Garden office sheds are a thing of increasing popularity for good reason. Here’s what you need to know if thinking about investing in one.
1. Defining the use of your garden office
There are many options to choose from in terms of sizes when it comes to insulating garden rooms. You can customize it to fit your needs and requirement. You can choose to go with an off-the-shelf model or decide where to put the windows and doors. You have a lot of options.
The model you decide to go with is going to be determined by the size of your garden and the type of work you do. How are you going to use the room? Make a list of all the equipment you are going to have inside the garden office. This can be things like a desk, craft table, drawing board, printer, and storage units.
Go with the best option your budget allows, you can browse garden office solutions here. Once you are connected to electricity, water, and the internet, you might find yourself spending a lot of time there.
2. Connecting your garden office to utilities
Installing utilities will bring the garden room to life. An electrician is going to connect the room to mains power so you can safely work without worrying about extension cables. Make sure there is good outdoor and indoor lighting (you can also choose to go with solar energy) and heating so that you can be comfortable inside the office no matter the time of year.
Insulated garden rooms are perfect as a home office – they are fully insulated and double glazed – the roof, the walls, and the floor have been fitted with Eco Quilt that will help retain heat during the winter season and reflect it in summer. In the depths of winter and on cool evenings, you will want to heat your garden room. An oil radiator, a small electric heater, or a log burner (this has to be installed by a professional) is going to make it cozy and welcoming.
It is a must to have a reliable internet connection for home offices or small businesses. You have a lot of options to consider, like an Ethernet cord running from the house or a point-to-point system. Make sure the cables are deep so it doesn’t get severed by accidental digging.
3. Personalizing your garden office
Your home office should be comfortable and practical, but you also need to make it attractive and inspiring. Invest in quality furniture, or apply pain to upcycled items.
Decorating the interior walls – you can paint, wallpaper, clad, or plaster the walls to get a smooth finish. Always remember the floor. A carpet will give you a warm and luxurious feel, while laminates, wood floors, or lino are easy to clean and hard-wearing.
Add plants, wall art, and carefully chosen accessories to your room because it will give it some character – whatever you choose to have in the room should be uplifting and a reflection of your personality. The room has to smell nice. Add flowers and play your favorite music so that you can always smile when you enter the room.
When you have a garden room, you are to get a good view because of the floor-to-ceiling windows. This allows you to see the ever-changing scenery. It is a real joy to ditch your commute and enjoy the changing seasons from your backyard. It is a good idea to get a chair and desk on casters because you can enjoy different views throughout the day.
4. Planning your office storage
The two main types of storage are concealed – like cupboards and open – like shelves. Things that you use regularly should be easy to reach on bookcases or shelves. Things that you don’t use that often can be stored out of sight. This will leave your workplace clean, light, and uncluttered.
You can make the best use of vertical storage space with floor-to-ceiling cupboards or bookcases, pinboards, and wall-hung shelves. You can even use tall open shelving as a room divider. This way, you can have one area for working and another for relaxing.
Whatever storage you go with, make sure you spend a couple of minutes tidying up before leaving the office. When you get there in the morning, the space will be tidy and welcoming.
5. Lighting up your workspace
Studies have shown that natural daylight and well-lit spaces can improve learning and creativity. Keep this in mind when you choose the location for your office. You can get maximum natural light throughout the day by choosing a south-facing position – even if the entire building cannot be situated this way, you can add extra doors and windows to the south-facing elevation. This is great because you don’t have to push the desk against the wall like in a usual corporate environment. Just get yourself a window seat and you are going to get a great view.
Good lighting is important if you are working late or during the darker months of winter. Don’t cut corners in this area because it is going to have a big impact on your productivity. You will be more efficient when you can see clearly and it will also protect the health of your eyes. Adding layers of ambient lighting will make your office inviting even during winter. Your lighting choice is also going to add personality. Office lighting doesn’t have to be boring – you can even have a chandelier if you want.
