wfh Archives - Rooms2U

Home Office Vs. Garden Office – Which Should You Choose?

Posted on 10th January 202123rd January 2021

Featured Image Tranquil by Garden Room Cabins

Over the past year, more people than ever before have been working from home. What began as a necessity due to the pandemic has now become a convenient and cost-effective choice for many individuals and businesses. As many people have learned the hard way, productivity depends on having a suitable home working environment. This post compares the more traditional home office to the contemporary garden office to see which comes out tops.

The case for a dedicated space

For those who have partners, children or housemates at home, it goes without saying that a dedicated workspace is essential to avoid frustrating distractions.

If you live alone, you may think you don’t need a dedicated workspace as you don’t have other people making noise and interrupting you. Whilst this does make for fewer distractions, working from your living environment often proves unproductive due to the temptation of your home comforts. This is the space you’re used to relaxing in; your TV, fridge and sofa can all provide temptation to slack off.

A dedicated workspace can be set up to help you to focus. It also provides the boundaries between work and relaxation time that often get blurred for homeworkers.

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Home office

A home office is a room in the main house that is dedicated to work or study. People often choose to use their smallest bedroom as an office. Some people use their dining room whilst others are fortunate enough to have a large property with plenty of space to choose from. Building an extension or loft conversion is an option for those lacking space, although this may prove costly, stressful and disruptive. Home offices are a popular choice for those who are employed and work flexibly, both in the office and at home. Part-time freelancers often choose to use existing space because the investment of an extension or garden room is not warranted.

Pros:

Using existing space is the cheapest option
You’re incredibly close to family members if they need you
An extension/loft conversion will add value to your property

Cons:

You’re extremely close to family members if they’re disruptive or noisy
Building an extension could involve planning permission
Building works for an extension/loft conversion can be lengthy, disruptive, and costly
It doesn’t have its entrance, so clients and visitors have to come through the main house

Garden office

eDen Hub Curve

A garden office is a self-contained workspace in your garden. There are many different sizes, styles, and providers to choose from, which means there is an ideal option for everyone. You can even get tiny office pods, (like the one pictured above) for those with smaller gardens, so you don’t lose too much of your outdoor space. A garden office is not only a wonderful home working space, but also adds an attractive feature to your property. Garden offices are a popular choice for people who run their own business as it provides a dedicated, professional space to work, hold meetings, and collaborate with others. They are also popular amongst those working in professions requiring a studio-type of environment, such as fitness instructors and artists, as well as people who work regularly with clients such as hairdressers, beauty therapists, counsellors, and consultants.

Pros:

Because it’s self-contained, disruptions from family members are minimised
You’re close enough to family members if they need you
Separates work and home life
No planning permission required
Vast choice of sizes and styles means you can create the ideal workspace
Views of the outdoors
Cost-effective options that can be much cheaper than an extension/loft conversion
Adds value to your property
Provides a professional space to hold meetings/work with clients
Options available that are larger than a box room or extension

Cons:

It’s more expensive than using existing space
Takes up space in your garden
Requires heating, insulation, and electrical hook up (although this is often included)

Conclusion

Whether a home office or garden room will suit you best will depend on your individual circumstances, including your income and living situation, as well as what you do for a living and when and how you want to work from home.

When weighing the pros and cons, the contemporary garden room comes out tops. If you dip your toes in and out of home working, a home office may be enough to meet your needs. If you’re serious about homeworking for the long-term or building a small business, this is the option to go for because it will provide a dedicated, quiet and professional space that is designed to meet your exact needs.

Shed Quarters – The New Normal?

Posted on 17th November 202014th December 2020

Already halfway through our second national lockdown, it’s clear that home working is here for the foreseeable future. Some businesses may permanently offer staff the option to work from home now that the benefits and savings have been realised.

Research by insurer Direct Line has found that a million people have invested in a shoffice, and another 1.1 million plans to do so in the next year.

Since the first lockdown, many creators of garden rooms, cabins and high-end sheds have found their order books filling fast as people realise the potential of some extra space in the garden.

These buildings dubbed ‘shoffices’ or ‘shed quarters’ are likely to be in demand indefinitely. Below, we take a look at some of the key considerations and frequently asked questions of those looking to invest in a garden office.

Do I need planning permission to build a garden office?

In the majority of cases, no planning permission is required to install an office in your garden. Outbuildings can be built under permitted development rights. Providing it’s single-story, does not exceed 2.5 metres in height and is not intended to be lived. There are exceptions, so always do your research first. You can find out more about this here.

Will my garden office be covered by home insurance?

Of course, being away from the central living accommodation, you will worry about leaving expensive IT equipment in an outbuilding. The good news is, the majority of home insurance policies will cover outbuildings both in terms of buildings and contents. Of course, you should always advise your insurance company of the value of the contents in the outbuilding to be on the safe side, and check that you will be covered.

Does the cost include utility connection?

Most people will require electricity and an internet connection to be able to work from their garden office. Some companies offer a complete solution which includes electricity connection and internet connectivity. The majority, however, do not so this will be an additional consideration.

Options to keep the cost down could be a WiFi booster to boost the strength of the WiFi to your outbuilding. Alternatively, an armoured electricity cable and ethernet cable can be run from the home along a fence, for example.

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Can I have a bathroom installed in my shoffice?

Many garden room creators offer a bespoke service. This means you could potentially opt to add a bathroom or running water to your outbuilding. This will incur additional costs and require the services of a plumber, so in most instances, people choose to use the facilities in their home.

What’s the average cost of shed quarters?

The price can vary greatly, depending on your requirements. For comfort, we would recommend ensuring your garden room is fully insulated and weatherproof. So, while you could potentially pick up a shed for sub £1,000 – it won’t supply the comfort necessary to work in year-round.

As a minimum, you should expect to pay around £2,500 for a small office space. There are numerous options that vary in size and features. Some garden rooms provide dual-use such as office and storage; others are compact and offer a small area to work. You can start by considering your needs and requirements. Our suggestion wizard can help you find solutions. Try it out here.

If you’re looking for something small the Lugarde Napoleon Garden Home Office. This is a minimal space, purely dedicated for working. For those that require a little extra space, a mid-range garden office will set you back just over £7,000 like this Modular Garden Room by Urban Décor. For anyone looking for the complete solution. £10,000 will get you an eDen Hub which is ready to go with electrical sockets and an internet connection point.

For those that prefer something bespoke, eye-catching and unique the Anthropod GO! Or the Archipod are beautiful solutions.

There is something for everyone, with such a large range of options and sizes available. You can even. choose from different cladding options to blend into your garden with ease. You can browse a vast range of shed quarters here.

Manage Lockdown2 Like a Boss with a Shoffice

Posted on 4th November 20205th November 2020

*Pictured above is the Lugarde Napoleon Garden Home Office by Cotswold Garden Spaces from £2,699

With plans for a new nationwide lockdown announced at the weekend, the population is once again having to consider working from home.

This lockdown is different from the one back in March, with less stringent regulations. The key differences are that education settings such as schools and universities may remain open and people who cannot work from home may still go to work unless they work in non-essential shops that cannot offer a click and collect service.

The news has been welcomed with mixed reactions, but the message is clear – We must protect our NHS.

So, Can You Work Effectively From Home?

Many people discovered during the last lockdown that there are perks to working from home. There’s no commute time, you saved money on travel and lunch, coffees, etc and you can wear what you want!

Of, course there were some downsides, many weren’t equipped – Argos sold out of many desk designs back in March and the kids were also at home, so parents had more distractions than they would at work.

So, What’s the Key to Home Working Success?

Quiet
Comfortable
Warm
Connectivity

During the last lockdown, many people found themselves working in cramped and uncomfortable makeshift conditions. Productivity can be greatly reduced by poor posture, background noise, and discomfort.

You needn’t despair though. We have a solution that caters to all of the above points creating the perfect home office.

Garden offices or Shoffice’s (shed/office), have become increasingly popular since the first lockdown. Many people realised the potential of having a dedicated working space.

How Can a Shoffice Help Me Work More Productively?

Having a dedicated working space can greatly increase productivity and keep you focused on the task at hand. Somewhere quiet and away from distractions, as well as any embarrassing background noises that could interrupt phone calls or zoom meetings is the key. (If you need a laugh you can view some hilarious zoom fails here).

Being away from the main living accommodation, a garden office is the perfect solution.

Comfort Catered For

Garden Rooms make a perfect shoffice because they are versatile and come in a range of sizes. From the compact single person office space to large multi-room, multi-function spaces. Whatever your needs, there is a range of sellers ready to create off-the-shelf, or bespoke garden buildings to fit your exact requirements.

With double glazing, insulation, electrics, and even heating or running water if required, these rooms have everything you need to comfortably work throughout lockdown and beyond.

Need Some Shoffice Inspiration?

We have selected some popular shoffice choices below, but you can start your own search for the perfect home office here.

	Broadway by Nordic Garden Buildings from £13,395 The Broadway has a flat roof to maximise the space within the building. Constructed with modern materials Nordic Garden Buildings have created a durable space that is ideal for home working. The Broadway is a maintenance-free, insulated building that can be used comfortably all year round without the inconvenience of annual painting or staining. It also has the added benefit of high security locking on all the doors and windows, you can rest assured that your property within the building will be safe and sound.
	Serenity Garden Room – Self-Build Kit by Serenity Garden Rooms from £10,346 Save money with a ‘Serenity Self-Build’ garden room. If you’re a little handy you can build your own stylish, fully insulated, all year round, Serenity Garden Room. Supplied with a step by step tutorial, full support and detailed video guides to help ensure a high quality, professional finish for your new space. This garden building lends itself well to a home office set-up and looks great thanks to top-quality timber C24 which Serenity garden Buildings import from Sweden. Serenity uses timber only from a range of planed-all-round carcassing, providing a reliable and consistent high-quality finish.
	The Newhaven Corner Summerhouse by Scotts of Thrapston from £6,730 For smaller or odd-shaped gardens, corner buildings work really well. The Newhaven has been cleverly designed to make the most of a corner setting and to fit snugly into a confined location. It is supplied with lockable doors and casement windows with laminated glass. The doors and windows are all fitted with brass ironmongery, as standard. The Newhaven opens up to create a spacious and airy summerhouse offering the ideal view across the whole garden, which is great for those working from home.
	Dryspace Spaces – Small by Dryspace Structures from £14,394 Dryspace Spaces offer a fully configurable and modular semi-permanent maintenance-free space. Each space comes with a 10-year structural warranty to provide customers with peace of mind. Fabricated using carefully sourced and tested materials, a Dryspace Space has a projected life expectancy of more than 35 years. Insulated panels, ensure that these structures can provide the perfect year-round space to work, rest or play.
	POD Garden Room by Winslade Landscapes from £11,160 The POD Garden Room is ideal for use as a shoffice, It comes with a 10-year product guarantee and a 5-year installation warranty. An attractive unit with plenty of natural light and space to work. This garden building looks great while offering that all-important extra space to work, rest, or play. Winslade Landscapes cover Hampshire, Surrey, London, Berkshire, and other surrounding areas