Garden rooms are a fantastic addition to any home, providing a versatile space that can be used for a variety of purposes. Many people wonder, however, whether they can use their garden room all year round, or whether it’s only suitable for use in the summer months. The good news is that with the right design and planning, your garden room can be used throughout the year, no matter what the weather is like outside. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how you can use your garden room all year round and what you need to consider to make this possible.
Insulation
The key to using your garden room throughout the year is insulation. Insulating your garden room properly will keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer, making it a comfortable and inviting space to be in. There are a few different insulation options to choose from, including:
– Rockwool insulation: This is a popular choice as it’s easy to install and provides excellent thermal insulation.
– Cellulose insulation: Made from recycled paper, cellulose insulation is an eco-friendly choice that provides good thermal insulation.
– Spray foam insulation: This is a more expensive option, but it provides excellent insulation and is ideal for areas with irregular shapes or hard-to-reach spaces.
Heating
Once your garden room is properly insulated, you’ll need to consider how you’re going to heat it. Some potential options include:
– Underfloor heating: This is a popular choice as it provides an even distribution of heat and frees up wall space for other uses.
– Electric heater: A simple and cost-effective option, electric heaters can be wall-mounted or free-standing and are available in a variety of sizes and styles.
– Wood-burning stove: If you want to create a cosy and traditional feel in your garden room, a wood-burning stove is an excellent choice. However, you’ll need to ensure that your garden room is properly ventilated and that you have a safe way to store and transport wood.
Of course you could always consider installing electrical wiring or speaking to a construction company such as ourselves here at Cobbydale Construction to discuss the viability of connecting to your home’s central heating, however this can be costly and can detract from the purpose of having a room in your garden.
Lighting
To make the most of your garden room all year round, you’ll need to ensure that it’s well-lit, both during the day and at night. The different types of lighting that you can take advantage of include:
– Natural lighting: If your garden room has large windows or skylights, you may not need any additional lighting during the day.
– LED lighting: Energy-efficient and long-lasting, LED lighting is a popular choice for garden rooms as it provides bright, even light that can be adjusted to suit your needs.
– Feature lighting: If you want to create a more atmospheric feel in your garden room, you may want to consider feature lighting such as wall sconces, pendant lights or fairy lights.
Decoration
Decorating your garden room can also have a positive impact on being able to increase or reduce the heat of the garden room. Some areas to think about include:
– Flooring: You could opt for a carpet to feel more like an extension of your home, wooden flooring, laminate or even stone! If you wish to opt for underfloor heating then you need to ensure you choose a material that is compatible with this. You can view our guide on choosing the perfect flooring here.
– Soft furnishings: Add some warmth and texture to your garden room with soft furnishings such as rugs, cushions and throws. Taking up space means there is less room to heat, so your garden room will heat up faster in Winter. This will also ensure your floor feels warmer if you opt for a material that cools easily such as real wood or stone.
– Furniture: You can take using your garden room all year round to new definitions by installing some comfy furniture pieces such as a divan or sofa-bed. This would give you the option to lounge out on warm summer evenings or cosy up for some peace and quiet during winter.
– Blinds or curtains: Especially if your garden room is composed more of glass than brick. The heat from the Sun’s rays beams down on glass. The most effective way to block this and prevent your garden room from becoming too stuffy is to block this with blinds or curtains, also adding a layer of privacy.
– Decorative touches: As with soft furnishings, decorations will help take up space so you can better retain heat. Personalise your garden room with decorative touches such as artwork, plants or ornaments to improve your inspiration or add a touch of tranquillity.
Structural Redesign
Depending on what your garden room is constructed from, you may be left feeling that you would rather change materials. You could also consider changing the windows and doors of your garden room to that of a sliding or bi-fold door to allow more of a breeze during summer. Alternatively, if each wall is composed of glass and you would like more privacy, you could have your garden room reconstructed to include brick walls instead.
Contact Us Today
Whether you use it as a home office, a gym, a playroom or a relaxation space, your garden room can be made to be fit for purpose all year round. If you already have a garden room we hope that this assists you in using it more, but if you don’t and feel inspired we would love to hear from you. Contact us today on 01535 653530 or use our contact form for a non-obligatory consultation.