Month: February 2022

Although many people choose an ultra-modern look with their garden rooms these days, there’s a timeless appeal to the conventional cosy log cabin. If you use your garden room as a guest house or a place to unwind and relax, the traditional log cabin look will work wonders. In this post, we explain how to create a traditional log cabin look with your garden room.

Exterior

There are plenty of options to choose from these days when it comes to garden rooms. If you have not yet constructed your garden room, you could choose one made from materials that resemble a traditional log cabin, such as a dark timber. Perhaps consider a gentle sanding rather than a well-oiled finish. If you already have a garden room that doesn’t have this aesthetic, consider painting it or covering it in a mural to create the impression of logs.

Adding shutters to the exterior of your garden room will instantly give it a rustic and authentic log cabin feel. If you have enough space in your garden, choose a garden room design with a decking area and, ideally, steps. This will truly make it look like an authentic log cabin. You can then add finishing touches such as rocking chairs, soft furnishings and traditional looking lighting.

Opt for a natural and simple look that doesn’t look overly planned or designed when it comes to the plantings around your garden room. Think in terms of longer grass, wildflowers, terracotta pots and cute window boxes with bulbed flowers.

Interior

With the interior design of your garden room, you will want to avoid the contemporary look that favours minimalistic, modern design. Instead, you should look to create a cosy, rustic look inside your garden room. Log cabins typically have a traditional vibe, with darker interiors and natural materials. They are cosy with unique pieces of furniture, artwork and ornamental pieces. Consider upcycling pre-loved furniture and creating, or seeking out, unique pieces made from natural materials such as driftwood.

Instead of blinds, opt for cute curtains with tie backs as you would typically find in a traditional log cabin. Dress up comfy old furniture with blankets and cushions for a cosier feel. Kit out your cabin with traditional, wooden furniture such as tables and chairs, bookshelves and cabinets. For the traditional look, your furniture should have darker tones, and the inside of your garden room should have a cottage-style vibe. Consider adding old photos, or black and white prints, to the walls and on furniture.

If you’re not a fan of the darker tones, a shabby chic look can also work well and give an antique vibe but with lighter colours. To achieve this look, stick to whites, creams, browns and black with your interiors. Use natural materials wherever possible and avoid adding too much colour. Use blankets and soft interiors in light shades to give a cosy hygge feel.

If you are looking to create a cosy living space with your garden room, the traditional log cabin look is perfect for this. What better way to escape the stresses of modern life than by retreating to your log cabin in the garden after a busy day?

Condensation is common in garden rooms, especially during the colder winter months. If left unchecked, it can potentially cause issues to your structure and internal décor. Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to prevent this.

What is condensation?

Condensation is the tiny droplets of water left on cold surfaces after they are met with warm air or when there is high humidity in a building. It appears on the inside of windows, mirrors and sometimes on other interior surfaces. A good example of condensation is that which is left on a bathroom mirror after you have taken a shower.

Everyday activities such as boiling the kettle or taking a shower release moisture into the air indoors. Warm air can hold larger amounts of water than cooler air, so when the moist air cools rapidly against a cold surface, it leaves moisture behind as condensation.

Condensation is very common in winter when it is cold outside, and we have our heating on indoors. Leaving the windows closed and turning the heating up traps the moist air inside. When the temperature outside drops, liquid water appears inside as condensation on windows and other surfaces.

How can condensation affect your garden room?

The moisture from condensation can cause damage to timber framework and wooden objects, which is bad news for garden rooms that tend to be constructed from such materials. If condensation is not dealt with over time, it may lead to dampness and mould within your garden room.

It can also cause damage to interiors by creeping behind wallpaper, paint or tiles. This can cause these surfaces to distort, blister or crack. Not only will this look unsightly, but it will cost you money to repair or replace.

Potential sources of water vapour in your garden room

Once water vapour is inside your garden room, you will only notice it is there when it forms condensation. But where does it come from?

One source of water vapour within buildings is from humans. We breathe out warm air, so the more people spend time in your garden room, the more warm air is being breathed out in there.

If you use your garden room for cooking or preparing hot drinks, this will generate water vapour in the form of steam. Similarly, some people have bathing facilities in their garden room, and these have the same effect. Although extractor fans are designed to remove moist air, they are not always perfect at doing this.

Drying clothes indoors is another source of water vapour. If you do this in your garden room, it will contribute to the problem.

The amount of water vapour within your garden room, and its source, will largely depend on what you use your garden room for.

Seeing condensation in your garden room does not mean there is a flaw in the structure. On the contrary, condensation is a sign of a well-sealed structure that is simply being used for everyday, modern activities.

Tips to avoid condensation in your garden room

One of the best ways to prevent condensation in your garden room is by airing it out daily. Of course, this may lead to some discomfort during the colder winter months, but you don’t need to have the windows open all day for this to be effective. Consider airing out the structure early in the morning and again later in the day after it has been used. Perhaps you could air out your garden building at times when it’s not in use?

If you have multiple rooms in your garden building, try to close the doors to other rooms when you are bathing, showering, cooking or using the kettle. This will help to prevent the spread of water vapour throughout the structure. If you have an extractor fan, ensure this is in use when showering. Alternatively, open a window or door when engaging in activities that generate steam and leave it open for a short while afterwards.

If condensation is a significant issue in your garden room, consider investing in a small dehumidifier. This will allow you to condense the water vapour into a reservoir and empty it out. These can be especially useful in the coldest months when condensation is more of an issue.

If you do notice condensation in your garden room, don’t leave it to evaporate back into the air, as it will simply remain there to condense again. Instead, use a towel or sponge to clear the water droplets from your windows or surfaces.

Now you are aware of what condensation is and what causes it in your garden room, you can prevent it or reduce it so you won’t have to deal with its negative effects later down the line.

*Featured Image is a Composite Garden Building

Whether you need additional space or simply want to improve your home, a garden building is a versatile and cost-effective option. They’re becoming an increasingly popular way to add space to a property, and for good reasons. Here’s 5 benefits you can only get from a garden building…

1. Providing supervised independent living for family members

A garden building can provide an independent living space for young adults or elderly relatives who may need support from time to time. If you are a parent to a young adult who is itching for independence, a garden room can provide them with the self-contained living space they desire while still keeping them close by. It’s a great stepping stone for older teenagers, allowing them to experience independent living in a safe way before moving out of the family home entirely.

A garden building can also provide the perfect accommodation for elderly relatives who may need a bit of support from time to time. You can create a space with all the amenities they need including a shower room, kitchen area and sleeping quarters while being close by should they need assistance or companionship at any time.

2. Creating a professional home workspace to meet clients

More people than ever are running home businesses these days or dreaming of doing so in the near future. While a small room in the main house can make for an adequate private office space, it doesn’t provide the most professional image should you wish to meet clients or associates.

By investing in a garden room to use as an office or business premises, you can create a professional space to hold meetings or see clients without them having to enter your home at all. You can design your space however you like to suit your business and what you offer. This will allow clients or associates to feel as though they’re in a professional space even though you’re working from home. It also enables you to distance yourself completely from any distractions you may experience while working in the main house.

3. Escaping family members without leaving home

While we love our family members dearly, there’s no denying that we all need our own time and space sometimes. A garden building can provide the ideal space to take time out for yourself without leaving home. You can design the perfect retreat that meets your self-care needs, such as a relaxing space to watch TV or play games, a home spa, hobby room, mancave or personal gym.

You can even create a multipurpose space that has something for everyone, so each member of the family has the opportunity for ‘me time’ when they need it. Using a garden room for this purpose allows you to take time out while still being close by if you’re really needed.

4. Hosting a garden party all year round

Who doesn’t love a garden party in the summer months? With a garden room, you can host garden parties all year round, whatever the weather. A garden room can provide shelter adequate enough to entertain a group of friends should the weather take a turn for the worst.

For those who love entertaining at home, a garden room is the perfect solution ensuring the main house doesn’t get disturbed. Minibars are a popular addition to garden rooms intended for this purpose. You can create the perfect party vibe with lighting and décor to your taste. Garden rooms with a decking area are ideal for seating space, BBQs and even hot tubs. Inside, you can add a kitchenette, fridge, comfy seating and entertainment systems. You’ll be the envy of all your friends.

5. Getting additional space without altering the main house

Adding a garden building to your property allows you to benefit from additional space without making any alterations to the main house. Extensions, loft conversions and partition walls can be costly and disruptive to your life while building works are underway. But with a garden room, you can get the additional space you need with minimal disruption to living and in a short space of time.

Most garden buildings don’t require planning permission and can be completed in as little as a week or less. Garden buildings are extremely versatile and can meet a variety of different space requirements, including a home office, extra bedroom, self-contained living quarters, home gyms and much more. Investing in a garden building is a cost-effective way to add value to your property and provide you with extra space without having to alter the main house or move home entirely. This is why they’re becoming increasingly popular and starting to overtake traditional home extension methods.

The days are getting a little bit longer, the weather is starting to warm up a bit, and the birds are beginning to sing. It must be February! This is the time of year when you should start thinking about getting ahead of the spring rush in your garden. There are a lot of jobs to do this month, so let’s get started! Here’s our list of jobs to do in your garden in February.

1 – Make balls of fat for your bird feeders

February is still a chilly month; birds are hungry and need to get enough food to keep them going through the remaining winter days. If you have a bird feeder in your garden, it’s important that you fill it with food on a regular basis. Making balls of fat is a great way to get your garden ready for the spring. It’s a simple process, but it will help you attract more birds to your feeders.

One of the best types of food to give birds is fat balls. These are easy to make at home and cost very little too! All you need is some lard and seeds. All you need to do is melt some lard or bacon fat, add some seeds and then pour it into some small containers like yoghurt cups or margarine tubs. Once it has cooled, you can then make balls out of it using your hands. These will keep the birds fed through the remaining winter days.

2 Get started with liming

Lime is a type of fertiliser that helps to neutralise soil acidity. This will help make your plants grow better and improve their crops’ yield, as well as making certain types of flowers more colourful! Lime can be bought from most garden centres or hardware stores in bags that look like cement at first glance.

Apply the lime to your soil according to the instructions on the bag. You can also add organic matter such as well-rotted manure or compost to your soil at this time, which will help to improve its structure and fertility.

3 Plant garlic

If you like to grow food in your garden, then now is the time to plant garlic. Garlic is a hardy vegetable that can be grown all winter long, and it will be ready to harvest in the spring.

You can buy garlic bulbs from most garden centres or online stores. Plant them in well-drained soil, ensuring that the cloves are facing downwards. You can also plant garlic alongside your roses to help keep pests away.

4 Prune shrubs and trees

Prune any trees or shrubs that need it in February before they start to grow. Pruning is one of the most important jobs you can do for your garden this month, as it helps to promote new growth and keep plants healthy. You should prune any deadwood from trees and shrubs before spring arrives

If you have any fruit trees in your garden, it’s a good idea to start mulching them now too.

##5 Get on top of any pest problems

Keep on top of any pests and weeds in your garden this month. Make sure that you spray horticultural fleece with an insecticide too to prevent pets from eating through it later on in the year.

6 Prune your hedges

If you have any hedges, you can get ahead and prune them a little now. This will help to stop birds from making nests in them once spring arrives.

7 Plant bulbs

Now is also an excellent time to start planting bulbs, such as tulips and daffodils. They’ll start blooming in the springtime and add some extra colour to your garden. So get planting now and reap the rewards in a month or two.

Add a good layer of compost to the hole before planting and make sure that you water regularly for the first few weeks after

8 Maintain outbuildings

If you have a shed, cabin, greenhouse or garden room, it’s a great time to do some basic maintenance.

If you have a greenhouse, it’s a good idea to clean the glass now before spring arrives and temperatures start rising again. You can also clean the glass of a shed or garden room. Do any repairs need making to your shed? Could your cabin do with a lick of paint? Could your composite garden room do with a wipe clean? Garden room maintenance helps your room year after year.

There are plenty of other jobs to do in your garden in February, but these are our top eight. Remember, though, that many insects such as bees and butterflies are wintering at this time of year. Cleaning out all the dead leaves and plants from last year may leave them with nowhere to continue that.

Wintering is when an animal or insect survives the winter by reducing its activity and lowering its body temperature.

Before we go, here’s one last tip for gardening in February: watch out for slugs and snails. They’re very hungry after a long sleep during the cold weather, so keep your eyes peeled for them now!