If you’re looking to expand your home and create more living space, a garden room extension could be the perfect solution for you.
Building a garden room extension is a great way to make the most of your outdoor space and tailor it to suit your lifestyle. Incorporating one in your home also offers a multitude of environmental benefits. Today, garden room extensions are more in demand than ever, owing in no small part to consumer demand for sustainable, biologically-designed spaces.
At Crown Pavilions, we have over a decade of experience in building all types of garden rooms to cater for all purposes, including exquisite bespoke extension rooms, home gyms, offices and much more.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of a garden room extension, including their green credentials.
What is a Garden Room Extension?
A garden room extension is a building that is detached from the main home in your garden but is built to the same standards; this includes full insulation, electricity, lighting, windows, doors etc.
Unlike other outdoor structures, such as a posh shed or summer house, a garden room provides comfortable living space for all-year use. Garden rooms are extremely versatile and can be used for multiple functions, including music rooms, dance studios or offices; the possibilities are endless.
If you dream of running your hands against smooth timber, luxuriating amidst lush gardens, and having your own personal “home away from home,” then a garden room extension may be a perfect solution.
Homeowners have always relished in the comfort and beauty of structures such as wooden gazebos, which enable them to make the most of great weather while gathering with family in the Great Outdoors.
Alternatives for Garden Room Extensions
1. Conservatory
A conservatory is a very popular form of home extension for many British households however, according to Which?, 36% of conservatory owners actually regret building one.
The main reasons for this include difficulties cleaning the glass, the need for more space and temperature control issues. Instead, you can design a light and airy garden room extension with bespoke heating, lighting, window and door options, meaning you can enjoy all the comforts of a conservatory without these issues.
2. Garage Conversion
Many people who have a garage choose to use this space for a home extension. A garage, however, is a very desirable feature to have when it comes to selling your property so converting it into living space could detract from the appeal and value of your home.
Additionally, there are various restrictions on windows for garage conversions which could limit your uses and design options, with a lack of light and ventilation being the main issues.
3. Loft Conversion
A loft conversion is a very expensive and time-consuming method of extending your house and can cause lots of disruption to your home life during the building process.
Often, you are also required to carry out other works on your property, such as lowering ceilings in the rooms below, for a successful loft conversion. Moreover, there are also many building regulations you must adhere to, unlike a garden room extension which usually does not require building permission.
4. Extension
Extensions can add value to your home given the building is well designed and constructed. However, home extensions can create an unnatural shape to your property which ruins the architecture and compromises its appeal. A traditional home extension can also be extremely disruptive and stressful if you plan to live on-site during the build.
Many people choose to rent or live with family members during this period however this can become expensive and inconvenient. When building a garden room extension, there is no need to vacate your property as it is built separate from your home, and you don’t need to worry about noisy builders or dust getting everywhere.
5. Garden Room
A garden room home extension is a great alternative to the traditional home extension methods listed above. Whatever the shape or size of your garden, you can build a luxury garden room extension to create a beautiful functional living space.
As a stand-alone building, a garden room provides a quiet, private space away from the distractions of home life meaning it is much more versatile and doesn’t infringe on your other living space. For example, a traditional conservatory is often at the rear of the house, right next to the kitchen which can be extremely noisy and therefore unsuitable for a home office or yoga room.
Built separate from your home and taking only 2-3 weeks to build, a garden or summer room extension also causes very little disruption to your home life and makes for a hassle-free build, meaning there’s no need to worry about finding temporary accommodation or dealing with months living on a building site.
A garden room extension offers so much more than practicality but a stylish, luxury addition to your home. At Crown Pavilions, we use only the finest materials, sourced from the very best suppliers and hand-selected to meet our meticulous standards. Our garden rooms are built to the highest standards in the industry.
They are built like a timber-framed house, from the ground up using only traditional building methods. The key difference is stepping inside a Crown Garden Room is like stepping inside a room in your house.
Benefits of a Garden Room over other Extension Alternatives
- Cost-effective
- Built in 2-3 weeks
- Non-intrusive building process
- No planning permission required*
- Professional installation included
- Luxury and stylish
- Endless functionality
- No surprise costs
Can a Garden Room Extension Benefit the Environment?
Homeowners are seeking to blur the distinction between indoor and outdoor living, while also reducing their carbon footprint. If eco-friendliness is on your agenda this year, then have a look at why a garden room extension may be your perfect fit.
Natural Lighting and Ventilation
Lighting accounts for nearly 5% of global CO2 emissions. Many homes are lowering their carbon footprint by opting for LED bulbs, which create around 451lbs per year. Even this amount may seem unnecessarily high to those who seek to live in zero-emission homes. Garden room extensions benefit from one feature that many traditional rooms in a home don’t: natural lighting.
Those who use this “home away from home” to work may find that they are considerably more productive. This is the case for two main reasons. Firstly, working around plants boosts your focus and performance. Secondly, working close to a window that optimizes daylight exposure leads to a 2% increase in productivity.
Natural light boosts alertness and makes for an enhanced indoor experience, while working with a view of nature significantly reduces stress levels. Garden room extensions can extend the amount of light that gets through by incorporating large windows and skylights.
Selecting Sustainable Materials
The sky’s the limit when it comes to choosing eco-friendly materials for your garden room extension. For instance, you may decide to design your summer extension in redwood. This tree has a high rate of carbon sequestration and outpaces many other tree species in growth. Redwood can grow in abundance, be fully recycled and be reused or burned as bioenergy.
Another excellent choice is FSC-certified timber, which confirms that the material comes from a forest that is managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits local communities. For roofing meanwhile, options such as EPDM (an extremely durable rubber that is heat and weather resistant) are mainly made of natural gas and oil and are incredibly environmentally friendly.
Choosing an Environmentally Responsible Design and Manufacturing Company
If you are installing a garden room extension, then selecting a design and manufacturing company with a deep commitment to sustainability is vital. Before making your choice, take a look at the initiatives each company is offering.
Crown Pavilions, for instance, is a partner of One Tree Planted, which makes a big difference in the regions where their timber is sourced. The aim of the partnership is to support reforestation efforts, empower customers with sustainable actions, and raise awareness about the importance of ecosystem reforestation.
Crown Pavilions also uses innovative techniques such as ground screws for building foundations. These are large screws that can be installed in one day, even on uneven surfaces. What makes them such a good “green” option is the fact that they can be placed in such a way that protects the root system of any trees that overhang your garden room extension.
Opting for Energy-Efficient Design
To boost the energy efficiency of your garden room extension, opt for features such as underfloor heating, which can save you between 15 and 50% on your energy bill and ensure that heat is spread more evenly.
Invest in effective draught-proofing and keep the size of your room to a minimum, so it heats up and cools down quickly. You can also fit solar panels on your main roof or garage, feeding the power back to your garden room.
Sustainable Interiors
There are so many ways that you can add your personal touch to your garden room extension’s interior design, without making a dent on sustainability. One way is to opt for furnishings made from sustainable materials like bamboo—a fast-growing grass that is sturdy, comfortable, and easily accessible for a small price.
You can also choose decorative elements made with recycled materials such as stone and glass. Upcycling is another key process that can lower the carbon footprint of your new construction. Look through old, antique furniture and decorate items you have in storage and think of how they can be given new life and add a sense of richness and tradition to your extension.
Some pieces may require polishing, a repaint and new upholstery, but uniquely shaped furniture pieces such as chairs and desks always lend new spaces a sense of elegance and nostalgia that can be lacking from newer pieces.
The Last Word on the Environmental Benefits of Garden Room Extensions
Incorporating a garden room extension in your home offers a multitude of environmental benefits. From harnessing natural lighting and ventilation to selecting sustainable materials and energy-efficient designs, there is so much you can do to keep its environmental impact to a minimum.
Garden room extensions seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living, reminding you of the important role that nature plays in your personal and professional life.
Garden Room Extension Ideas and Designs
Garden office
A garden room is the ideal space for a garden office at home, allowing you to create a professional environment, free from any home distractions. Best of all, you can maintain a healthy work/ life balance, leaving the office behind you after a long day and spending more time with family.
Home gym
You can create a fully-equipped garden room gym to help you reach your fitness goals in the comfort of your own home. You can also kit out your gym with all your favourite equipment and tailor it to suit your training preferences. You can also add soundproofing to your garden gym so you can get your sweat on to your favourite music without disrupting the neighbours or other family members.
Garden studio
A garden room offers ample natural light and an inspiring space to get creative, making it perfect for a music, art or yoga studio. Even a small garden room extension is enough to create a quiet room to dedicate to your artistic hobbies. You can even add a skylight for added natural light and an inspiring view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a garden room extension add value to my home?
A contemporary garden room extension is a great asset to your home, increasing the resale value of your property, providing aesthetic appeal and endless functionality.
How much does a garden room extension cost?
A garden room extension can vary greatly in price, depending on various factors, such as size, design and upgrade features. For more information, please read our guide to the cost of a garden room or get in touch with our team to discuss a quote.
Do you need planning permission to build a garden room extension?
At Crown Pavilions, our standard garden room designs meet permitted development regulations so do not usually require planning permission. This is subject to change based on the size of your garden room and for bespoke garden room builds.
*In most cases, our garden rooms are built to meet building requirements without the need for planning permission. This may differ for some larger or bespoke models. For more information, please refer to our garden room planning permission guide.
