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Original poster

Does anyone actually use their garden room?

38 replies

SlightlySleepy · 15/11/2019 12:48

We moved into a house with a garden room and I was so excited. I had images of me sitting outside with a coffee and a snack on a comfy sofa watching the kids play. Or inviting my friends over for a BBQ and when it began to get cold, all moving into the garden room.

Well none of this has happened. First we used it as a dumping ground for bikes/tools/lawnmower, then we had a clear out and put a small dining table in at and the much anticipated sofa that I was going to sit on with my coffee.

However, if the kids are actually playing nicely with each other, I've got far more productive things to do that sit in a room alone wistfully watching them. And as for the BBQ idea, it's actually colder in the garden room than outside because it hasn't had the sun in there all day, like the patio has. And anyway, the house is far bigger than the daft garden room, so why would we go in there when we have a whole house to sit in?!

I tried putting the kids toys in there, but they just went in, got the ones they wanted and came back in the house. Who wants to sit in an isolated room alone?

I thought about using it for an office. But I'm already heating my house, why would I take on the additional cost of heating the garden room as well, just so I could sit in there?

So now it's back to being full of junk.

Does anyone actually use theirs and what for? Bonus points for photos!

OP posts:
Spaghettio · 15/11/2019 16:07

I don't have any photos, but ours is a gym. Rowing machine, treadmill, punch bag (for teen DCs). Great to have all that stuff out of the house, but still have it accessible. Also doesn't need too much heating as we go down there to get all hot and sweaty!

Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 15/11/2019 18:53

Yes, a gym would be a good use for it. It wouldn't work for us as we're not sporty, but for those who are, that's a good idea!

OP posts:
Heatingson · 15/11/2019 18:59

We are in the midst of having a discussion about this. DP is desperate for one, I can see it becoming a damp dumping ground.

We have a rowing machine in our shed at the moment.

Bowerbird5 · 15/11/2019 19:01

I have a summerhouse. I have a table, chairs and chest of drawers in there. I used it at least once a day in summer but less now. I have a radio, pot of pens, magazines, novels and we take down tea or coffee, snacks, lunch sometimes. It means I can switch off from work and switch off from what I need to do in the house. My friends love it too and we had wine or gin in the early evening so they could call in on the way home if they wanted. We no longer have the kids at home although we do have a couple of bikes and two coupe cars and a slide. Some of my friends have grandchildren so it keeps them and next doors kids amused for a while. Try using it for half an hour a day next summer.

Spaghettio · 15/11/2019 19:07

The other option is you own pub. Stick a bar in there, tables and chairs and a wine fridge. You'll spend heaps of time down there! 🥂🍷

Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 15/11/2019 21:00

I see your point, Bowerbird but on the other hand, if I have to make an effort to use it, then it's not really useful, just something I make myself use. Perhaps if I get into the habit of using it, I'll start to enjoy it. I'm going to have to do something cos at the moment it's just sitting there as a massive dirty shed. A bar sounds amazing; my lifestyle isn't so exciting as to need my own pub, but it would be pretty impressive to look at!

OP posts:
FaFoutis · 15/11/2019 21:05

I used mine as a garden office for a year. It made me mentally ill, sitting out there in isolation plagued by noise from neighbours and pigeon claws scrabbling about on the roof. I would happily burn it down.

Whatever you do with a garden office, it will still be cold and full of spiders.

Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 15/11/2019 21:08

@heatingson I was desperate for one too! I didn't really put much thought into what exactly I was desperate for though. They look so chic and useful, but so far I haven't actually used it (except to fill with crap). I think I'll do the suggestion of making myself use it. I'm hoping the more I use it, the more I'll know what I want to do with it. Knowing what I know now, I'm not sure I'd spend 10/20/30k in getting one, since sitting in my living room is just as nice and also easier.

OP posts:
Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 15/11/2019 21:15

I can definitely imagine what you're saying @FaFoutis . Ours is also quite dark inside; sitting in the dark and cold isn't appealing. Ours is even cold in the summer because the sun never comes in. I really want to like it thoug. I keep looking for inspiration online, but they're all so light and airy. Mine is more like a cave! (Ok, not quite)

OP posts:
Heatingson · 15/11/2019 21:21

I think I am scarred by having to sleep in one as a child. That sounds darker than it is Grin.

thetoddleratemyhomework · 15/11/2019 21:21

Our neighbour uses it for their teenagers to hang out in in summer. Is it big enough for, say, a pool table?!

Accountant222 · 15/11/2019 21:22

We moved last year and the new house has a large conservatory, to be honest I wasn't right chuffed about it, having had one previously and never used it. The roasting summer of 2018 it was bloody unbearable, but last autumn we had a proper roof put on it, it's used every day now and I love it

Does anyone actually use their garden room?
TooManyGlasses · 15/11/2019 21:24

We’re thinking about dismantling ours and getting a proper extension. We use it to eat meals in and for the kids to do crafts in (no room for a dining table anywhere else), and we keep toys and board games there.
We also use it for drying laundry, though that makes it even damper. But it’s very cold in winter, we use a portable heater as there is no radiator and keep door closed if we’re not using it. It gets very damp and mouldy round the edges of we don’t keep on top of it, and we can’t keep books in it for that reason. We have proper Thomas Sanderson blinds which are very good, but they only help to a certain extent.

Accountant222 · 15/11/2019 21:25

Better photo

Does anyone actually use their garden room?
Does anyone actually use their garden room?
Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 15/11/2019 21:47

@heatingson I'd be scared sleeping in there as an adult, let alone as a child. It seems so unsafe and isolated.

OP posts:
Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 15/11/2019 22:00

@Accountant222 your conservatory looks lovely! If my garden room looked like that, I'd certainly be more tempted to use it. It seems that both your room and the room of @TooManyGlasses is that they are attached to your houses (unless I misunderstood). It's definitely much easier to use a room that's part of your house than one where you have to step outside into the cold/ dark to get to.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 15/11/2019 22:03

We are going to have one in our new house. It will be a music studio/teaching room. Dh’s friend has a similar one he gives music lessons in.

Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 15/11/2019 22:04

@thetoddleratemyhomework I can certainly see the use for it if you have teenagers. They can act all grown up with their own separate 'house'. I would have loved it as a teenager. Our kids are still quite small, so for now that's not an option for us. I'm sure it'll become a teenage den in 10 years though.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 15/11/2019 22:07

Our new house already has a summerhouse as well it’s a bit rickety but it will be used for teenage Ds.

Original poster
SlightlySleepy · 15/11/2019 22:10

I loved that idea @comefromaway and I was tempted to do it when we first moved in, but I thought that unless I permanently have the heating on low, the instruments would warp from the temperature extremes. It seems a shame to have it as a music room if you have to store the instruments elsewhere. How does your friend deal with this?

OP posts:
Accountant222 · 15/11/2019 22:15

@SlightlySleepy yes sorry I misunderstood, mine is attached to the house

FaFoutis · 15/11/2019 22:18

Mine has a woodburner, armchairs ad fairylights. If I took a photo it would look lovely, but really it is dank and horrible. Unsafe and isolated is just how it feels. It's in a big garden full of trees, you can't see the house from the garden room.

Comefromaway · 15/11/2019 22:18

He teaches singing and has a digital piano. The room is insulated and sound proofed.

Fedupntired · 15/11/2019 22:18

Mine has power, is plastered and has carpet tiles on underlay and it's my craft room!

Cauliflowerpower · 15/11/2019 22:43

When we bought our house I was all lovely a conservatory! It soon leaked and became a dumping ground..

... we had it redone 2 years ago. Double glazed solar glazed roof and better windows... OMG the difference it's a proper room. A play room. The toys etc stay out there and the living room stays more tidy. Its still hot in summer but not unbearable like before

When they're older we'll get a sofa and it'll be their room... win win