To build a summerhouse/garden room in my garden

[Eastereggmadness]

Will it be a dream retreat or white elephant full of garden junk? Would love thoughts/advice and experiences. Would also want to be able to use it all year if possible.

After a particularly difficult day (autistic daughter had a meltdown for hours) I have this vision of a relaxing idyllic space in the garden away from the noise and chaos. Has anyone else achieved this or similar.

Dh built us a garden type room and it's lovely. It lets the sun in and we have hanging chairs in it and some much loved plants and small trees. It is used to store some gardening things, but I keep it tidy and make an effort not to mess it up so it's still nice to sit in.

I have one that I've always been determined won't end up as storage space. I do art work in there as a hobby. Love it. Go for it.

My friend has one.

It's split into two. One half is like a shed with shelves on each side and a freezer.

The other half has windows and little French doors. Inside is light wood panelling and floor, a floor to ceiling IKEA cupboard mainly full of arts and crafts and spare dinner stuff. There's a wall mounted TV and WiFi and a radiator. They also got an IKEA day bed, with cushions, rollerblinds, a few bits of quirky wall art and a rustic table.

It's been used for children's birthday and seasonal parties, putting a food spread out when there's a gathering in the garden, friends sleeping over, campouts, entertaining like sunday lunch, babysitting, office space, painting, playdoh, jigsaws, stores cushions etc. Theres some big trug baskets so it doesn't get too cluttered. Can be chilly in the winter. Need to look into the insurance side carefully.

Everyone should have a 'shed' ! Mine is insuluated and has power and I used it as a studio. My DP has his own shed too - he has chairs, his radio and books.

We both get plenty of use from them - you do have to be strict about not using them for storage - we also have a 3rd shed for garden maintenance stuff.

These all do very positive. I'm rather jealous!

You can do it too. I've got a settee and my CDplayer in mine so when I'm painting I can just chill 😎. Let it be your little piece of escapism ❤️

Has anyone got recommendations for a good place to buy garden rooms? Also, how much have people paid? Some of the ones I've seen are sooo expensive.

It will only turn into a dumping ground if you allow it so be firm, nothing goes in there that does not belong in there.
Will it be used? Well, only you can answer that one but if you have made it nice & inviting them you need to get out there and enjoy it.

I LOVE ours.

It's not storage space at all. It has a log burner, a dart board, comfy chairs, a big TV, bar area.

DH has built it from the bottom up and although it's not attached to the house, it's like having an extension.

Have you looked on amazon?

I'm liking thr ideas. Do most people have electricity/heating etc in there.

Yes, I've got electrical points and use plug in heaters. I've got a hook on bulb light in the corner of the room and lamp over the other side. It's very cosy in the winter.we spent a few hours in there in Christmas Eve.

My friend has one with heating & electric and it’s a great space.

Ours is an 80s game arcade and gaming room. I do dream of converting it into an office (WFH) or a crafting studio but it was the one thing that DH asked for when we moved, we built it ourselves, fully building regs compliment and built within permitted development (insulated block wall)

Would definitely recommend solid walls or something that looks solid anyway. It will be more insulated and feel less 'shed' like so easier not to end up used like one.

Ours has power and a dedicated internet cable, we just clipped the ducting to the fence at ground level. We also put in underfloor heating which has been great.

They can get very very hot in summer so would recommend venting/windows or build it north of a tree for summer shade.