Allow yourself to dream here. A bespoke garden room can be so much more than an office or a gym; this multi-functional space can also double up as a stylish guest suite.
That’s right, with the right design, your garden space becomes a private retreat for friends and family, or even a self-contained unit to rent out for extra income.
But before you dive into layouts and décor, there are a few key things to consider: planning permission, building regulations, comfort, amenities, and design choices that make a garden room feel like a true home-from-home.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to transform a bespoke garden building into a beautiful, functional guest suite.
Whether you have an existing garden room or are planning to build one, there are many benefits to adding a guest suite. These include the opportunity to generate passive income, flexibility, and privacy. Let’s take a look at each in more detail.
Garden rooms are multi-functional buildings that add value to your home. However, turning the room into a guest suite is an excellent idea if you want to make some extra money.
From people travelling for business to relaxing staycations, you can generate financial returns without finding an extra job or putting in a huge amount of effort.
The best thing about garden rooms is their flexibility. You can use them for various purposes, including creating a garden office, home gym, or a relaxing space to watch movies and listen to music.
Using a professional design service, you can create a multi-functional garden room that doubles as a guest suite.
When people stay away from home, most want to enjoy a private space. Traditional guest houses often have multiple guests, while using a spare bedroom for Airbnb often means that strangers are in your home.
However, when you create a private space for guests, they can enjoy peace, and you can keep your home for family members only.
A well-designed garden room often doesn’t require planning permission, because most fall under permitted development rights. However, when you use the room as a guest suite, things get more complicated because people will sleep in it.
Even if you mostly use the building for other purposes, including a garden office or garden room gym, you may need planning permission if people sleep in it.
In most cases, a garden room with sleeping facilities requires planning permission, as it won’t be classed as an incidental structure. Adding additional features, including a toilet or bathroom, will also increase the need for planning permission.
If the garden room takes up less than 50% of your outdoor space and is under 2.5 metres high (in most cases), it will fall under permitted development rights. However, if you turn your existing garden studio into a guest room, the building regulations will be stricter.
If you need to apply for planning permission, you can do so through the government’s Planning Portal. When you work with a professional garden room design service, they’ll support you through the application process.
Turning a garden room into a guest suite can be daunting, but with the right support, you can create a relaxing room for extended family, friends, and paying guests. Here are some design and layout tips.
Guest rooms should prioritise functionality, while also ensuring space. If you have a small garden, your design options might be limited, but you can still make the most of any available space by adding built-in storage units.
Even the most beautiful garden rooms should focus on comfort, because that’s what guests want most. Nobody wants to stay in a room with a lumpy sofa bed, so make sure you create a welcoming space that enhances privacy.
Adding double-glazed windows and double doors is always a good idea, as they let natural light flood the room while blocking out exterior noise.
You should also ensure that the garden building offers amenities, as most guests won’t want to go into the main house to use the bathroom or prepare a meal. A functional space should have a bathroom and a kitchen area with the essentials.
Here’s your chance to get creative. Whether you prefer classic designs or are all about contemporary style, there are plenty of ideas that can turn a standard room into a haven.
Opting for neutral tones can add more space to the room, but you can also add unique antiques or themed decorations to bring the room to life.
Unless you have a wellness retreat, guests will usually expect free WiFi. If you have a small garden, guests will usually have no problems accessing the internet, but you may need to use an adapter or signal booster if the room is at the end of the garden.
Lighting is another important consideration, ensuring the room offers year-round functionality.
While pre-fab garden buildings can be cost-effective in the short term, they also lack the unique features a custom room offers.
A professional design service will create a high-quality garden room that blends seamlessly with your outdoor space and serves as a relaxing place for guests to stay.
Our garden rooms are fully insulated and built with premium materials. We go out of our way to help you create the perfect space and will also support you through the planning process.
Garden guest suites are excellent hosting options, enabling you to generate a healthy rental income. You can also preserve extra space in your home and enjoy using the garden room when other people aren’t staying in it.
If you’re interested in a bespoke garden room, please get in touch with us today through the online form and request a quote.
Once we understand your needs, we’ll issue a free no-obligation quote and explain how we work.