Creating a Productive and Functional Garden Office

Whether you’re opting to go it alone and start your own business, or your boss is allowing you to work flexible hours from home, data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that remote-working in the UK has increased by almost a quarter of a million over a decade.

And why shouldn’t it be a popular idea? Working from home can help you find that perfect work-life balance with flexibility on hours and time saved on the commute; however, it can sometimes be difficult to be productive and find the line where work-life switches off and home life begins, especially when you’re trying to work in the hustle and bustle of a busy home.

One of the ways that people tackle this issue is by having a garden building installed to create a separate space to work from. You will have all the benefits of being at home with a space that you can fully customise to suit your needs and boost your concentration, without the inevitable distractions of having to work in the family’s living space.

There are many factors to consider, but don’t worry! We are at hand to give you a couple of tips on what to consider when choosing a garden building to create a productive and functional garden office.

How big do you need your office to be?

One of the first things you need to consider is what size you want your building to be. You may be restricted by the size of your garden, but if not, the space you require will very much depend on what you do for a living. For example, a graphic designer or a teacher/professor who spends a lot of time on a computer may only need enough space to comfortably fit a desk, and a bookcase or cupboard for filing, whereas a wedding planner or therapist may need a larger space to accommodate a seating area for clients when they visit.

You may also want to consider adding a kitchenette, so you are able to make your visitors a drink and a washroom so that they won’t need to go inside your house in order to use the facilities, just like one of our customers did with their studio turned hair salon!

What will you be using your office for?  

How often you will be using your garden office and what will you be using it for? If your business is seasonal, will you be using it during the summer months only, or will you be working all through the year?

If you are planning on using your garden office all year round, it will need to be comfortable for such use. Making sure your building is fully lined and insulated with double glazing and electrics will help to keep you comfortable, not matter what the time of year is.

Electrics are a must-have in a garden office, so make sure you have everything you need to work efficiently: enough plug sockets for all your equipment, appropriate lighting, and heating.

What kind of style are you aiming for?

A big perk of working from home is the freedom to customise and create a space that’s exactly styled to your liking, so you can think about everything from the design of the building to the furnishings you put inside it to match.

Do you prefer more modern or traditional styling?

For furnishings, you can opt for a traditional feel with a dark-wood desk and bookcase, a few ornate trinkets and a small plant on your desk, a more modern option with minimal features and pale/white furniture, or alternatively, you could opt for something more quirky with brightly coloured beanbags where you can sit and work from a touch-screen tablet and corkboards lined with fairy lights to pin notices and inspirational quotes on.

As you are your own boss, you can choose exactly what décor best suits you and your job.

The same question goes for the style of building you choose – modern or traditional? A building designed with a pent roof and plenty of glazing will lend a more contemporary feel while an apex roof and smaller windows will offer a more traditional look.

Here at Crane Garden Buildings, we offer a range of Garden Studios that are ideal for turning into a garden office, no matter which style you prefer.

With fully glazed floor-to-ceiling window panels that allow plenty of natural light inside, our Salthouse and Burnham Studios are both modern and stylish options, while our Langham and Binham Studios with their desk height windows and apex roofs are more traditional in style.

Our studios come fully insulated with solid pine lining, double glazing, and an array of extra options, such as an electric pack with a heater, a wide range of paint colours, flooring colours and styles, and roofing materials, all to help tailor a building exactly to your needs.

We also offer a 2.4 x 3.0m one-person garden office in the form of our Classic Office. It’s modern in style with a pent roof and top-hinged window and it comes in a choice of paint colours from our Classic Paint System. It’s also double glazed, fully insulated and lined with solid pine to provide an office space that’s comfortable to work from all throughout the year. 

If you would like to turn your working from home dream into a reality, please get in touch with us so that we can help create you a tailored garden office to suit your needs.

You could also visit us at one of our UK show sites to take a look round our display buildings or if you would like to discuss your requirements over the phone with us, please call on 01760 444229 to speak to one of our expert advisors.