There’s a new trend in town and we’re jumping on it! In fact, to be more precise, we want to help you jump on it. It’s the idea of turning your insulated summer house or garden shed into a guest bedroom in case you don’t have enough space in the main house. Just think about it! Right now, it’s simply a shell that’s waiting to be transformed into a useful space with only a few touches and upgrades. Here are the best tips!

1. First things first – electricity!

Do like Doctor Frankenstein and call out ‘It’s aliiiiiiiiiive! for all your neighbors to hear! All jokes aside, the first thing you need to do when turning an insulated summer house into a guest bedroom is connect it to your main electricity line. You don’t want your guests to spend their days or nights in there in the dark. Unless you’re going for a Victorian design, of course!

Other than that, your guests will need electricity to hook up their electronics, charge their phones, watch a movie, and everything in between. Please remember that this is not a DIY project. You will have to hire a professional electrician to do it for you! In this way, you can make sure the insulated summer house is safe to live in and that you have respected the code.

2. Climate control for your insulated summer house

This is next on our list of priorities, but you do have a choice. In the sense that you can make this a guest bedroom that can only be used in the summer. Therefore, you will save some money when it comes to installing a heating system. Or you can design it to be used all year round.

However, even if you only plan on using it during the summer months, your guests might still require some air conditioning or a dehumidifier. Think about adding a window unit. It’s small and inexpensive. Plus, it’s perfect for a small guest bedroom in the garden such as your summer house.

3. Soundproof the insulated summer house

While it is already insulated and you don’t need to worry about that, your summer house might not be soundproof. Therefore, it’s up to you to make it so. Your guests might want to listen to music or watch a movie late at night. Seeing as the guest bedroom is situated in your garden and made of wood, the possibility of disturbing your neighbors is quite high. In order to deter any unpleasant situations, soundproof the summer house early on.

4. Prepare a battle plan

This means that, after you finish with the first steps, which we outlined above, you need to start thinking about what you would like to do with the guest bedroom. For example – is this space going to be just a nook where your guests can crash and sleep? Or do you want to fit it with all the amenities of a veritable hotel room? Because the amount of money, time, and work you need to put in will depend on the answer to that question.

Will it have a working bathroom as well or will your guests use the bathrooms in the main house? Once you have decided, you need to check with your local council and see if you can get a permit to add an independent toilette in your garden. They might not allow it!

5. Decide if your guest house will have a kitchen

Many people love to do a little cooking while on vacation or at least bring their own food. It feels homely. Not to mention how much cheaper it is than eating out all the time. Consider this and if you want to give your guests the option of dining on a budget while they’re staying with you.

If you do, then your insulated summer house will have to be fitted properly for cooking or barbequing. If you have the possibility and live in an area where gas is the cheapest fuel, go for a traditional gas stove. But we recommend an electrical one since electricity is usually better for your budget and a lot easier to accommodate and install in your luxury summer house.

6. Choose a theme for your design

When thinking about the design of your new guest bedroom, you have two options. You can make it look like an extension of the main house. Or you can give it a life of its own. The latter is a bit more interesting in the sense that it offers more alternatives and themes.

For example, you can go for a nautical or beachy theme and make your guests feel like they’re at the seaside. Mountain lodge or cabin in the woods is great as well, not to mention everything Disney related.

Feel free to indulge in themes related to famous movies or different countries around the world such as an Indian theme, a Mexican one or a night in the south of France. Certain decades make for good design themes as well. Examples include the roaring 20s, Victorian 1850s, Elvis Presley 1950s or pop 90s.

7. Make the insulated summer house as cozy as possible

Always remember that the guests coming over to stay are your friends and family. Therefore, you need to make their stay in the extra bedroom in the garden as welcoming as possible. Add a few cozy elements such as candles, potpourri, flowers, and fluffy rugs.

You can also invest in a set of good books for them to read while they are with you. Leave high-end chocolates on the table as well as luxury bath products they can indulge in. They will surely thank you for it!

How about you?

What do you think about these tips on how to turn your insulated summer house into a guest bedroom? Do they sound like something you could take on? Or would you much rather be the guest in this situation? Write to us in the comment section below and leave us your thoughts and comments!