Garden rooms: are they the right choice for your home?
Considering a garden room for extra space? See how they compare to single-storey extensions in our guide.

If your house is already full to the brim, it can be hard to find the square footage for any additions.
Perhaps you want to add a home office, gym or entertaining space. For most UK homeowners, these luxuries simply aren't an option without investing in a new living space.
That's why so many people extend their homes or install standalone spaces such as garden rooms.
But which option is best for you? We'll help you decide.
What is a garden room?
A garden room is an outdoor building that's separate from your house but acts as an extension. Think of it as an extra, livable room, but instead of being inside your house, it's out in the garden.
Garden rooms typically have insulation, lighting, electricity and Wi-Fi, as well as robust solid walls and roofing.
They surged in popularity in the early 2020s when many people were working from home and needed a dedicated office space. Some opted for a garden room because they wanted a place they could "travel" to and then leave at the end of the workday. Not only does a garden room provide extra space, but it also feels separate enough to act as a dedicated working environment.
People also use garden rooms for things like home gyms, garden pubs, art studios and writing rooms.
Why cheap garden rooms are a year-round problem
It's understandable why you'd want to save money on a garden room – especially if you've already ruled out a traditional extension because of the cost.
However, cheap garden rooms can be more trouble than they're worth. If your installer skimps on materials or build quality, the room might struggle with seasonal temperature fluctuations. And nobody wants their garden room to feel like a sauna in the summer and a fridge in winter.
A few things can cause these temperature fluctuations, including:
- Thin walls with no insulation or inadequate insulation
- Single glazing or cheap PVC windows
- Uninsulated floorboards
- Basic felt roofs
The old saying, "Buy cheap, buy twice" comes to mind. Investing in a high-quality garden room from a trusted installer could save you considerable time, money and hassle further down the line.
Would an extension be better for me?
It all depends on what you want to get out of your new living space.
If you want a quick, easy and relatively affordable solution to your household space problem, a garden room will do just fine. And if you invest in a high-quality garden room, it will last for several decades.
A traditional one-storey extension, meanwhile, will almost definitely cost more money than a garden room. However, it will last even longer and add more value to your property.
Here's a comparison of a well-built garden room versus a single-storey home extension.
| Home extension | Garden room | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | A standard single-storey extension in the UK costs around £2,000 to £3,500 per square metre. So, in total, you can expect to pay between £45,000 and £80,000. | A high-quality, insulated garden room costs around £12,000 to £35,000 in the UK. |
| Property value | Increases the square footage of your home and adds around 10% to 25% to your property value | An attractive home feature that could add around 5% to 10% to your property value |
| Longevity | Around 70 to 100 years, matched to the lifespan of your main house | Usually 30 to 60+ years if built with high-quality materials and weatherproofing |
| Comfort | It will be linked to your main central heating, so it should be just as comfortable as any other room in your house. | You can make a garden room as comfortable as your home, but it will cost more. That's because it will rely on standalone electric heating or air conditioning. |
| Vibe | You'll feel just at home because it's just a new part of your home. | It feels outdoorsy but cosy. You get to enjoy the garden views, and it can make it easier to disconnect from work once you're finished. |
| Location | Open a door, and you're in your new room. There's no need to put on shoes or brave the weather. | You'll have to traverse the garden to reach it. |
How about an orangery?
Today, the word "orangery" means something quite different from what it did in the 17th century.
Back then, orangeries were specifically designed to protect delicate orange and citrus trees from the winter chill in Italy and northern Europe. Later, they became quite the status symbol, with wealthy estate owners building them to show off their south-facing gardens through large glass windows.
Nowadays, however, orangeries are classic brick-and-glass structures, typically with a flat roof and a skylight. They're the middle ground between a single-storey extension and a garden room – robust and permanent-feeling, but still with that outdoorsy feel.
Like a garden room, orangeries provide lots of natural light. And because it's attached to the house, you don't have to trek across the garden whenever you want to use it. That might be a positive or a negative, depending on your preferences.
Orangeries usually cost around £25,000 to £35,000 – right in between what you'd pay for an extension and a garden room.
What to ask a provider before signing a contract
Whether you go for an orangery, an extension or a garden room, there are a few questions you should ask your provider before signing any contract.
- What is your target U-value for the whole construction? This will tell you how energy-efficient the structure will be. The lower the U-value, the better!
- What glazing will the glass have? You want double glazing at the very least, but preferably triple glazing for better temperature control and lower bills.
- Have you included Building Regulations approvals and structural calculations in the quote? Make sure they have and that they cover the legal side. It shouldn't all be left up to you.
- Do you offer an insurance-backed guarantee?
This will protect you financially if something goes wrong.
Add space to your home with Calder Windows
At Calder Windows, we've helped homeowners in Yorkshire create the living spaces of their dreams for more than 30 years.
Whether you're interested in a garden room, a single-storey extension or an orangery, we can help. We take pride in the quality of our installations, and most products come with generous warranties.
Are you ready to request a quote? Do you still have a few questions? Get started today by booking a no-obligation consultation with our team. We'd love to help.
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