Garden Hobby Rooms

Q: Where should you put your garden hobby shed?

Put your garden hobby shed somewhere with plenty of sunlight. Remember that it’s not just the view from the hobby room that matters. What you see from your house is also important. Consider whether to make your new garden room a focal feature or whether you prefer to cleverly disguise it with shrubs or screening. Most importantly, think from the inside out. Try sitting in the garden and choosing the view you want to frame with the window. Bear in mind that nearby deciduous trees will lose their leaves in winter and create shade in summer. Make sure you leave plenty of space around your hobby shed for maintenance, whether that’s annual painting or keeping the windows squeaky clean. Before you have your garden room installed by our experts you’ll need to make a level, solid base for it to rest on. Find out more about laying a foundation in our shed base building guide.

Garden hobby room solutions from Waltons include fully insulated spaces from 3m wide to 6m wide. ...

Garden hobby room solutions from Waltons include fully insulated spaces from 3m wide to 6m wide. Whether you’re looking for a modest space to read or do a bit of sewing, a larger room for indulging a passion for crafting, or a full-size art studio in which to unleash your full creativity, our garden buildings offer quality at an affordable price point.

A building from our range is built to stand the test of time. Construction is from sturdy 72mm double-skinned walls insulated with EcoQuilt technology. Tongue-and-groove floors are protected from the cold thanks to Air Tech insulation, and double-glazed windows come as standard. Add a 10-year-anti-rot guarantee and free installation as part of the package, and you know you’re putting your money into a top-quality product.

Designed to comply with permitted development rules, we pride ourselves on supplying garden rooms which won’t normally require additional planning permission. Of course, it’s always wise to check with planners before installing extra garden accommodation, but as long as your choice of building takes up less than half of your available outside space, has a height of less than 2.5 metres, and is situated in your back garden, planning is unlikely to be an issue. For more info on planning matters, please refer to our planning rules for garden buildings guide.

All the timber used in our garden rooms is FSC certified, and the buildings themselves are manufactured here in the UK. Unless you choose a self-build DIY garden room option, you’ll also benefit from free home installation included as standard. The process is hassle-free: you construct the foundation with a concrete or paving slab base, and our expert teams will take care of installing your new room for you. Simply head to our shed base installation guide to find out what you need to do.

A garden hobby room is an excellent investment, adding value to your property while you enjoy your free time. Whatever your creative endeavours, you can be sure you’re getting a quality outdoor building to turbocharge your creative energy.

What are the benefits of a garden hobby room?

Let loose your creative side, focus on a special project or grow a creative business in your very own garden hobby room. Whether you’re after a sewing room, a painting studio or somewhere to set up your potter's wheel, an insulated garden room from Waltons provides the perfect blank canvas. Ranging in size from compact 3m designs to super-spacious 6m wide rooms, there’s a model to suit every hobby.

Insulated garden rooms are comfortable to work in whatever the weather — high quality EcoQuilt insulation and double-glazing help to retain heat in winter but keep everything cool in summer. They’re cheaper and easier than adding an extension to your house, rarely require planning permission and can even add value to your property should you decide to move in the future.

What is the best garden room for crafts and hobbies?

All of the fantastic garden rooms in our collection have bright and airy interiors full of natural light. Whether you choose a compact design or one of our larger structures depends on your budget, garden space and the hobby you want to accommodate.

A solo painting easel fits perfectly in one of our petite 3m garden rooms. If you want to invite a sitter into your studio you may want to add a couple of square metres. A workbench or pottery wheel will feel better in a roomier 5m or 6m structure.

For a family hobby room, consider our most spacious garden rooms so you can include storage, chairs and tables. Remember that your garden room’s use may evolve over time, and if you invest in a larger size, you can turn it into a home office or full-blown entertainment space in the future.

Do you need planning permission for an office hobby room?

One of the best reasons to go for an insulated garden room is that you’re unlikely to need planning permission in most regular back gardens. Simply choose the model you want and have it installed and up and running in almost no time.

If you’re unsure of the rules, live in a small house, or own a listed building, it’s always best to double check planning permission rules with your local council. Get an idea with our helpful planning permission infographic.

How to organise your garden hobby room

Organise your hobby room according to what you like to do. Installing plenty of storage shelves or cupboards is a good idea for keeping materials tidy and safely out of reach of children, and a flat surface with comfy chairs will create a pleasant workspace.

Think early in the process about installing mains electricity to power sewing machines, lights and a music speaker. You’ll need to hire a professional to do this safely and comply with building regulations. Read our summary on getting power to your shed for a handy checklist.

You may want to get a fresh water supply to your hobby house. Cleaning tools, paintbrushes and mixing paints is difficult if you don’t want to lug water from the garden tap. The supply doesn’t have to be hot and there are also ideas for off-grid options in our article.

Where should you put your garden hobby shed?

Put your garden hobby shed somewhere with plenty of sunlight. Remember that it’s not just the view from the hobby room that matters. What you see from your house is also important. Consider whether to make your new garden room a focal feature or whether you prefer to cleverly disguise it with shrubs or screening.

Most importantly, think from the inside out. Try sitting in the garden and choosing the view you want to frame with the window. Bear in mind that nearby deciduous trees will lose their leaves in winter and create shade in summer.

Make sure you leave plenty of space around your hobby shed for maintenance, whether that’s annual painting or keeping the windows squeaky clean. Before you have your garden room installed by our experts you’ll need to make a level, solid base for it to rest on. Find out more about laying a foundation in our shed base building guide.