Avoid these 8 garden room blunders to ensure your outdoor structure remains comfortable and enjoyable to use:
Designing a garden room for an outdoor retreat can be an exciting venture, transforming your backyard into a comfortable and functional space. However, to ensure that your garden room provides long-term enjoyment, it's essential to avoid some common design mistakes.
One of the most frequent errors is breaking up the small garden room space into smaller rooms, which can make it feel cramped and poky. Instead, zoning the space with furniture or tall indoor plants is a better approach. This strategy allows for a more open and inviting atmosphere.
Another mistake to avoid is poor orientation and placement. Positioning the garden room where it blocks views from the house, lacks natural light, or offers little privacy should be carefully considered. To maximize light, privacy, and harmony with the garden and home, you should consider both the view from the garden room and how it looks from the house.
Cutting corners with cheap or low-quality materials is another pitfall to avoid. These materials may not weather well, especially in temperate climates like the UK or variable climates elsewhere, leading to costly repairs or replacements. Durable and attractive materials like thermowood, charred larch, composite cladding, and EPDM roofing are preferable for a garden room's longevity.
Skipping the planning stage is another design mistake that can result in drainage issues, poor irrigation setup, or improperly addressing permits and local regulations. Careful site measurement, understanding drainage, and complying with planning rules help avoid costly mistakes.
In addition to these mistakes, there are other design considerations relevant to outdoor spaces. Using furniture that is not suited for outdoor conditions or uncomfortable layouts, such as orienting an outdoor kitchen so the cook’s back faces guests, can disrupt social interaction.
Avoiding unbalanced or inappropriate planting containers and ensuring planters are well filled can contribute to ambiance rather than detract from it. Additionally, careful consideration of window size and position is necessary to ensure practicality and to avoid a constant glare.
In cities like London, it can be more practical to leave a gap at the side of a garden room for future access to fences and for planting or storage. Building a garden room to the full width of a small garden can make it look "shoe-horned" into the space and may not be practical.
Future-proofing a garden room by considering how one’s lifestyle might evolve over the next 5-10 years is beneficial. A well-insulated garden room is essential for year-round comfort, especially if used as a home office. Adding a bathroom to a garden room can be advantageous, as it comes in handy for various uses.
Consulting a professional is advisable before designing a garden room. Skylights and high-level clerestory windows are beneficial for a garden room, providing natural light without compromising wall space. A garden canopy over windows and doors can provide extra shade and privacy, while adding extra insulation can help with both heat and energy efficiency, saving money in the long term.
However, not informing neighbors about a garden room project can cause unnecessary friction and stress. The 2.5m rule for garden rooms in the UK refers to 'permitted development' rights, where the structure is under 2.5m high and follows specific conditions for PD rights.
In summary, a successful garden room design for comfort avoids fragmentation of the small space, chooses a thoughtful placement that respects views and lighting, invests in quality materials, plans properly for site and local rules, and considers functional, social outdoor living layouts. With careful planning and consideration, your garden room can become a cherished extension of your home.
- To create a garden room that complements your lifestyle, consider adding a well-insulated home office with a bathroom for long-term comfort and convenience.
- To maintain a harmonious atmosphere in your garden room, use furniture suitable for outdoor conditions and design layouts that encourage social interaction.
- Improper placement of a garden room can lead to issues with privacy, light, and harmony with the garden and home; carefully consider the view from the garden room and the perspective from your home.
- A strategic placement of tall indoor plants or furniture can help zone your garden room and promote a more open and inviting ambiance.
- In a small garden, building a garden room to the full width may make it appear "shoe-horned" into the space; leaving a gap at the side for future access, fences, or planting may be more practical.
