Grow some extra living space
Add a new dimension to your home by erecting a useable garden room, suggests LOUISE MIDGLEY
WHILE some garden rooms, summer houses and log cabins come with a hefty price tag, it’s relatively easy to create extra living space in your garden by buying an economical structure and converting it into your own unique area to work, relax or entertain.
Unlike a storage shed, any space designated for use as an office, gym or hideaway for teenage children will need plenty of light, so choose a style with large windows and glazed double doors that can be flung open when the weather is mild.
Forest Garden sell a wide range of economically priced log cabins. The Chiltern model, shown here and being used as a handy space for entertaining at Christmas time, measures 4m by 3m and costs £2,699.99.
Or for smaller gardens there is the more compact Harwood log cabin, which measures 3m by 2m and costs £1,499.99 (forestgarden.co.uk).
The options of where to position your shed may well be limited by the size and shape of your garden, but if at all possible give it a position that maximises natural light and allows easy access to and from the house. If space is tight and the view uninspiring, improve it with seasonal plants in pots, either on the ground or mounted on a wall, also a selection of bird feeders will provide entertainment.
Insulate the walls and floor to help the structure hold on to heat. Good DIY stores will advise on what materials are needed and how to do this but essentially it’s a job most amateur DIY enthusiasts could undertake.
Paint the exterior woodwork with a preservative paint, either in a wood tone or colour, to help keep it dry and waterproof.
Find a qualified electrician to lay armoured cables from the house to the shed for heating, lighting and a wi-fi connection.
However, if you only intend to use it as a bolt-hole to relax in for short periods during the day, a power source may not be essential.
Even in winter, an insulated shed will be surprisingly warm on sunny days and battery powered LED lights will bestow a cosy charm to the setting.
The majority of garden buildings do not require planning permission as long as the structure is single storey, the eaves height of the walls does not exceed 2.5m, it is not used as self-contained accommodation and does not cover more than 50 per cent of the garden area.
In order not to upset the neighbours, it’s polite to discuss your plans before work starts.