money in the long term."

7. Building too close to your boundary line

Always allow room to be able to access your fences for maintenance.

Though it is possible to build up to 50mm from your boundary, and people are often keen to  maximise the space they have, allowing 500mm means you always have access to the sides and your fences for future maintenance or storage.

Having a larger space on one side allows you to have a planted area or a shading tree at the rear which can work well.

8. Not Future-Proofing

Typically people only think about how they will use the garden room now. It's worth considering how your lifestyle might evolve over the years. 5 or 10 years may seem like a long way off, but time flies quicker than you think. Without thinking ahead and planning properly, your garden room may no longer work for you within a few years. 

Also don’t forget, everyone will be drawn to an area like this and they will all want to share in it. Consider sleepovers if you have children, friends, and family. 

If you found this article useful please check out the other articles on my blog and if you need any assistance with a planning application, etc, please get in touch.