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Garden rooms are trending in 2021, with more and more home owners opting to create new buildings to meet their property needs. 

Once seen as a luxury, garden rooms are becoming recognised as an achievable and practical option. But why are they growing in popularity, and how can you be sure it’s the right investment for you?

We teamed up with our friend Francis Eades, MD of Baltic Bespoke, a Liverpool based company supplying custom-designed garden rooms and luxury outdoor living spaces across North West England, to bring you the ultimate guide to all things garden rooms!

Garden Room Design by Baltic Bespoke
Garden Room Design by Baltic Bespoke

Why are Garden Rooms growing in popularity?

“There are so many reasons why garden rooms are cropping up all over the UK right now. In the simplest of terms, space is getting more expensive, and therefore more valuable. 

“Summer 2021 marked peak growth in house prices, with many agreeing that the ‘race for space’ will continue. Estate agent Hamptons recently forecast that prices will continue to rise by up to 3.5% a year between 2022 and 2024.

“Also, the effects of national lockdowns and subsequent long-term changes in how we live, work and socialise have been significant.  The benefits of home-working for both individuals and employers mean that many have been keen to make that change permanent. This means home offices and work spaces are becoming a necessity.

“We also saw many people learning to really love spending time at home, and pouring their efforts and resources into creating new social spaces on their property, such as bars, cinema rooms and games rooms.

“Other adaptations to more self-sufficient lifestyles have had an impact too. For example, working out at home has become a habit for many, so garden gyms and yoga studios are increasingly in demand.” 

Exterior shot
Garden Room Design by Baltic Bespoke

What are the benefits of building a Garden Room?

Again, there are so many, but I would say there are 6 key benefits:

  • Flexibility of the space – All of our customers want more space, but they have different reasons for needing or wanting it! Yes, lots of people are looking for an office, bar or gym, but just this month we have built a pottery studio, a golf cabin, and a rehabilitation/therapy room for dogs! The fact that the garden rooms are not attached to the property means that they are more versatile than a typical kitchen extension or loft conversion.
  • Away from household distractions – In other words… peace and quiet! This is really important for so many people, especially those using the space to work or engage in a hobby. These garden rooms give you headspace in abundance, as they are detached from the hustle and bustle of the home. They really can improve your wellbeing by giving you access to a getaway on your own property.
Internal shot
Garden Room Design by Baltic Bespoke
  • Adding value to your home – When done to a high specification, garden rooms add real value to your home. We specialise in producing garden rooms to the highest quality possible (we’re not talking about prefabricated sheds here) to maximise the return on investment. Just as an extension or conversion adds square footage and appeal, so does a well-constructed garden room. Head over to our blog to find out more.
Garden Room Design by Baltic Bespoke
Garden Room Design by Baltic Bespoke
  • Minimal disruption – Another great advantage is that you will get this additional space without the disruption typically caused with other renovation projects. We really only require access to your garden! These builds are so efficient that our customers are always amazed at how quickly we finish the job. Also, for most of our builds we use ground screws… so we often don’t even need to do any digging! This means winter is a great time to build your garden room; the time when you spend least time in your garden!
  • Often no planning permission required – Our garden rooms do not usually require a planning application as they fall within permitted development rules. This is pre-approved planning permission as long as your room is built subject to a number conditions, which we can advise on during our consultation.

There are other special considerations and all planning permission decisions are dependent on local authorities. For example, there are increased rules around listed buildings. Therefore, any garden building or outbuilding placed within the curtilage of a listed property will require planning permission.

Garden Room Design by Baltic Bespoke
Garden Room Design by Baltic Bespoke

How can I get the best from this investment?

Well first step is to think of it as an investment! There are short term gains to adding space but think of this as a long term decision. By that, we mean weigh up your options on the specification of the build.

Of course, the price will massively be determined by whether you opt for a modular building (a pre-designed, kit form home office) or a bespoke option. Both have pros and cons, but your budget will be the determining factor for which model you choose. This is because the prices between the two options can be substantially different. While modular options might be cheaper, they also offer minimal choice of layout, finishes, etc.

We would also say, think about your interior layout from the very start. We’ve found that some of our customers really benefit from help thinking about space planning, as well as interior design. This is one of the reasons we have partnered with Natalie’s team! For example, if you will be using the space as an office, your lighting, storage and furnishings will be very different than a cozy cinema room. And what if you want a multifunctional space? These are all queries which Natalie’s team can assist with.  

Our team at Baltic Bespoke can give great advice on all technical matters. When we work with experts like Natalie, it just takes your experience to a new level.

If you want to find out more about Baltic Bespoke’s services visit their website, or follow them on Instagram and Facebook. To book an initial consultation you can fill in their contact form here.

If you would like to discuss an interior design project with us, head over to our website here.

Categories: Home Projects, Inspiration, Interviews, Property, Tips & Advice, Trends, Uncategorised

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