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Garden rooms find their way into many UK homes for good reasons. They offer practical benefits, but they’re also a big investment. This guide looks at when they’re worth it and a few other points to help you decide if this is for you.
Is a Garden Room Worth the Cost?
Yes, garden rooms can be worth it if you actually need one. Maybe the house is so crowded that you can no longer justify dedicating a space to that hobby you love. Or your home office has turned into a full-on circus, with distractions every two minutes. Perhaps you just want a quick escape, like a little garden hideaway without having to leave the home. The list goes on, and if any of this sounds familiar, a garden room could be worth considering.
Many families in need of an extra room in the house will consider an extension, but a garden room is a lower-cost alternative that might be preferable, depending on the intended usage. Plus, unlike an extension, garden rooms are usually* permitted developments, meaning no planning permission is required (*depending on a number of factors – check out our guide to garden building planning permission).
Of course, we do sell garden rooms, so we’re a bit enthusiastic about them. And yes, they cost more than some loose change, but you get the extra room to make it worth your while. If you need it, it’s money well spent—and we’ve got quality selections to help you make the most out of it.
[Browse Our Garden Rooms] [How Much Does a Garden Room Cost?]
[Garden Room vs Home Extension]
Are Log Cabins Worth It?
Among the many types of garden rooms, log cabins definitely deserve a peek. They’re a step ahead in terms of structural build compared to sheds and summer houses.
28mm thickness can work for occasional use in milder months; for regular winter use, people often look at 44mm plus thickness upgrades to roof and floor, plus double glazing. You also don’t necessarily need to worry about insulation, as there are pre-insulated cabins available.
With a basic non-insulated 44mm log cabin, you’re still looking at a decently warm space (though not as warm as your house). You can improve this with upgrades to the thickness of the floor and roof, and making sure the windows are double glazed. However, at that point you are bumping up the cost by a few more hundred pounds, which of course is a factor for whether it’s worth it. If you need it warm, you should probably go all the way.
There are a few more costs involved which, in our experience, customers tend to forget about until later:
- Constructing a base for the building to stand on (non-negotiable, unless you already have an appropriate solid and level surface)
- Connecting an electricity supply (depending on the intended usage)
- Ongoing care for the timber (including making sure you’ve got enough room to get around the back)
- Getting Wi-Fi to reach the cabin
But don’t get us started on what you can do with a garden log cabin. Many of our customers have used them as garden offices, man caves, pubs, gyms, and studios, to name a few.
Have a read through our guides below if a log cabin sounds like your cup of tea:
[Best Log Cabins] [Are Log Cabins Cold in Winter?]
When Is a Garden Room NOT Worth It?
A garden room isn’t worth it when the cost, space, or usage doesn’t add up.
If a garden room:
- stretches the budget too far,
- takes up too much space in a small garden,
- or ends up just being another place for you to store stuff because you can’t be bothered to go in the loft.
Most of the time, it comes down to two things: your garden is on the small side, or you’re not sure how often you’d use it. If it’s just for the odd sunny afternoon or a bit of seasonal use, a summerhouse could be a cheaper, more sensible option.
Let’s be honest here; when you’ll hardly ever use it, that money could go further elsewhere. A 10×8 summer house could be it. That length gives you decent floor room, while the narrow width keeps it compact.
Inside, you can set it up in plenty of ways. A small two-seater sofa with a matching coffee table will surely fit. Though a compact four-person dining set also fits without feeling cramped. It all depends on how you plan to use the space.
See what could work for you:
[Shop Summer Houses] [Are Summer Houses Worth It?]
We also have Log Cabin Summer Houses if you want the build of a cabin with the style of a summer house.
