Garden office ideas for the perfect work-from-home set-up

The number of people hunting for garden office ideas is now higher than ever as an increasing number of homeowners now work from home. If you are one of them then you have come to the right place.  

Garden offices make so much sense for home workers for a number reasons. Not only do they remove the need to extend your home to create space, but they also allow you to create a clear distinction between working hours and relaxation.

"When you have a garden office to work from, it separates your home life from your work life, a necessary boundary that’s imperative to a successful day’s work," says Charlie Conibear, senior marketing executive at Green Retreats. "Creating this type of boundary lets your household know it’s time to work, allowing you to focus on what you need to do."

With the right design, garden offices can also be very flexible spaces that cater for more than just working, morphing into all kinds of rooms, from teenage dens and hobby rooms to guest bedrooms, as required.

Our round-up of garden office ideas includes something for everyone, from all-in-one style modular garden offices to architect-designed bespoke buildings. You may well find yourself enjoying overtime a bit too much with these garden office ideas.

Charlie Conibear

Charlie Conibear is part of the design team at Green Retreats which, since it's opening in 2005, has designed and installed over 13,000 garden rooms for customers.

Planning your garden office ideas

Before getting stuck into our collection of ideas, take some time to really consider what you want from your new home office design. This will ensure that you choose the right solution for you – this is an investment so forward planning is essential. 

Some factors to consider include: 

• How many people will your garden office need to accommodate at any one time?
• How will you get services, such as electricity, to the building?
• Is your new home office likely to require a planning application?
• Who will construct it?
• Will you need toilet facilities and if so, how will you get water to and from the office?
• What is your budget?
• How will you heat the space in winter?
• Might you want it to be big enough to perform more than one function? For example, a guest room or hobby room.

1. Keep things simple with an all-in-one solution

If you don't want to get an architect involved in your garden office ideas, a modular all-in-one product will be ideal. 

This type of garden office usually comes with all the components you need to create a stand-alone home office, such as windows, doors and even garden room lighting ideas. Many people also take on this kind of project on a DIY basis. 

This example is from Green Retreats' G Range and comes complete with foundations, installation, electrics, lighting, heating and a 12-year warranty. Prices start from £22,665.

2. Include some relaxation areas 

All work and no play is never a good thing. Although you need to approach the design of your new garden office with productivity in mind, ensuring you have the right space, layout and storage to fulfil your needs, don't forget the perks of working from home either. With no commute to battle at the end of the day, why not incorporate some relaxation space into your home office design ideas?

This example, from Green Retreats, features a useful covered space adjacent to the main office – the perfect spot for a hot tub. 

3. Slot a small garden office into a compact garden 

After some small garden design ideas that take into account the need for a garden office? Even compact spaces can accommodate garden rooms – and they don't have to be bespoke or expensive either. There are now lots of small modular garden offices out there designed for this very purpose.  

This smart compact design is the TGO1 from Green Retreats. It measures 4 x 2m and has a wrap-around door and window sets that are perfect for corner garden offices.  

Prices start from approx. £19,495 and include professional installation, French or sliding doors, insulation, three double sockets, heating, a choice of flooring options, a melamine wall finish, internal lighting, redwood cladding, foundations, an opening lozenge window and external lighting.

4. Make your garden office a multipurpose space

If you have the space available, consider constructing a garden office that is large enough to use for other activities once the working day is done, or as your needs change. 

This oak frame design by Oakwrights combines a games room and den on the ground floor, with office space accessed via a spiral staircase. 

5. Use your office as a garden feature

This is a garden office idea sure to make working from home a pleasure – everyone will want meetings to be held here.

The Oval House Garden Pod from Lime Lace can seat eight people and offers 360° uninterrupted panoramic views of your garden design provided by large clear windows. It also has comfortable seating with an adjustable centre table that can be folded from a larger dining table to a smaller coffee table. Ambient lighting is provided via ceiling LED lights. 

6. Consider using a shepherd's hut for your office

Not only do shepherd's huts make beautiful additions to gardens – they also make fantastic home offices. 

The example shown here is from The English Shepherds Hut Company, whose huts are custom made and can be designed specifically to suit your business – they can even be constructed as a road towable units for working on the move. Offices can include full insulation, 240v electricity, windows, a stable door, shutters and lights, plus there are options for built-in features such as desks and stoves.

7. Opt for stainless steel for a practical solution

After something to add a little wow-factor to your landscaping scheme or for modern home office ideas? Take a look at the world's first stainless steel garden room, the Cube Fx Stainless Steel Outdoor Room by Garden House Design. 

It features self-supporting stainless steel frames to ensure stability and is available in four lengths and two widths, with different configuration options including windows, full length glass panels, double doors and more. It is also virtually maintenance free. 

8. Stop dreading work meetings

If you have a garden big enough then why not include space for a meeting room within your garden office design. This is a great way to leave yourself free to host face-to-face catch ups and means you won't have to travel far to get together with colleagues. 

Shown here is The Pinnacle Garden Room – which has a really striking forward leaning aspect – from Green Retreats, measuring 7.5m X 4m.

Note how the expanse of glazing means the office is flooded with natural light – something that is really important for productivity. 

"In traditional office setups, we’re far removed from natural lighting, affecting our ability to focus on our work," says Charlie Conibear. "Natural light not only positively influences our circadian rhythms, promoting better sleep patterns, but it also helps regulate our mood and alertness throughout the day."

9. Tie your garden office in with your house design

Any garden building in close proximity to your house should ideally enhance its design – and while this doesn't mean it needs to match the materials used exactly, a nod to its architecture in some way is always a good thing. 

This home office from Crown Pavilions has been designed to blend in well with the house it sits next to. The tone of the cladding and the grey windows match those on the main building. 

10. Connect your office interiors to the garden

If you are going to the trouble of building a garden office you really should make sure your design reflects its surroundings and makes the most of any views it might enjoy. Just as when planning summer house interior ideas, make sure your office gets lots of natural light and include natural materials where possible.

"In traditional office setups, we’re far removed from natural lighting, affecting our ability to focus on our work," says Charlie Conibear. "Natural light not only positively influences our circadian rhythms, promoting better sleep patterns, but it also helps regulate our mood and alertness throughout the day."

This garden office space is adorned with plenty of greenery and has a cabin-like feel thanks to the exposed cladding internally. 

11. Use an oak frame to build your garden office

Oak framed structures exude character – and an oak frame garden office will add heaps of charm to your landscaping scheme, not to mention being a pleasure to spend time in. 

This stylish, classically cosy oak frame garden office hideaway is by Border Oak. Clad in painted timber it has been designed to slot subtly into its natural setting and even features a small porch – so no need to take too much of the outside in if your garden is wet or muddy. 

12. Provide a sheltered spot for outdoor working

As a garden structure, it makes sense to incorporate some kind of sheltered exterior space into your garden office design. This might take the form of a small porch area in which to leave muddy shoes, or it could be a bigger covered area in which to sit and work on warmer days. Garden screening ideas such as this mean you can work on a laptop or device without glare.

This wooden tongue and groove Rowlinson Cabin is from B&Q is a great option for those wanting to combine their garden office with a sheltered outdoor entertaining space – plus this example features some lovely garden lighting the form of the low-slung pendants.  

The cabin is self-assembly, but comes supplied with all fixings and fittings. It costs £3,400.

13. Introduce a raised structure into sloping garden 

If you are stuck for sloping garden ideas then this one is for you. Even awkwardly-shaped and steep gardens can have a garden office providing the right design approach is taken. 

In the case of sloping sites, a raised garden office formed using innovative garden steps ideas is a brilliant solution – plus it will also mean your desk has fantastic elevated views out over your landscaping scheme. 

Do, however, check with your local planning authority if planning is required if you intend to place a raised garden office near your garden boundary. (Those within 2m of a boundary need to be a maximum of 2.5m high in order to fall under Permitted Development.)

14. Combine work with play

Designing your garden office from scratch presents you with a unique opportunity to incorporate some fun ideas into an otherwise practical space. 

How's this for a garden decking idea for your outdoor office? What better motivation to get all your work done that the lure of a hot tub or deck to sit out on at the end of the working day? This design from Green Retreats features wraparound glazing to take in the view.

15. Take the bespoke route for added character

Having a custom-made garden office, such as this timber clad design from Border Oak, means you can be sure that your new building will meet all of your needs. 

This garden room not only blends well into its pretty setting, but it also incorporates a handy covered log store and mini verandah from which to admire the day's gardening efforts. 

16. Don't forget to install a good heat source 

If you are going to the effort and expense of building a garden office then it makes sense to ensure that you can use it all year round – and this means good lighting, insulation and a heating source.

The Dart from Life Space Cabins features large aluminium framed windows and doors and house-standard levels of insulation.

The Dart is modular but comes in a range of sizes and you can choose between a range of different exterior claddings as well as various internal layouts, fixtures and fittings – even mezzanine sleep decks and luxury bathrooms and cosy log burning stoves are options.  

FAQs

How can I keep garden office costs down? 

If you are worried about garden room costs spiralling out of control, there are ways to stick to your budget. 

The cheapest route is to order something pretty basic, made from pressure treated interlocking tongue and groove boards. These structures usually have OSB floors and roofs, and a simple mineral felt roof covering. They often won't come with a base so you will need to build that yourself – you will also need to take care of foundations, electrics, insulation and so on. However, you could be looking at initial costs of just £700.

"‘When looking for a garden building, it’s important to look for a DIY-friendly building so that you can avoid the need for installers," explains Alex Murphy, company owner at Dunster House "Opting for a garden building that you construct yourself can save you a large amount in the final cost. 

"The cost of installing a garden building can easily run into the thousands which can quickly take your garden office over budget," continues Alex. "By opting to build it yourself, you can save money and invest it in something you’ve always wanted – perhaps a feature for your new office."

Alex Murphy

Alex is company owner at Dunster House, a company which was formed by Christopher and Pamela Murphy in 1994 and specialises in designing and supplying business and leisure garden products.

Will my garden office need planning permission?

The rules for garden offices are the same as for garden room planning permission.

In most cases, a garden office will fall under permitted development. However, if the building exceeds any of the limits set out or you live in a Conservation Area, National Park or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty then you may find you need permission. 

There are lots of other ways of squeezing home office space into your home other than with a new structure in the garden. Could a loft conversion provide the space you need to work from home or might there be a way of carving out space under the stairs?