Designing Your Garden Room! Don’t settle for a permitted development if that’s not what you really want!

Get ready to dive into the exciting world of garden room design! In this post, I'm thrilled to share some of the key design stages that I believe are essential to plan out before you start building your dream garden room.

If you're considering creating one, make sure to map everything out first! Go old school if you need to—grab a pen and paper, use a scale of 2cm = 1m, and let your creativity flow as you start sketching. I personally used Excel to plan mine, but PowerPoint is also a super easy and fun tool to use!

In a world that often prioritises speed and modernity, reverting to classic techniques can serve as a reminder of the importance of quality over quantity. It allows for the incorporation of personal touches that reflect your unique taste and history. So, while it may be tempting to follow the latest trends or let others dictate the creative process, do what they have already done for so many others, remember that your home should be a reflection of you. Ultimately, the decisions you make about what to build and how to build it should resonate with your individual preferences and the story you wish to tell through your living space.

Furniture layout

What will you include in your outdoor space? How will it be utilised? I initiated this plan when we began constructing the Fox Den, but it should have been started before we landscaped the garden.

Fortunately, we managed to fit everything in, and the space feels expansive and comfortable. However, you can't play darts and pool simultaneously, and we are limited to using 48-inch cues because we would damaged the walls if we used full size ones. We had the space to expand, but our lack of detailed planning left us uncertain about our exact needs. We nearly had to buy the 6ft pool table.

At one point, we were keen on having reclining light-up cinema chairs, but they would not have been able to recline with the pool table location.

Design it 20 times before finalising your decision. Before talking to any company, don't let anyone sway you away from what you truly dream of.

Remember to consider the width of the finished walls when calculating your internal floor space. Even if your base is already installed, the actual room you have to work with will be smaller once construction is complete.

This involves a thoughtful consideration of the various elements you plan to include, as well as the overall purpose of the space. What activities will you be engaging in? Will it serve as a workshop, a storage area, a recreational space, or perhaps a combination of these uses? By clarifying your intentions and requirements, you can better determine the dimensions that will suit your needs effectively.

Size

The size of the structure should come naturally and intuitively once you take the time to clearly define and understand exactly what you want to put in there.

When it comes to the internal height of the structure, it’s essential to consider how this will impact the usability of the space. For example, I’ve mentioned previously that Dave, who stands at 6 foot 3 inches tall, fits in there very comfortably. This highlights the importance of ensuring that the internal height accommodates the tallest individuals who may use the space. If you are planning to go for a permitted development, you should be aware that there are height restrictions that may limit your options. We did not try and build a permitted development, we opted for planning permission for a design that met our specific needs without compromise.

Electrics

This electrical layout was shared with various companies for review and implementation. We requested some cool features our dart board lights and disco ball are connected to the lights. I don’t like cables running all over the walls. Also high level single sockets for our neon lights.

Creating an effective electrical layout doesn't require extensive knowledge, but clear preferences and requirements are essential. Consider what lights you want, spotlights or pendant fittings, plug sockets for devices, and modern conveniences like USB sockets for charging. These considerations create a functional and user-friendly environment. Look at how your current home is, what do and don't you like about the electrics you already have.

Once you've determined this layout, you can confidently compile a rough estimate for the materials needed for construction. This preliminary quote is for your own reference, ensuring that when someone provides a quote, you can easily identify the most reasonable offer.

This plan also enables electricians to accurately calculate the electrical load and inform you of the appropriate cable size required to connect to your home's power supply. Which ideally the ground worker should install when they install your base.

I made a really simple colour coded key on the right, to detail where I wanted all fixtures to be placed in the Fox Den. The sparkies followed it just fine and apart from a few lessons learnt ADD LINK I am very happy with the layout. It is exactly as I planned it.

I know so many people just build and I get it, but you’re asking people to build in your home, which adds an entirely different layer of responsibility and consideration. When you invite others into your personal space to create or construct something, it becomes essential for you to maintain a sense of control over what is being built.

If you would like any help with any of the above feel free to give me a call or email and discuss your job. We love our pub!