Isn’t it wonderful to have a spell of sustained sunny weather? It changes our focus to the great outdoors. If your garden is uninspiring and underused, now is the time of year to put everything in place for the summer. So, in this article, we look at the reasons to invest in a garden room and landscaping.
A Garden Fit for Summer
Now that the clocks have changed and the weather has brightened, have you headed out into the garden to dust down the BBQ, weed the beds or watch an impressive sunset? Access to outdoor space is great for our health and well-being. The fresh air, birdsong and emerging blooms connect us with nature and provide an escape from the daily challenges.
A strip of lawn might not be enough to tempt you outside, however, with a garden room and landscaping, you can optimise the space. With the right design, your garden can become an extension for the family life that you’ve been wishing for.
Why Invest in a Garden Room?
There are several reasons to consider a Garden Room, including:
You can create a distinct space.
A garden room is separate from the house and this offers plenty of opportunities to create a distinct area and style. With adequate light and heat, it could become your home office, a workshop, your gym or a garden bar. You could transform it into a playroom or a games room to entertain your kids or create a sanctuary of calm to escape to. What ideas have you got in mind?
Garden Rooms are typically easier to install than an extension.
If you adhere to a few points relating to height and distance from bordering properties, adding a garden room often falls within Permitted Development Rights. This means that there is no need to apply for planning permission, which saves time and costs. There are some exceptions, especially if you live in a conservation area, so we advise you to check with your Local Authority before you start building!
With the base prepared, it can take as little as 4 weeks to construct and finish a garden room. So, get planning now and you could be set for summer!
Garden rooms add value to your property.
A well-constructed garden room with electricity and plumbing is a desirable asset. It can provide you with an aspirational home and future buyers will realise the potential. This can increase the value of your property and make it a forerunner in comparison to other houses on a buyer’s shortlist.
What to Consider When Building a Garden Room
In addition to checking the Permitted Development Rights, it is worth considering the following points:
Balance – the size, shape and finish of the garden room should be in keeping with the scale of your garden and the surroundings. Think about the view from your home and neighbouring properties.
Aspect – check the position. Take note of the movement of the sun and line up the angle of your garden room so you benefit from maximum natural light and warmth.
Finishes – Your builder can recommend a choice of finishes. We’d suggest external cladding that helps the building blend into the landscape. Then go to town with the interior design!
Versatility – A good design can ensure the space is adaptable to changing needs. Think about features that enable flexibility.
Access – A stroll across the lawn is wonderful in summer, but consider the options when it’s cold, wet and dark in winter. A pathway, with solar lighting, could ensure this space is used all year round.
Why Invest in Landscaping?
Landscaping transforms a strip of lawn into a visually interesting space with clearly defined uses. A garden designer will see opportunities to shape the outdoor area to best meet your requirements. They can combine patio and seating areas, with low-maintenance planting and even incorporate water features, play equipment or raised beds for growing veggies.
By using terraces, pergolas, outdoor kitchens and other structured features, the garden can be zoned. What’s more, the designer can address shady or sloping areas, so they can be used.
If you have a highly desirable and functional garden, that doesn’t demand constant work, you are more likely to get out and enjoy it. What’s more, future buyers will see this as another asset.
Supplying Timbers to Garden Room & Landscaping Projects
Exterior Solutions Ltd has supplied quality timbers to a wide range of garden room companies and landscape gardening designers. Let’s take a look at a few examples:
Alpaca Garden Rooms – This London specialist designs and builds high-end garden rooms, tailored to the customer’s requirements. As charred timber has a timeless quality, that blends into the surroundings, our Shou Sugi Ban® range has been specified for many builds. Check out some great examples on the Case Studies page of their website.
London Town Cabins – Another London specialist offers a selection of cabins, which can be customised. We’ve provided natural-grained and charred cladding as the finishing material for a variety of their builds. Get an insight into what’s possible on their Project Page.
Offa’s Pitch – Not all garden rooms are for private homes. We’ve also supplied timbers to companies creating glorious glamping destinations. One example is Wild Honey at Offa’s Pitch which now stands in the stunning countryside between Ludlow, England & Newtown, Wales. For this glamping cabin project, our distinctive blue & black cladding was specified. We think this exterior finish instantly adds character to the building.
In addition, we’ve supplied charred timbers for fencing, planters, gazebos, pergolas, arches and sculptural structures. Our Shou Sugi Ban® has even been used for several garden designs at the Chelsea Flower Show. Read about a 2022 Chelsea exhibit.
Charred Timbers for your Garden Project
Charred timbers are a practical and aesthetic finish for your garden room and landscaping. The controlled charring process makes the timber more resilient to the effects of the British weather and insects. As such, the timbers are lower maintenance and look better for longer.
Our Buckinghamshire-based team handcraft the timbers for a premium quality finish. We only use responsibly sourced timber and supply to projects across the UK. Find out more about charred timber cladding on our website or call us on 01494 711800 to request advice, samples and a quote.
