Are you looking for the best garden office ideas out there? After covid, there was a huge surge in people building garden offices. After all, it makes perfect sense to create more space for yourself at home, cut down hours on commuting and maintain social distancing. Garden offices have remained popular throughout 2023 and 2024 because they offer the much-needed flexibility necessary in our complex and busy everyday lives. From home studios to board rooms or large conference rooms, a garden office can be used in many ways.

In the photos above: Summerhouse24’s garden office ‘Olivia ALU’.

Garden offices in different sizes

Small garden offices

Small garden offices are a simple and budget-friendly solution for creating your working space at home, ideal for solopreneurs, freelancers, or remote workers. 

The great thing about going with small is that these buildings can fall under your permitted development rights. This means you don’t need planning permission to set one of these up. Any groundwork is much easier to sort compared to larger buildings as well. 
If you are worried about space because your garden is on the smaller side, you can easily fit a small garden office such as this small garden office and still enjoy the perks of working from your garden. With a bit of creativity and smart planning, you can also use the small additional space for hobbies, relaxation and as a study space for your children.

Medium garden offices

L-shaped garden offices can be particularly useful in creating different zones. This is great if you want to have any kind of separation. One side can be used as an office and the other one to see clients, for example. There are many cabins available with verandas, which add an additional dimension to your home office. The veranda can be a relaxing place to either switch up your working environment, have energising conversations or simply take a rest in some fresh air. At night time, verandas often turn into a favorite hangout area for the family, perfect for board games, snacks, and enjoying each other’s company.

If you’re looking to connect to nature (perfect for creative professionals), why not consider opting for a greenhouse-style office? And even if you’re not in a creative profession, observing nature when you’re working is a proven way to de-stress and increase your well-being.

Large Garden offices

Large garden offices can be the right choice for many different uses. It’s not only for when you need a large area to work in, a larger building can be used as a multi-functional space with room for hobbies, a sauna or other activities. The beauty of planning your own home office is that it can be whatever you want it to be! A large garden office is also a good idea when you need space for more than one person to work in. If you’re setting up an area for multiple people to work in, consider whether an open plan will work or if it’s important to have separate rooms for calls, meetings, etc.

Summerhouse24 can bring your garden office ideas and dreams to life through bespoke design. Most of our cabins and offices are easily customisable. Not sure what you’re looking for? Give us a call and we’ll help you choose the right model for your needs. Thanks to our extensive experience we can shorten the time it takes to choose your ideal garden office.

Popular garden office types

Contemporary garden offices

Contemporary garden offices with sleek designs and clean lines create a striking visual contrast with the surrounding environment. Large windows used in modern designs create a beautiful visual and also let in plenty of natural light while bringing in beautiful views of the surroundings. In the photos below you can see two of our popular garden office models contemporary garden office pod ‘Grace’ and ‘Grace ALU’.

Garden office pods

Garden office pods are perfect when you don’t need a lot of extra space. These pods are specially designed to be used as a home office. This means there is enough space to place your desk, some storage, and any other office necessities like shelves, cabinets or even a small sofa.

A small garden pod is also the perfect choice for a small garden or when you don’t want the garden building to take up too much space.

Garden studio

If you work in a creative field, a garden studio is the perfect space to unleash your creativity. You don’t need to worry about any messes or distractions from the environment of the main house. A dedicated separate studio space helps you get on the creative wave and stay there. With easy access to the studio, you can jump in and start working whenever inspiration strikes. Our garden office pod Olivia and Olivia ALU are excellent choices, both very popular among Summerhouse24 customers.

Log cabin conference rooms

Large conference rooms or boardrooms are the ideal solution when you need a space for collaborative work. Large windows let in natural light and allow you to enjoy the views outside. Setting up a separate working space reduces interruptions and noise from the main building. It’s also a fresh space that can facilitate creative discussions, problem-solving and increase productivity.

It’s also a great way to save on costs when you need more space. An extension to the main property will typically cost more. Another perk is that once a prefabricated building is delivered, it can be assembled in a matter of days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum size for a garden office?

The minimum size for a garden office is generally 8′ x 10′. Our smallest models are 9′ x 9′ (3m x 3m). This allows just enough space for a desk, chair and some drawers or shelves.

How do I keep my garden office cool?

Keeping your garden office cool starts with choosing a good quality garden room provider. Thick walls (44mm and up) offer better insulation during hot weather. In addition to a minimum of 44mm wall thickness, all Summerhouse24 cabins come with the highest quality tilt and turn windows. These are convenient to open for ventilation, providing a fresh stream of air and cooling the room during hot days. Remember to also get some thick curtains for your south-facing windows – this will keep the heat out and help keep your garden office cooler. You can also consider installing a fan or an AC unit.

How do I keep my garden office warm?

If you plan to use your garden office in the winter, keeping it warm is essential. The first step is to insulate the building. This starts with choosing thicker walls (44mm and up) and adding additional insulation under the floor, on the roof and in the walls. There are many eco-friendly ways to heat your garden office and you can use an AC with a heating function, under-floor heating, electric oil radiators, convection heaters or even traditional log burners.

Do I need permission for a garden office?

Small garden offices don’t generally need planning permission. Permission is needed when along with other garden structures the garden office covers over half of the garden space, is over 3 metres tall if it has a pent roof or 4 metres with an apex roof. There are also exceptions where you do need permission, such as when you live in a listed building or nature conservation area. Planning permission for garden buildings and summer houses varies and it’s best to check with your local planning authority to be sure that you fall within your permitted development rights before putting up your garden office.