If you love cooking and want to upgrade your outdoor space, then you might want to invest in a garden room and add a kitchen (a great choice!). However, you may be worried about the rules and regulations when it comes to having a kitchen outdoors.
Here at Open Space Concepts, we are proud to offer a wide selection of glass rooms, the perfect structure for an outdoor kitchen. So, if you enjoy hosting dinner parties or having drinks with family and friends, this is the solution for you!
If you’re wondering ‘can you build a garden room with a kitchen’, you’re in the right place, as this blog has all the answers, as well as telling you the benefits of an outdoor kitchen.
Keep reading to find out more!
Can you put a kitchen in a garden room?
So, can you build a garden room with a kitchen? The answer is, yes. You can install a kitchen in your garden room as long as you follow the correct building regulations and apply for appropriate planning permission. To ensure that you have a working kitchen, plumbing and electricity are a must-have. That means that your garden building will now be classified as a dwelling rather than an ancillary building and will require planning permission.
You will need to have permitted development rights at your property to install any garden room – generally speaking, you probably won’t have permitted development rights if you live in a flat or maisonette, your home is a listed building, or your property is in a designated area. If you have a house with your own garden, you should generally be fine.
For more information on this topic, have a read of Do I Need Planning Permission for a Garden Room?
Things you should consider before building a garden room with a kitchen
Before you get ahead of yourself and start planning your garden room with a kitchen, there are several important things that you need to consider. Most of these are for your own health and safety, as well as ensuring that your new kitchen is up to scratch and built to high standards.
These include:
- Electricity and plumbing
Plumbing and electricity will be required for things like sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, ovens, stoves, fridges, microwaves and much more! In most cases, an underground cable will need to be installed from your main fuse box, running all the way to your garden room to provide a secure electricity supply.
We recommend that all plumbing and electrical work is carried out by a licensed professional and that you obtain relevant certification upon completion of your project. It is also essential that you install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in order to meet building regulations and protect the safety of you and your loved ones.
- Ventilation
When building a kitchen in your garden room, it is a legal requirement that you have appropriate ventilation. This is not only important for your safety but helps to remove odours and reduce condensation. While it might not be the most exciting feature of your garden room kitchen, extractor fans and cooker hoods don’t need to be boring! You can choose from a range of stylish designs and finishes to suit your interior design style.
One of the easiest ways to enhance the ventilation of your outdoor kitchen is to install windows. While a window doesn’t actually need to be a legal requirement, they are beneficial for many reasons including adding natural light and letting fresh air flow through the space.
At Open Space Concepts, we have alternative Outdoor Kitchens that blend high-quality design and engineering, sure to elevate your outdoor space to new heights.
- Off-grid vs mains supply
In order to achieve a luxurious and fully functioning space, we recommend connecting to the mains supply as this provides a reliable water and electricity source. If you are looking for a more eco-friendly option, you could consider using a rain catchment system and solar ovens. Or, if you want to do most of your cooking outside, you’ll only need a BBQ or pizza oven instead of using an electric oven or microwave – check out our BBQ Area Ideas for the Ultimate Alfresco Dining Experience.
Connecting to your main supply is generally less expensive than installing an off-grid system, as you won’t have to worry about maintaining batteries or solar panels. However, off-grid systems rely more on renewable energy sources like solar or wind power, reducing your carbon footprint and being much better for the environment.
Benefits of having a kitchen in your garden room
Now that you have a better idea of things that you should consider before installing your kitchen garden room, we think you might want to know about their many benefits. These include:
- Adds value to your property – a garden room with a functioning kitchen will increase the square footage of your property, increasing the value of your home if you want to sell in the future.
- You can enjoy outdoor cooking all year round – having a fully equipped kitchen in your garden means that you can enjoy dining alfresco all year round, even during the colder months.
- It creates a social hub away from your home – a garden room kitchen offers a distinct area away from the main house, creating a relaxed and intimate atmosphere for gatherings and parties.
- Can appeal to future buyers – having a garden room with a kitchen is a unique selling point of your home, meaning that it is more attractive to potential buyers who may be willing to pay more for this exclusive feature.
- Means you can run your business from home – if you have your own catering business, then having a garden room with a kitchen provides you with a commercial space away from your family kitchen where you can concentrate and please customers.
- Enhanced outdoor living – having an outdoor kitchen means that you can spend more time in nature, which is proven to improve your mental well-being.
Invest in a garden room with Open Space Concepts!
Hopefully, this blog has answered your question ‘can you build a garden room with a kitchen?’ As we’ve mentioned above, there are some things that you should consider before committing, but once these have been thought through, you’re good to go!
At Open Space Concepts, we are passionate about the design and installation of bespoke outdoor structures. That’s why we’ve helped thousands of customers up and down the country – we’d love to have you on board, too.
For more information, please get in touch via our online contact form, or give us a ring on 0808 168 0043. A member of our team will be more than happy to get back to you!
