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Garden Buildings and Rooms Buying Guide
Buying a garden building or a room for your garden is a life changer. That is an understatement! When you install one of these additional living and working spaces in your home, you unveil the possibilities that come with more space.
In this detailed guide, we look at the definition of garden rooms, so you know what you are buying. We study garden room sizes so you know what will work in your outside space.
We go through all the garden room options and then drill down on the nitty-gritty of the details about the build. Finally, in this garden building buying guide, we will suggest ways to protect your investment from the weather and future-proof it with an accessory upgrade.
This comprehensive guide covers all the topics related to garden buildings and rooms. Select any of the topics below to discover what to consider when purchasing the best garden room.
Task 3: Cladding for garden buildings and all-season usability
Task 4: Garden building protection
Task 6: Other garden room features
Task 7: What is the cost of a garden room?
Task 8: Garden room accessories
Possible uses for garden rooms
Get in touch with us and customer support
What is a garden room?
Garden rooms are precisely that, stand-alone insulated garden buildings in your garden, which provide a modern alternative to a traditional brick-built extension. Except they are not just an extension of your home; they are places to develop ideas, work on projects, or escape from day-to-day life. Garden rooms provide more living and workspace within your boundary line. In practical terms, garden buildings are a step up from a shed because they are insulated and weatherproofed so you can use them all year round.
Task 1: Garden room size
We sell garden rooms to fit all gardens and outside spaces; we have compact garden buildings through to large garden rooms that double up as garden office buildings. Our outdoor buildings range from small garden rooms of 6’x4’ in size to a whooping 30’x13’. Here are just a few examples of garden rooms for sale at Shedstore:
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- Insulated wooden garden buildings
- Summer houses
- Children’s dens and playrooms
- Work-from-home spaces
- Garden gyms
- Log cabin sheds
- Teenage dens
How much garden space do you have available?
No matter how much space is available in your garden, we have garden buildings for sale that fit the bill. You can choose a 7’x7’ Shire Camelot log cabin, which is one of our garden rooms for small gardens. This lends itself also to a hobby room or gives ample storage space. If you have more space to play with, then we have:
- Garden office buildings
- Luxury garden buildings
- Multi-purpose garden buildings for sale
These are in sizes right up to an enormous garden room available at 9.2mx4m Palmako Andrea double-glazed contemporary log cabin with gazebo and sliding doors. If you have space, we have a garden building design to fit it!
As you can see, the list is endless. From the whimsical to the practical, we have all the outdoor garden buildings you could ever want.
Choosing the ideal spot to install a garden room
Deciding where to place your garden room or building is a combination of many factors. Your outdoor building should be close and easily accessible or could be at the far corner of your garden, depending on your needs. A home office building is probably best placed in a quiet garden area away from interruptions, but a children’s playroom is better placed nearby. Outside storage buildings are usually out of the way, close to back gates or garages, so that items can be added or removed easily. The first thing to do is decide what your outdoor buildings are for and go from there.
Garden room dimensions and measurements
We sell garden rooms to fit every size of outdoor space, from small garden sheds to 70mm thick log cabins to large sunrooms and all sizes of garden offices, garages and summer houses in between. Once you know what size garden room you need and have accurately measured the space that it will sit on, you can browse to your heart's content, knowing we have a garden building for your needs.
Your number one priority is to measure your space before you order so that you do not receive a garden building that does not fit. If you are unsure, call us and we will help you buy the perfect size structure for your needs.
Task 2: Garden building types
In this garden building buying guide, we have many options for garden buildings for sale. We have a lovely collection of garden buildings, whatever your needs we have a solution, so read below.
Sheds
Sheds are a garden staple; every outdoor space needs a practical place to store everyday items like garden tools, bikes and toys. Larger sheds are perfect for keeping expensive items like lawnmowers, leaf blowers and hedge cutters safe and secure. Sheds can also store garden chemicals and pesticides. Our multi-purpose sheds are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and are manufactured in weather-resilient materials, offering you a practical garden storage solution.
Wooden Sheds
Our wooden sheds are made from PEFC® or FSC®-certified pressure treated wood. These wooden garden rooms tick all the boxes for eco-friendly credentials but are also guaranteed to be resilient enough to withstand anything the British weather has in store. Our wooden sheds and timber garden buildings are well-made and visually pleasing, with outstanding design features that enhance any garden aesthetic. Choose from garden sheds clad in tongue and groove, overlap or shiplap cladding with pent, apex, reverse apex, or curved roofs.
We sell wooden sheds that double up as garden bars for alfresco socialising, relaxation during the day and party central at night. From compact wooden sheds to garden workshops, if you need a wooden shed, look no further because we have all your shed wooden garden rooms needs covered.
Plastic Sheds
We sell plastic sheds for gardeners who want to spend more time in the garden and not on shed maintenance. Our plastic sheds are virtually maintenance-free and will not crack, warp or discolour. We have various plastic sheds in multiple designs, colours and sizes. Our plastic sheds are made by the best manufacturers available; our most popular brands are Keter, Palram Canopia, Lifetime and Suncast. We have searched high and low to find the best plastic sheds on the market today, so you do not have to.
All our sheds made of plastic have extended anti-rot guarantees and assurances that they will last if you have a purpose for them. Our plastic sheds start at a compact 4’x3’ and go up to a massive 20’x8’. If you need a plastic shed, then we have one or more that will suit your garden.
Metal Sheds
For security-savvy people, our metal sheds or steel sheds offer a tough solution to your garden needs. If you need weather-resistant, low-maintenance and trespass-proof storage, then you are in the right place.
Here are just some of the reasons why you should choose a metal shed:
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- Great value for money
- Hardwearing
- Long-lasting with lengthy guarantees of up to 30 years
- Low maintenance
- Safe and secure
The above are just some reasons to choose a shed made of metal, but one thing is for sure, a metal shed will pass the test of time and some!
Garden Workshops
Some people dream of owning garden workshops, these large garden buildings are yours to build things, mend things and as a home for your tools. Bespoke garden buildings that double up as workshops are places that small businesses operate from and where hobbyists create children’s toys or bespoke pieces of furniture (or other items). We have a garden workshop that fits the bill if you can dream it. From workshops made of wood to garden buildings made of plastic and metal, we have it so you can buy it!
Summer Houses
Summer houses are more than just a house for use in the summer. Our summer houses are made to resist the British weather and are practical and aesthetically pleasing additions to your home. We sell summer houses in all shapes and sizes to suit every budget, right up to luxury garden rooms.
Our garden buildings or summer houses are perfect for entertaining or relaxing with a cup of tea and a book. Summer houses offer extra living space to make the most of outdoor living.
Log Cabins
Garden log cabins are a Scandinavian and American concept that we Brits have taken to our hearts. The British log cabin is more than a garden building built to store logs; after all, we sell log stores for that purpose. Log cabins are insulated garden rooms clad in wood that double up as studios and work-from-home spaces. Log cabins are often designed with a Nordic look and feel. All our log cabins are insulated garden buildings, which are designed for all-year use. You can choose from numerous styles of door and window openings.
Potting sheds
Every gardener knows the importance of potting sheds and wooden greenhouses. A potting shed is a unique garden building that allows you to nurture seedlings and plants away from inclement weather. While most of our potting sheds double up as greenhouses and useful storage sheds there are a few things about a potting shed that sets them apart from regular sheds or outside storage buildings.
Here are a few factors to consider for these small garden rooms:
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- Size and depth
- The number of windows or areas that let light in
- Designed to hold extra shelving and storage
- A quiet space for gardeners in their downtime
Our potting sheds are practical and good looking, this is without a doubt a winning combination. They are generally considered great garden rooms for small gardens.
Garden office buildings
Garden offices are now one of the most searched garden buildings. With so many more people working from home (a rise of 44%, according to ONS, in 2023), garden offices are high on the wish list of most professionals. Even those with small or kitchen sink businesses can benefit from an insulated garden room specifically designed for work. The garden office takes your daytime schedule out of your home and gives it a place to breathe away from the needs of everyday domestic life. It is great for work/life balance, which can become troublesome for homeworkers using a room in the family home for office space.
Shedstore have garden buildings for sale that make the perfect garden office for small businesses. These multi-function rooms allow people to work at their own pace, which means no more putting your computer away so you can eat dinner. No more lost paperwork and, most importantly, no more interruptions. Your garden office is your private professional sanctuary that keeps your creativity alive and draws a direct line between work and playtime.
Here are eight outstanding garden office buildings that we think hit the sweet spot between size and practicality:
The above is just a small selection of garden buildings that get the job done. Click here for our entire collection.
Gazebos
We sell gazebos, which are wooden garden buildings of repute. Gazebos are a combination of a garden room, garden building, arch, outdoor seating with a roof, and entertaining space. We sell small gazebos like the metal and fabric 8’x8’ Glendale Venice heavy-duty gazebo in mocha right through to the gorgeous 14’9”x 12’5” Palram Canopia Triomphe orangery enclosed garden gazebo.
Our garden gazebos are made from several materials in different designs; you can choose from a traditional wooden gazebo or a modern contemporary metal and glass gazebo. Whatever you choose, it is true to say that our garden-building gazebos are a great way to enjoy the outdoors without leaving your home.
We sell gazebos for the following reasons:
- To attach to the house much like a glass extension
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- To cover your patio and shield you from UV rays
- To create a music pavilion in your garden
- To create an open-sided garden room
- To offer more space to entertain
- To shield your seating area from the rain
- To stand independently in the garden and act as a relaxation station
Regardless of your reason for having a gazebo, we can help sort out a problem you did not know had a solution.
Additional garden structures not typically considered garden rooms
Apart from Gazebos, garden offices and log cabins, we sell sheds, greenhouses, potting sheds and playhouses. We sell garden buildings to suit all purposes.
Greenhouses
Our greenhouses are not green, but they are houses you can use to raise your plants and carry out garden duties. The joy a greenhouse can bring to a gardener and your garden is unsurmountable, so take a moment to enjoy the entire list of greenhouses you can purchase from us.
Playhouses
Our children’s playhouses are fun, a playground of creativity and a practical play to store all your outdoor toys and kid’s garden furniture. We enjoy selling playhouses because we understand the fun and anticipation each child sees when they first see their very own play space.
Task 3: Cladding for garden buildings and all-season usability
A great benefit of garden buildings is that you can use them all year. To make full use of their versatility, they must be made as weatherproof as possible. This means choosing outdoor buildings with enough climate resistance to enable full use all year round.
Interlocking logs
Our summerhouses are clad with interlocking logs, offering visually pleasing weatherproofing made from Nordic Spruce. Interlocking logs are designed to clad garden buildings by stacking horizontally and vertically to form a tight interlocking structure. This cladding method uses the natural shape and taper of the log to create seamless joints without additional fasteners or adhesives (although not always). The result is a warm, weatherproof exterior that enhances insulation and visual appeal.
Overlap Cladding
Another insulated exterior covering, overlap cladding is used to construct many of our garden buildings. Overlap cladding is generally created by layering horizontal planks so each row overlaps the one below. This garden building design creates a natural barrier against weather elements, preventing moisture ingress while stopping drafts. The overlapping layers also provide thermal insulation by trapping warm or cool air which helps regulate indoor temperatures, enhancing energy efficiency.
Shiplap Cladding
Shiplap cladding is like overlap cladding with some slight adjustments. Shiplap cladding consists of overlapping horizontal wooden boards, creating a tight seal. Each board has a rabbet (a groove cut into the edge) that allows the planks to fit snugly together, creating a smooth, weatherproof surface. Like overlap, the cladding prevents water ingress and provides insulation by trapping air between the cladding layers.
Tongue and Groove Cladding
T&G, or tongue and groove cladding, is the most popular and typically used garden building cladding. T&G uses a similar interlocking system to shiplap and overlap cladding. Still, tongue and groove boards are cut so they have a protruding edge on one side (the tongue) and a groove or slot on the other side, allowing interconnection. The T&G planks fit together snugly to create a seamless, solid, weather-resistant surface, offering insulation and an attractive finish to any outdoor structure or garden building design.
Can you purchase an insulated garden room?
Yes, we only sell garden rooms with built-in insulation. When you buy a log cabin, summer house, or garden office, you can expect to receive a fully insulated building with tongue and groove, shiplap, or overlap cladding on the exterior. There are other ways to ensure your garden building design is fully insulated for all-around year use, such as buying additional extras like insulated floors and roofs. Understanding the cladding choices is part of choosing the best garden building for your needs.
Is it possible to use my garden room throughout the year?
Yes, you can use your garden room throughout the year; all our summerhouses, log cabins and garden offices have insulation in exterior cladding. You can take additional measures to ensure your outdoor structure or garden building design works through each season.
Here are some ideas to extend the use of your garden building:
- Add plug-in heaters
- Connect to solar panels for lighting
- Add an electric fan if you have power running to your garden building
- Use UV blinds over the windows in the summer to control the room temperature
- Have additional windows added to ensure maximum light and ventilation
Task 4: Garden building protection
Protecting your garden building purchase is paramount. That is why almost all of the garden buildings we sell have pressure treated or dip treated cladding.
The risks of untreated garden buildings
If you buy a garden building that has untreated cladding on the exterior, you are taking a risk that the exterior will perish much faster than the life of the entire structure. Apart from this being uneconomic, it does not make much sense. Left untreated, the cladding will quickly rot, become susceptible to fungus and prone to insect infestation.
Dip treated garden buildings
Dip treating is a process where the wooden cladding is submerged in a pesticide and wood preserve tank. The dip treating method offers some defences against rot caused by weathering and wards off pests and fungus. As a result, dip treated garden structures tend to be slightly cheaper than pressure treated garden buildings.
Pressure treated garden buildings
Pressure treated garden buildings are one step up from dip treated in that the method of treating the wooden cladding with pressure means that the pesticide and wood preservative are forced into the wood fibres. This process seals in the treatments and ensures that every part of the wood cladding is coated not just the upper layers of timber garden rooms.
Which treatment should I choose?
We prefer pressure-treated cladding on our outdoor garden rooms, but depending on your budget and the time you have available to maintain your structure, it is really a matter of preference. Pressure treated timber garden buildings have longer warranties, while dip-treated outdoor garden buildings have a shorter guarantee. However, it is possible to extend the life of your garden building by carrying out some routine maintenance and topping up the weather barrier with additional wood preservation and pesticides.
Task 5: Garden room features
Garden rooms boast many workable features, such as insulated roofs and roof shapes that complement the practical aspects of your outdoor space. You can choose bespoke garden buildings as much as you can add or take out the windows and doors to suit your specifications.
Roof
When you choose a garden building from Shedstore, includes as examples the following three style roofs:
Apex – apex roofs are pitched to form an apex and are the most popular roof choice for sheds and smaller garden buildings
Pent – a pent roof is a roof with only one slope. This slope can face away from the front of the shed (reverse pent) or slope towards the front of the shed
Flat roofs – are, as they sound, flat, making them an ideal base for a living roof (roof covered with insulating plants)
It would be best to choose your roof type based on the overall aesthetic you are looking for and for practical purposes, determined by the size and shape of your garden.
Windows
The type of windows in our outdoor buildings varies based on the garden building you select. Garden offices tend to have metal frame double-glazed units, while wooden summer houses might have matching wooden frame single-glazed casement windows. A great feature of garden buildings is that you can adapt the amount and style of windows and openings to suit your requirements. Moreover, some of our garden building design features incorporate roof lights or Velux-style window openings.
If you do not want any windows or just high-level fan lights, you can add that feature or lack of opening windows to your garden building design. Some of our sheds do not have windows and our garden bars have openings but no windows – the choice is endless.
Doors
Buying a garden building with the correct number of doors is vital. Double doors are a must if you wish to make your garden structure multi-functional. Bespoke garden buildings allow you to choose the door styles and number of openings. You might need a shed or garden storage unit with a double door at the front and a door at the back or side. You may decide on our wheelie bin or BBQ storage with double doors, and a lift-up lid is just the ticket. If you are thinking about a work-from-home office in large garden rooms, then the attractive sliding door feature in the Palmako Andrea 6.4x4m contemporary log cabin might be what you are looking for.
Task 6: Other garden room features
Another attribute of our garden room selection is the unusual or unique features available. We sell corner model summer houses for a quirky garden building in your space's corner. We have a garden office with stunning overhanging roofs, built ready to become living roofs as a feature. We sell garden buildings with built-in verandas and added storage.
Corner models
Our corner model summer houses are fun – check some of our selections here:
These gorgeous corner summer houses evoke the hazy days of summer but are practical and offer a multifunctional garden building that is built to last.
Overhanging roof
If you love an overhanging roof as much as we do, you will love our log cabins and garden buildings that boast this design feature. An overhanging roof is multipurpose, offering shade and weather protection from rain, snow, and sleet. However, the best thing about an overhanging roof is the aesthetics. They look great and serve a dual purpose, making our garden buildings with roof overhangs the perfect style choice. Look at the Forest Melbury 4mx3m log cabin with double-glazed windows for an all-sided overhang.
With a veranda
A veranda is a roofed open-air garden room that may be attached to the house or building, offering an extension to your home in the style of a garden building or gazebo. We sell gazebos with verandas and decking kits that make up verandas. Many of our garden building designs incorporate a degree of veranda, somewhere to sit and enjoy a cup of tea or glass of something cold as the sun goes down.
With added storage
Anyone who says they do not need extra storage underestimates the amount of storage a garden needs. Luckily for the enlightened, we sell additional storage solutions you can add to any summerhouse or garden office. Garden storage encompasses many things, from the humble bin store to the metal garage.
Task 7: Calculating the cost of a garden room
Numerous elements contribute to the total expense of a garden room. Here are some of the key factors to consider:
Initial costs
Here are the initial costs you should anticipate:
- Initial costs - the following are the initial cost of building a garden room. These are largely determined by the specific building type you select, including factors such as:
- Garden room dimensions
- Cladding used
- Garden building protection
- Complexity of the garden room design
- Materials in use
- Assembly costs – will you undertake this as a DIY project or hire professional tradespeople?
- Garden room base – are you planning to lay a concrete base for a garden room or use an alternative garden room base?
- Site preparation – tasks such as ground levelling and debris removal
- Insulation
- Electrical systems and fixtures
- Interior finishing touches
- Compliance with planning permission and building regulations
- Garden and landscape preparation
- Delivery
- Utility connections
- Accessories and décor - such as blinds or curtains, outdoor lighting, interior decorative items and other garden room design inspirations
Recurring costs
You are likely to incur the following recurring expenses for your garden room:
- Gas, electricity and other utility costs
- Regular upkeep costs
- Warranties and maintenance agreements
Garden buildings - calculating costs
For specific pricing information on garden buildings, please check the cost section in our comprehensive garden room guide:
Task 8: Garden room accessories
By this point in our garden building buying guide; you should have decided what garden room you need. Now is the time to add accessories, and we have lots of vital components to outdoor living listed under shed accessories.
Here are a few accessories you should add to your basket on the way out:
- Forest shed and garage workbench 3’11”x1’4”
- Barrettine Shed & fence treatment 5L dark brown
- Timmersol Clear stabiliser and waterproofer 5L
- Solartech premium building solar lighting and charging kit
- 12x20 plastic shed base and many other plastic shed base sizes too
- Palram Canopia vertical bicycle hanger
- Palram Canopia garden lighting system
- Palram Canopia 3’x1’ shed shelving
- Solar Tec 150w off-grid solar panel kit
The above list is not exclusive, click here for the full list but remember to choose your accessories wisely, as they will keep your outdoor room well-lit and warm while offering bags of extra storage and weatherproofing your garden building investment.
Possible garden room uses
You can use your garden buildings in numerous ways, including:
- A hobby or crafting workshop
- A leisure area for family and friends (like a garden bar)
- A mental wellness and meditation room
- Children’s playroom
- Exercise space
- Garden gym
- Garden office
- Pottery studio
- Potting shed and plant house
- Reading or contemplation room
- Running a small business
- Sewing room
- Smoking room
- Storage room
- Teenage den or snooker room
- Yoga or Pilates studio
These suggestions highlight the versatility of garden buildings, though there are countless other potential garden room uses.
Garden room installation
Some of our garden room suppliers provide installation services, including assistance with assembling the garden room and installation of a garden room base. For specific information on whether installation is available, please refer to the details of each garden room product.
Delivery of the garden room
For comprehensive details on delivery when purchasing a garden room online, please visit our delivery information page. Some common questions about delivery include:
1) What is the delivery timeframe?
For many products, we provide a pick-a-day delivery option, enabling you to select your desired delivery date before purchasing a garden room, as indicated on the product page. If this option isn't available, please check the specified lead times for each item, which show when it will be ready for dispatch.
Once your order is placed, the manufacturer will reach out to arrange a delivery date. Please be aware that any changes made to your order after payment could impact your delivery date, so ensure your order is finalised before proceeding.
2) Are there delivery fees?
For most garden room purchases, delivery is included at no extra cost. However, additional charges may apply for deliveries to certain remote postcodes, even if delivery is free in other regions. To verify delivery options and check for any additional fees, please use our postcode checker.
Get in touch with us and customer support
If you need further assistance or have additional questions about purchasing a garden room, our UK-based customer service team is here to help. Reach us by calling 0333 003 0518. Alternatively, you can email us about our outdoor garden rooms for sale through the form on our contact page or chat with us live via the app icon located at the bottom left side of any page. We are eager to assist you.