Add a Garden Room for a Major Backyard Update on a Budget
If you want to create a relaxing area in the garden and have a comfortable space for entertaining guests or just a quiet place to enjoy your morning coffee, then a garden room is what you need. With more insulation than most sheds, a garden room allows you to enjoy outdoor space while still having some shelter from the rain, as well as some shade. Here’s what you need to know to build a garden room on a budget.
What is a garden room for?
A garden room can be a sanctuary if you want peace and quiet, a space for entertaining or an alternative to a home office. You can really use it for anything and customize it to suit your purposes. Adding furniture and decor to suit the needs of your space will help make your garden room functional, and having plenty of windows facing the outdoors will help keep your outdoor space feeling open. Because the garden room is insulated, it can be comfortable all year round, but unlike a tiny house, you don’t necessarily have to worry about plumbing or electricity.
Selecting Size, Location and Type
If you’re planning on adding a garden room, you’ll need to first measure your space to make sure it’s the right size and type. Be sure to check zoning regulations before deciding to locate a garden room to determine whether you have enough distance from the property line and whether you’re complying with any other rules or regulations—and choose a level location with good drainage.
There are several outbuilding options to consider as the basis for a garden room: you will need to either build a deck structure or pour a concrete slab for your structure to stand on. Here are some good options for building a structure on a budget.
Metal prefabricated shed
A metal shed is one of the possible options for building an inexpensive garden room. The pros of using a metal shed to furnish your garden room are that it is an inexpensive option, costing between $299 and $400, and you can usually get the size you are looking for. The downside to a metal shed is that you will have to cut through the metal to add windows, and it is not insulated, so you will have to add it yourself.
Wooden canopy kit
Using a timber shed kit as the base for your garden room is a good way to build a quality structure while saving some money in the process. You can get a solid wood and cedar shed kit for under $500 plus shipping, and you can easily customize it with some basic woodworking tools. The awning doesn’t come with insulation, so you’ll have to add your own, and it’s a little more expensive than a metal awning, but it’s easier to customize and can be purchased with windows already installed.
Create your own
You can build your own shed frame if you have a chop saw and some basic carpentry knowledge. Making your own frame allows you to customize everything, but it requires more skill because you’ll have to cut and assemble all your own parts. The simple design isn’t that difficult to build, and you can also use a frame kit , which costs about $60, to make assembly easier.
Adding Insulation
Since most sheds are not pre-insulated, you can use radiant barriers , like those used for garage doors, neoprene insulation , or reflective thermal barrier insulation, all for about $15 per roll. These types of insulation can be installed on interior walls and then covered with your desired finishing material to make the inside of your shed more comfortable. Once the insulation is installed, you can use panels or drywall to finish the interior.