Remote and hybrid workers are more prevalent than ever, and since most people don’t have a dedicated external office, they need to ensure their home working space is the right environment for productivity. While many people utilise a spare room by turning it into an office space and others make good use of their dining table, if you have a sizeable garden, making a home working space outside can be a game-changer.
If you’ve been sketching some garden office ideas and are eager to start working in the refreshing stream of the summer breeze, explore our range of products. At Open Space Concepts we specialise in transforming your garden into living spaces that can be used throughout the year, no matter the weather.
To discover how we could evolve your space and create the perfect outdoor office, delve into our range of solutions online, or visit our showroom in Stoke-on-Trent for face-to-face guidance.
Why not create a communal working space alongside an exemplary outdoor kitchen, or invest in a pergola that is perfect for working while feeling a little closer to nature? If you’re looking for inspiration, we’ve outlined our top four garden office ideas below. Read on to discover how you can create an optimal work environment.
4 garden office ideas that help increase productivity
Before the pandemic, commuting to work was the norm – but now many people spend their working days in the comfort of their own home. In fact, the Office for National Statistics outlined that from September 2022 to January 2023, 44% of workers reported working from home and 56% stated that they had travelled to work in the last seven days.
If you’re part of this statistic and you’re eyeing up a garden room as a potential workspace, take a look at our top 4 garden office ideas below to help you get started.
Use plants to connect your garden and office
One idea that will help you cultivate the perfect garden office space is to create a connection between the outdoors and the indoors. Bringing nature into your workspace can promote a sense of calmness, which in turn can create a focused study that’s perfect for working.
Opt for a Golden Pothos plant if your garden office doesn’t have a lot of direct sunlight – as they are very forgiving when it comes to occasional neglect. To help you with your concentration throughout the day, choose a Snake Plant. These wondrous plants have natural air-purifying properties that will help remove toxins from your surroundings, maintain fresh air in your garden office and keep you alert for longer.
Work hard and play hard with multifunctionality
Another idea you can utilise when creating a garden office is to ensure the area has multifunctionality. While the space might have been designed to be your dedicated work area, this doesn’t mean that it has to remain in this state all the time. When lunchtime rolls around you’ll be wanting a space that promotes relaxation rather than productivity.
While you might want to dedicate most of your outdoor room to your office, add a comfort corner so you can rest after stressful meetings or during your break time. Choose a plush armchair and add a few pillows for an extra feeling of cosiness.
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to design your garden room office, check out our ideas gallery of completed outdoor projects.
Let the light in
There are several reasons why it’s important to let light flow into your office. Not only has it been suggested that harsh artificial light can boost the likelihood of eye strain and headaches, but natural light has also been shown to increase concentration and even allows you to connect a little more with nature, inspiring focus and imagination.
When implementing a garden office, choose an outdoor living structure that has large windows to allow light to filter in, such as a bespoke glass room. Ensure you hang curtains to retain heat in the winter and to avoid constant direct sunlight on summer days.
Keep calm and concentrate with a cool colour scheme
A cool colour scheme is also important when it comes to creating a garden office. Colour theory suggests warmer tones are energetic, subconsciously provoking your mind into an overstimulated state.
Whereas, a cooler colour scheme evokes feelings of calmness and tranquility. So, when designing your garden office scheme, choose a theme that involves colours such as blue and lavender to prioritise your mindset.
How does a garden office increase productivity?
There are several ways a garden office can increase your productivity, and provide you with benefits outside of work too. Benefits of a garden office include:
Promotes focus away from distractions
Having an office outside of your home can make you less likely to procrastinate, with the distractions of noisy kids, beeping appliances and blaring TVs feeling like a world away from your outdoor haven. Having a garden office provides a separate room away from the chaos, so you can concentrate on work tasks.
They also allow you to take breaks that are more productive for your body and soul, with a five-minute relaxation in the garden being far more beneficial than a ‘quick’ TV break.
Offers a better work-life balance
It might seem small, but having a separate garden office can help boost your work-life balance. Creating an office outside makes a clear division between your home and work life, with this boundary being one of the best ways to promote a healthy work-life balance.
At the end of a busy day, you can step out of your garden office, signalling that it’s time to switch off from work.
Provides the best mindset for working
Working to the best of your ability means being in the right mindset. But with the stresses of both work and home life, it can be difficult to maintain a calm demeanour in a cold study that’s hidden away in a corner of your home.
However, working from a garden or shed office can help you obtain this mindset. Thanks to the increase in natural light, as well as the scenic views of nature, your stress will likely be reduced. This will ultimately help you to instil a better sense of focus.
What types of garden offices could we provide?
Having created bespoke garden office studios since 2018, at Open Space Concepts, we offer a range of different solutions that can transform your outdoor space into a haven for productivity.
Pergolas: Giving you shade and shelter from the outdoor elements, our pergolas are made bespoke to you and your requirements, no matter if you’re after a cocoon that provides optimum comfort or a retractable pergola that can be adjusted as per the weather conditions. Versatile and state-of-the-art, our pergolas offer unrivalled class and practicality,
Glass Rooms: If you want to feel as close as possible to nature while also being in the warmth of your own home, glass rooms are an excellent option. The Vue Pod is just one of our quality glass structures that can be built free-standing or attached to your home, providing a touch of class with optional LED spot lights and glass sliding doors.
Glass Verandas and Awnings: If you want to maximise the space of your garden, then glass verandas and awnings can be a better option for those looking to create a garden office. Our sophisticated verandas allow you to entertain friends or family members with a glass covering, while our fully automated awnings are wonderfully effortless.
Real-life case studies
We’ve helped countless customers across England, Scotland and Wales to achieve their aspirations of creating a stunning garden office. Our many success stories can be found in our collection of case studies that illustrate small cost-effective solutions as well as luxury builds, with these examples showcasing our dedication to quality construction.
One such build was the large Vue Pod we constructed in Darlington. Spanning much of the length of the side of the property, this large glass room provides light and vibrancy, making it an ideal relaxation zone. Similarly, the Louvre Pod that we created in Staffordshire, also provided a bright, versatile new space. Perfectly proportioned, it would make for an ideal garden office.
Want your garden office ideas to become a reality? We can help
Implementing a garden office can be great for productivity, but also helps you create a better work-life balance – especially if you’re a remote or hybrid worker.
Whatever your situation, no matter if you’re looking for a garden office, an outdoor kitchen or a carport, at Open Space Concepts, our 30 years of experience in garden structures means we’re well-equipped to help you implement one in your home.
To make an enquiry, simply get in touch via our online contact form or give us a call directly at 0808 168 0043.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do outdoor garden offices need maintenance?
Generally, our garden office structures require very light maintenance. We do, however, recommend cleaning and oiling moveable parts, such as hinges.
Do you need planning permission for a garden office?
Most garden rooms are considered outbuildings and therefore the majority don’t need planning permission as long as you abide by the necessary laws and regulations. Read our blog on the planning permission requirements of garden rooms to discover more.
How do you get Wifi in a garden office?
One of the best ways to ensure Wifi in your garden office is through the use of a booster. As long as your garden office isn’t located too far away from the main Wifi hub, using a booster in the space should allow you to easily connect to the network.
