Is A Garden Room A Luxury Item Or A Necessity Of Our Times?

 The Covid-19 pandemic may seem like a dim and distant memory but the implications it has left behind, along with the current economic crisis across the globe, are more evident than ever.

Affordability and the risk of dramatic economic change is at the forefront of most of our minds, so is purchasing your very own garden room, office or studio still considered a luxury purchase, or actually a necessity of the world we now find ourselves in?

A report released earlier this year from Money.co.uk indicated how garden offices are now one of the most desired purchases for homes, underlining how important garden offices have become in the UK. The survey found that over three-quarters of UK homeowners spent money on changing or improving their properties over the past year, with one in five UK homeowners reporting that they have spent the majority of their home improvement money on their garden.

 Are Garden Offices considered a luxury item?

Well, it depends on how you look at this!

When you consider that nearly 9million bedrooms were lost during the pandemic to work from,  householders spent an average of £3,700 adapting their homes, and that garden rooms will add to the value of your home – then no – a garden room can no longer be considered as a ‘luxury’ item.

However, SMART Garden Rooms are luxury in every aspect, from their design, the materials used through to their build quality. Designed for longevity, beauty and to be used 365 days a year – no matter what the weather.

They are also very versatile and can be used as offices, gyms, hobby rooms, art studios, playrooms, entertainment spaces, man caves, she sheds or simply some where to sit and relax. SMART Garden Rooms are perfect for a multitude of uses.

 

Are Garden Offices becoming a home necessity?

Absolutely – yes!

With increased home working since the Covid-19 pandemic, and employees demanding remote working for a flexible work/life balance – Garden Offices have become hugely popular and are in much more demand than ever before.

A recent report from the Office of National Statistics suggests that most people who took up homeworking because of the coronavirus pandemic plan to work from home and in the workplace in a hybrid format in the future.

A new study from Kings College London indicates that nearly three quarters of people working in London overwhelmingly believe traditional working patterns will not return post-pandemic, mainly because of the cost and length of commuting.

For those of you that choose to work from home, it is important to create a dedicated workspace so that you can keep your work-life balance in check and not run the risk of them overlapping. This is particularly important for one’s mental health and there is nothing more important than closing the door on your workday before you enter your home life.

These amazing spaces don’t have to be siloed for single use either, they are perfect for multi-functional uses with many being used as workspaces during the day and then gyms, hobby rooms, entertainment spaces or simply somewhere to relax in during the evening and weekends.

Where space is so important and at a premium, getting the most from it is vital and that is why there is a SMART solution to fit all tastes, garden sizes and budgets.

 

Renovate Don’t Relocate – Home improvements that add value to your home

Home improvements are a great way to add value to your home as well as costing less than moving.

It has recently been reported that the average cost of moving home in the UK is now a staggering £11,777, although it can be far less – or much more – depending on where you live. This is a large commitment, which suggests the reason for demand in renovation projects is because they can save you money in the long run and be a great investment for the future.

When it comes to increasing the size of your home with an extension, most extension projects cost around £1,350-£2,250/m² of new internal space according to an article created by Homebuilding & Renovating which means that a 30m² extension could be estimated at somewhere between £40,500-£67,500, plus, VAT at 20%. These prices exclude internal fitting costs and usually take around 8-12 weeks to complete.

An equivalent sized SMART garden room (30sqm) will cost in the region of £35,000 making it a very affordable alternative. In most cases, it won’t require planning permission whereas an extension most definitely will, and it can be installed in a matter of days, not weeks!

It is therefore no surprise as to why garden rooms are so popular now!

But garden rooms are so expensive!   

Well, they may seem expensive compared to a garden shed or a summerhouse, but they are streets ahead in terms of quality, specification and usability.

A medium sized garden room could cost you as little as £12 a day for 5 years according to the Post Office, who currently offer personal loans at 2.9% Representative APR (based upon £20,645 over 60 months).

When you consider what else you would happily spend £12 on, for example – 4 cups of coffee, 7 litres of fuel or a packet of cigarettes, suddenly a garden room doesn’t seem out of reach at all!

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And not only will a garden room provide you with additional usable space, 24/7, 365 days a year, it will also add value to your home.

An interesting guest post at Into The Garden Room by estate agent Grant Letts offers an expert perspective on the value added to a property by a garden office. He estimates the added value to be around 1.25 times the cost of the garden room build, and that high-end garden room are far better at adding value than conservatories.

If you are looking for ideas on how to set up your very own garden office then check out one of our earlier blogs which has some handy tips on how to create a garden office on a budget

So why a SMART Garden Room, Office or Studio?

SMART has 7 unique ranges available in 64 different sizes with a whole host of optional extras and upgrades which means the options open to you are practically endless and will allow you to create your dream garden space.

With over 20 years’ experience, SMART provides FREE consultations and a full turnkey service, including a planning application service (if needed), groundworks and full electrical connection.

Prices start from just £12,525, there will be a SMART solution for you.

Are you now considering your very own garden getaway?

If yes, then check out our 7 beautiful garden room ranges in 64 different sizes.

When you’ve decided on the range you like, you can jump straight into the design process with our configurator to create your own garden room.

Then, through our SMART visualiser app, you can view your design in 3D in your very own garden. It is so simple to use.

And if you are looking to get yours before 17.7.2022, check out our amazing Jubilee Offer. 

7 offers running for 70 days to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne:

1. £500 off your order
2. Half price ‘clip in frame’ blinds
3. Deluxe Gas BBQ
4. Half price climate control
5. Two-night UK break for two
6. Jordan lifting club flat HIIT bench with a set of 5 hexagonal dumbbells
7. £500 B&Q Gift Voucher

For full T&C’s, please click here

If you’re looking for more inspiration, please feel free to request a copy of our brochure. You’ll find over 80 images from garden rooms we’ve installed across the UK