5 Garden Room Ideas for Petite Plots
Craving more space or another room? Have you thought of looking to your garden? It doesn’t need to be huge…
Kate Burt
7 February 2021
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
If you’ve ever dreamed of an office in the garden or a home cinema or playroom away from the four walls of your house (yet not too far away), a garden room could be the solution, as well as a potentially more budget-friendly alternative to an extension. A perceived barrier for many of us will be, “But my garden’s too small!” Hmm, are you sure? Don’t make up your mind until you’ve seen these clever designs, none of which sit amid sprawling country acres.
The courtyard office
Design and build company Constructive and Co managed to install this good-sized room into a small paved garden without letting it dominate the space.
Lots of glass – notably at the back as well as the front – makes the construction less solid-looking, as you can see right through it.
Design and build company Constructive and Co managed to install this good-sized room into a small paved garden without letting it dominate the space.
Lots of glass – notably at the back as well as the front – makes the construction less solid-looking, as you can see right through it.
Behind the back windows are flowerbeds; once plants are established (there’s already some bamboo making good headway), it will feel like being in the middle of a richly verdant space, rather than being close to the fence. This gap also allows for a flue to run up the back of the building, connected to a wood-burning stove inside.
The wood cladding helps the building to blend comfortably into the garden, too, and complements the brick paving. An adjacent bench and close planting further help to connect the office with the outside space.
Tempted to renovate? Find the perfect professional for your project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Tempted to renovate? Find the perfect professional for your project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The multi-functional space
This timber-framed building, clad with corrugated metal, replaced the homeowners’ original garden shed in their urban garden.
The metal will weather and soften over time and was chosen to reflect the light industrial buildings in the neighbourhood and especially the Kingsgate Workshops, opposite the house.
This timber-framed building, clad with corrugated metal, replaced the homeowners’ original garden shed in their urban garden.
The metal will weather and soften over time and was chosen to reflect the light industrial buildings in the neighbourhood and especially the Kingsgate Workshops, opposite the house.
Amos Goldreich Architecture designed the new building to extend the full width of the garden at the back, on its raised level. The clever design of the garden between it and the house means ample space for seating remains, while established climbers near the house, framing the view of the new building, plus a raised bed adjacent to it, keep the space looking leafy. In addition, the new building has a sedum roof to absorb rainwater and contribute to local biodiversity.
The outhouse itself impressively packs a lot into a small and sensitively designed, unobtrusive space, including substantial storage, a studio, a shower room and a TV. It has skylights, a window and a glazed door to bring in lots of natural light.
The outhouse itself impressively packs a lot into a small and sensitively designed, unobtrusive space, including substantial storage, a studio, a shower room and a TV. It has skylights, a window and a glazed door to bring in lots of natural light.
The light-filled potter’s studio
Although ceramicist Janene Waudby is lucky enough to have a long garden, it’s pretty narrow. As such, her 2.6m x 3m home studio – built at the far end – has to be extremely well-organised. “In quite a small space, you can do an awful lot,” she says.
Janene had her studio made by Sanctum Garden Studios, which specialises in creating sheds and standalone studios. “I wanted windows all across the front and one across the back as well, because that’s where the morning light comes in,” she says.
Although ceramicist Janene Waudby is lucky enough to have a long garden, it’s pretty narrow. As such, her 2.6m x 3m home studio – built at the far end – has to be extremely well-organised. “In quite a small space, you can do an awful lot,” she says.
Janene had her studio made by Sanctum Garden Studios, which specialises in creating sheds and standalone studios. “I wanted windows all across the front and one across the back as well, because that’s where the morning light comes in,” she says.
She explains that the studio was the first thing to be installed in the garden. “We built everything else around it,” she says. Before Sanctum could install the shed, Janene had to level the space, a project she and her husband had been working on anyway, since they were renovating the house and garden. Unlike some garden structures of this type, however, it did not require a concrete base.
The studio came with sturdy laminate flooring that resembles wooden floorboards. Its walls, roof and floor are fully insulated.
Janene added a small brick patio, which gives the space a homely atmosphere. The French windows open the studio up to the garden, creating an uplifting connection between outside and in.
See more of this peaceful studio at the end of a potter’s garden.
The studio came with sturdy laminate flooring that resembles wooden floorboards. Its walls, roof and floor are fully insulated.
Janene added a small brick patio, which gives the space a homely atmosphere. The French windows open the studio up to the garden, creating an uplifting connection between outside and in.
See more of this peaceful studio at the end of a potter’s garden.
The writer’s room
When architect Trevor Brown renovated the period house attached to this London garden, the owner asked him to create an outdoor room in which she could write.
The garden contains multiple level changes, which Trevor had to accommodate before he could commission the new structure from Malvern Garden Buildings. He designed gentle steps to lead up to the studio. These create a tranquil approach, as they’re almost integrated with the adjacent flowerbeds, giving a real sense of connection between the different elements in the space.
Another seating area, on the same level as the writing room, provides a spot to sit in the sun and gather thoughts.
Tour the whole of this period home that had an era-appropriate upgrade.
When architect Trevor Brown renovated the period house attached to this London garden, the owner asked him to create an outdoor room in which she could write.
The garden contains multiple level changes, which Trevor had to accommodate before he could commission the new structure from Malvern Garden Buildings. He designed gentle steps to lead up to the studio. These create a tranquil approach, as they’re almost integrated with the adjacent flowerbeds, giving a real sense of connection between the different elements in the space.
Another seating area, on the same level as the writing room, provides a spot to sit in the sun and gather thoughts.
Tour the whole of this period home that had an era-appropriate upgrade.
The sculptural ‘Shoffice’
The tactile, organic sculptures of the late Cornwall-based artist, Barbara Hepworth, inspired Patrick Michell of Platform 5 Architects when his client commissioned him to design a curvilinear shed-office that also looked like a work of art.
The building, nicknamed the “Shoffice” for its dual functions, sits at the end of a garden belonging to a 1950s terrace. By no means the most space-saving of designs in such a petite plot, it compensates by being – as requested – a thing of beauty in its own right. In this photo, you could almost be standing inside a Hepworth sculpture, looking through it and down the garden towards the back of the house.
The tactile, organic sculptures of the late Cornwall-based artist, Barbara Hepworth, inspired Patrick Michell of Platform 5 Architects when his client commissioned him to design a curvilinear shed-office that also looked like a work of art.
The building, nicknamed the “Shoffice” for its dual functions, sits at the end of a garden belonging to a 1950s terrace. By no means the most space-saving of designs in such a petite plot, it compensates by being – as requested – a thing of beauty in its own right. In this photo, you could almost be standing inside a Hepworth sculpture, looking through it and down the garden towards the back of the house.
Curling in upon itself like a giant wood shaving, the Shoffice features an enclosed work area on one side and a small garden storage area on the other. A tongue-like protrusion in front serves as a base for the structure and a play space for the owner’s children.
The shoffice, seen here from inside the house, was constructed from two slim, curved-steel rings connected with timbers, then covered in plywood sheathing. The interior and exterior are covered in American white oak.
“The form echoes those found in nature, which creates a relaxing atmosphere in which to work,” says Patrick, who admits the complex geometry added to the structure’s cost.
Learn more about this interesting building.
Tell us…
Which of these designs could you most imagine sitting in your own garden? Let us know in the Comments.
“The form echoes those found in nature, which creates a relaxing atmosphere in which to work,” says Patrick, who admits the complex geometry added to the structure’s cost.
Learn more about this interesting building.
Tell us…
Which of these designs could you most imagine sitting in your own garden? Let us know in the Comments.
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I know "Thou shalt not covet ..." but still - I must admit, I do feel rather covetous !!
just moved into our new garden studio/cabin. perfect for us both with a closer connection to the garden. it replaced an old carport. I'll add some 'proper' photos to our projects page soon. inside & out
great job and interesting solutions!!!