Garden offices
Garden offices in Newcastle, built for a proper working day
Working from home is easier with a door between you and the house. A garden office gives you a quiet, warm room to work in, a short walk from the kitchen.
Planning the room
Start with the desk
Where you sit decides almost everything else. Facing the garden is the obvious choice, but a big window behind a screen causes glare and makes you a silhouette on video calls.
Many people settle on a desk at right angles to the main glazing, with a smaller window in front for a view. Sockets, data points and lighting are then placed around that spot rather than spaced evenly around the walls.
Light and heat
South-facing glass is bright but can overheat in summer. Blinds, a roof overhang or solar-control glass help. A north-facing office gets steady, even light that suits screen work.
Internet
Wi-Fi from the house often struggles through walls and across a garden. A data cable laid with the power cable, or a mesh or point-to-point link, is worth deciding at the design stage while the trench is open.
Sound
Good insulation keeps calls private and household noise out. If you'll record or present, ask about acoustic panels too.
Sizes
How much room an office needs
| Rough size | Fits | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Compact, up to about 3m × 3m | One desk, chair and shelving | Keeps more of the garden; plan storage carefully |
| Medium, about 4m × 3m | Desk plus a chair or small sofa for reading | A popular size that suits two uses |
| Large, 5m × 3m or more | Two desks, or a desk and a meeting corner | Bigger rooms can bring building regulations into play |
Sizes are a starting point. See all sizes.
Ask about
Office details to raise at your consultation
- Double sockets near the desk, with USB if you like
- A data cable from the house or router
- Lighting on more than one circuit
- Blinds or solar-control glass
- A heater on a timer or thermostat
- Somewhere to hang a coat and leave boots
- A lockable door and window locks
- Ventilation for summer days
Next step
Plan your garden office
Choose 'Home office' on the form and tell us where you'd like it to go.
Questions
Common questions
Is a garden office warm enough in winter?
With insulated walls, floor and roof, double glazing and a heater, yes. Ask how each part is insulated so you can compare quotes properly.
Can I claim anything back if I work from home?
Tax rules for home working depend on your circumstances. Speak to an accountant before relying on any relief.
Will my Wi-Fi reach?
Often not reliably. A data cable or a dedicated wireless link is usually the answer, and it's easiest to plan in from the start.