Finding the Perfect Fit: How Do I Choose the Right Garden Studio Size?

So, you’ve decided that a garden studio would be a fantastic addition to your home – but you’ve no idea what size (or shape) it should be? You’re not alone, and many of our customers come to us looking for guidance on creating the optimal garden studio layout to suit both their garden and their needs.

Whether your garden space is ample, or you’re working with a much smaller potential footprint, deciding on the right size studio is still a big decision. It’s important to create a garden room that is functional and aesthetic without overwhelming your outdoor space and loosing too much of your precious garden. In this guide, we’ll share the essential questions that we ask customers when helping them to decide upon the size of their garden studio, ultimately supporting them in creating a bespoke space that’s perfect for their needs.

1. What Will You Use Your Garden Studio For?

Before determining the size of your garden studio, it’s helpful to determine its intended use. Are you planning to use it as a home office, a play room or teen den, a gym, or a combination of all of these? Understanding your primary purpose will help you allocate the necessary space for the garden studio to function practically within your home, and help you to consider any extra design features that would be beneficial.

2. What Space Do You Have Available For Your Garden Studio?

Even in large gardens, you may have obstacles in place that start to define the size of the garden room, such as trees or existing landscaping. It’s important to be mindful of the distance we will need to build from your boundary (which also depends on the size and height of your garden room – we can guide you on this) as well as the area that you would like to keep as garden. Our design consultations are intended to be collaborative, so we will listen to your ideas and needs and make recommendations about the location and size of your garden studio.

3. What Functional Zones Do You Need Inside Your Garden Studio?

Particularly with multi-use garden studios, it can be helpful to divide the interior space of your garden studio into functional zones based on your intended activities. This can also be true for spaces like dedicated garden gym studios and is a beneficial process to help understand how you and your family will use the space.

Allocating separate areas for working, lounging, storage, and any other specific needs will help our designers to plan a garden studio layout and suggest dimensions to suit. Flexibility can be key in multi-use garden studios, so choosing a size that allows for easy reconfiguration of furniture and equipment can be a great way to future proof your garden studio as your needs evolve.

4. What Furniture and Equipment Do You Need?

Thinking about the essential furniture you’re going to need in your garden studio is also a good way to start to determine the minimum dimensions that you’re likely to require. In particular, considering large items like desks, sofas and the location of any technology such as wall-mounted televisions, will all start to set the scene of how your garden studio space will work. Planning the location of furniture in relation to fixed assets like doorways and wall mounted heaters is important in making sure your items fit comfortably into the room without blocking access to essential amenities.

5. What Extra Features Would Improve Your Enjoyment Of Your Garden Studio?

When thinking about the size of your garden studio, it’s not only the practical, functional things you need to think about, but how the space as a whole makes you feel. Considering the little extras that will have a big impact on the enjoyment you get from your space plays a significant part in deciding on a garden studio layout that you’ll want to spend time in year-round.

This could be making the decision to include a large set of bi-fold doors, a wrap-around bespoke decking area, or going over-height with your build to increase the headroom and sense of space. Whatever your personal design preferences, thinking carefully about what features would make you most happy for years to come is certainly important to input into the design process.

6. How Might Your Garden Studio Needs Change Over Time?

You may decide that you need a garden office studio right now, but it can be beneficial to try and anticipate how you may need this space to change in years to come. Whether that’s including a bathroom so that you can accommodate occasional overnight guests, or creating a garden studio big enough to allow for children or teenagers to share it as a play den, thinking about future uses now can save you time and money in the long run.

It can also be sensible to consider whether there are features that could make the room more appealing to potential future buyers of your property, as a garden room can be a great value-add to a home. It may be that bathrooms in your home are limited, so an extra shower room would be an attractive asset. Or, perhaps a generous decking area that lends itself to entertaining in summer months could help to give your home and garden the ‘wow’ factor. Thinking forward to how the garden studio can evolve over time is a sensible step when finalising plans for your space.

Choosing the right size and layout for your garden studio is an important decision that requires careful consideration of various factors. By assessing your needs, available space and practical requirements, you can make an informed choice that aligns with your lifestyle and allows you to enjoy your new garden studio to its maximum potential. To discuss your own garden studio project and arrange a survey to discuss the best studio size for you, contact our helpful enquiries team today.