How to create your garden office

Working from Home has never been so easy!

We all know that working from home can throw up challenges – challenges of which we were probably all unaware just 12 months ago. Arnold Laver has a solution to getting the best out of working from home, a garden office. So good, you might never want to return to the office. Here’s how….

The Best Home Garden Office

Our ever creative and diligent team at Arnold Laver in Borehamwood came up with an idea. To build the perfect Arnold Laver home office, or garden room, to showcase all that’s good – and possible – to making working from home a pleasure, now and again, or long-term. With all our hopes for an end to the current situation, it has to be said that for many the option to work from home isn’t one we’d like to relinquish in its entirety. Far more accessible now, home working has proved to be do-able, if not successful.  The Arnold Laver team at the Borehamwood depot have embraced the challenge, with excellent results, using products from within the Arnold Laver fold – available online and in depot. This will eventually grace their new Landscaping Centre. Check out the post on our Instagram for more images, but we think you’ll be very tempted to avoid the crush – sorry, we mean commute – to work within this beauty gracing your garden!

Be Inspired

The current trend in home offices is certainly up there, and their quality can vary. We think we’ve come up with the perfect solution. Easy on the eye, easy to construct and better still easier on the pocket than some of the bespoke offerings available. We use timber with the sustainable credentials you’ll be proud of and our depot teams are on hand to advise.

Our new home office example can be a template and adapted to fit with your needs. These garden rooms are also very useful as additional space – for entertaining, for chill-out zones from a busy household and even additional space for occasional guests. Whether you opt for the full shebang with electrical supply, Wi-Fi and a fridge, or just keep it simple with rugs, cushions, LED battery fairy lights and an unofficial bar area, this additional space is brilliant. It’ll also mean you don’t need to rush inside if the heavens open while you’re mid barbecue with friends. Job done.

Do I Need Planning Permission?

In the majority, most home offices should not require planning permission or building regulations so long as you adhere to the basic guidelines.  Permission generally depends on where you live. If you live in a listed building, a flat or in a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), then you may, and we’d recommend you check with your local authority. If you live in AONBs or Conservation areas, whilst you can have such a construction in your garden, again we’d recommend you check ahead. Build under a height of 2.5m externally, or 3m in height if the construction is 2m away from your boundary, and you should be ok. Be sure, and visit your permissions portal online. 

How did we do it?

Remember to ensure you have a stable and solid foundation base. Bases using concrete, slabs or using our pressure treated timber are ideal.

Our timber is also perfect for framing that concrete foundation. Top tip: ensure your base is exactly the same size as your construction – not larger – this avoids water ingress.

Think about the position – close to an electrical supply might be a factor or facing into or out of the sun – and remember trees continue to grow so steer clear.

With the Arnold Laver home office that we’ve constructed in Borehamwood, we’ve avoided a large overhang at the back and sides, so that’s a detail you don’t need to worry about when thinking about proximity to your boundary. We built a timber box-like structure, factoring in spaces for windows, and just kept it simple. Insulate inside according to use.

Our blog on building a stud wall will give you the information you need, just adapt to build four walls, potentially all different in design or three the same. Keep it simple. No need to add a window which looks onto your neighbour’s fence! We clad in our choice of Canadian Western Red Cladding, or you can choose from our range here and get the look you’re after. We finished off our dream office with the added sophisticated look of bi-fold doors.

Now we’re looking at flooring choices.  Want to go that extra step to give it the complete interior design look? Check out our options here or follow us on Instagram