In this article
The short version
- Garden Pods, Garden Rooms and Signature are built for year-round desk work; Garden Buildings suit storage rather than an office.
- Connection to the main property electrical supply is not included unless expressly stated within the quotation.
- Popular ways to heat a garden office are electric convection heaters, electric radiators and oil filled radiators.
- Cover the windows with blinds or curtains for privacy, to block the sun when it’s too bright and to keep the heat in.
- Wi-Fi from the house often fades by the end of the garden; if your work depends on video calls, plan a wired connection.
For some people, their garden office is a home away from home, filled with creature comforts, cosy cushions, and decorated to match their interior decor. For others, a home office is a completely different space designed to help them keep a good work/life balance.
However you choose to decorate your garden office, here are some extras that you may want to include.
Electrical Installation
Having a safe electrical supply to your garden office is recommended if you intend to work from there. An electrical connection can be made from the house to the garden office using cables laid underground (usually 500-750mm deep) or by running cables around the edge of the garden if this isn’t possible.
Heating your garden office
If you intend to use your outdoor office all year round and don’t want to risk losing a finger to frostbite in the winter, you’ll need to heat your garden office.
Three of the most popular ways to heat your outdoor office are:
- Electric Convection Heaters. Simply plug these heaters into a mains socket and they’ll quickly heat the air around them. They are fairly cheap to use and you can choose between leaving them free-standing or having them mounted onto the wall.
Electrical supply connection: Connection of the garden room to the main property electrical supply is not included unless expressly stated within the quotation. This work can be quoted separately if required, subject to a site survey and the requirements of our electrical contractor.
Convection heaters can easily be controlled using a thermostat to ensure your outdoor office remains warm in all weather: no more frosty mornings waiting for the temperature to rise.
- Electric Radiators. Similar to electric convection heaters, electric radiators plug directly into the mains connection. However, they can take longer to warm up and are harder to control with a thermostat.
- Oil Filled radiators. These free standing radiators are easily plugged into a socket anywhere in your outdoor office. They can also be moved around, making them great for larger rooms. The oil in the radiator also retains heat even after the appliance is switched off, making them even more energy-friendly.
Decorating your outdoor office
While the intricacies of your outdoor office decor will depend on your personal taste, there are some basics that every office needs. From giving you privacy to providing a workspace, here are our top recommendations.
- Cover the windows with blinds or curtains. Not only will this give you privacy while you work and block the sun when it’s too bright, it’ll also keep the heat in, something to consider with the rising cost of energy.
- A spacious desk to work from. For many people, working from a home office requires working from a desk. Make sure you choose one with enough room. For optimal productivity, place your desk in front of a window and close to electrical sockets.
- The lighting in our working environment can have a big impact on how we work. If the light is too dim, it can cause extra strain on your eyes and make it difficult to work. If the light is too bright it can cause headaches and other eye problems. We suggest fitting overhead lighting into your outdoor office and placing a few lamps around the room for more control over the ambience of your office.
- Rugs & carpets. If you opt for a bare-floored outdoor office, you might find that it is colder in the winter months. Try furnishing your office with carpet, rugs or mats to keep the heat in and make it a more comfortable environment.
We also recommend having a mat at the entrance to wipe your shoes when you enter. This will help to keep your new office clean and mud-free.
If you’re ready to design your dream outdoor office, give our experts a call on 0333 051 0852. We’ve been building outdoor offices from our Shropshire workshop for many years, catering to all tastes and requirements.
What each range includes as standard
Three of our ranges are built for year-round desk work: Garden Pods, Garden Rooms and Signature. Garden Buildings are uninsulated and unwired as standard and are best used from April to October, so they suit storage rather than an office.
| Item | Garden Pods | Garden Rooms | Signature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation | Multifoil in walls, roof and floor | PIR in walls, roof and floor; SIPS optional | SIPS: 100mm walls and floor, 140mm roof |
| Electrics | Optional upgrade | Included | Included, with premium electrics and lighting |
| Heating and air con | Quoted on your call | Quoted on your call | Quoted on your call |
| Wired internet | Quoted on your call | Quoted on your call | Quoted on your call |
| Doors and glazing | PVC French doors to start; no sliding doors or bi-folds | A-rated double glazing with multi-point locks; 6ft French doors to start | A-rated glazing in aluminium frames; 12ft bi-folds to start |
| Floor finish | Vinyl | Laminate | Laminate |
| Partition walls | Not offered | Optional | Optional |
| Base | Optional add-on | Optional add-on | Included: we lay the foundation |
| From, inc VAT | £6,976 | £9,321 | £12,368 |
Data and Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi from the house often fades by the end of the garden, and an insulated building makes it harder: foil-faced insulation and energy-efficient glass can both weaken the signal. If your work depends on video calls or large files, plan a wired connection: hard-wired internet can be quoted on any of our ranges, and Wi-Fi and connectivity has the detail.
- Test the Wi-Fi on your phone where the desk will be, before you order.
- Allow sockets for a router, switch or access point inside the room.
- Agree who supplies and sets up the network equipment at each end.
Security and insurance
Garden Rooms come with A-rated double-glazed doors and windows with multi-point locks. Where the building sits matters too: an office you can see from the house is a harder target than one hidden behind a hedge. Alarms, cameras and outside lights are not included unless your quotation lists them.
Tell your insurer before you move work equipment in, because home policies can limit cover for outbuildings and for business equipment.
- Ask for the lock specification of the doors and windows you choose.
- Check your insurance covers the building and the equipment in it.
- Keep receipts and serial numbers for the equipment inside.
Sources: Planning Portal: outbuildings and planning permission; Planning Portal: building regulations for outbuildings; GOV.UK: Approved Document P, electrical safety; Planning Portal: working from home.
