With us all stuck at home in lockdown you can’t have missed the trend for garden rooms, so I’ve been busy creating Pinterest boards about garden room decorating ideas! I love the idea of my own garden room, where I could sit and relax as I watch the bees buzz in the summer, or curl up with The Secret Garden on a wintery day.
I first learned about garden rooms on Pinterest (where else)?? and in case you are as clueless as I was, you’re probably wondering what on earth a garden room is. Is it a shed? A she shed? A conservatory? A potting shed? a summerhouse?
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What Is A Garden Room?
Lol, yeah I was clueless about what a garden room is too. A garden room is an outside stand-alone structure usually made of wood or timber, measuring anywhere from 15msq to 30msq (anything bigger than that and your garden room will need planning permission). Not only is a garden room a multi purpose space for relaxing, working, or sleeping in (gym? office? chillout space? it can be all or none)! it can add value to your home too.
Is A Garden Room A Good Investment?
a garden room that is thoughtfully designed, landscaped and decorated can add up to 15% on to the value of your property.
A garden room can add 5% on to the value of your home, according to realhomes.com.
Even a small sized garden room of 15m2 can add approx 5% value on to your home, and if you have a bigger space you may have the option of being able to use it to generate an income. This can add even more value on to your home, up to 15%, especially if it’s well decorated, attractively built, and landscaped.
A garden room can resemble a miniature house as they are frequently fully decorated, with windows, electricity and even furniture, and are multi purpose. Garden rooms are used as reading rooms, art rooms, for relaxation and leisure.
What are the benefits of having a garden room?
“Alright,” you might be thinking, “but what’s the use of a garden room?”. Well, you can now have a dedicated space for gardening tools, but also a spot to enjoy the summer sun, have a family meal, and an area where the children can play to their heart’s content and let their dreams of being fairy princesses run wild.
Need an extra sleeping spot, reading spot or storage spot? That’s the beauty of a garden room: it can become exactly what you need it to be. Of course, over here at A Prettier Petal, we love sharing magical gardening ideas that beautify, so no need to worry that your dream of a luxurious garden room will end up being a boring old gardening shed.
Get your vision board ready, because we’re about to set your garden room dreams in motion! Here are 25 garden room decorating ideas that will have you saying “hey, I should totally try that!”.
25 Garden Room Decorating Ideas
the best garden room decorating ideas on a budget
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Best Plants For A Garden Room
A garden room, with plants? Groundbreaking! In all seriousness, plants are the perfect way to add a little oomph to your garden room without breaking the bank. Think potted plants and bonsais, to crawling ivy and strings of pearls hanging from the roof – your garden room will instantly be lifted from a mediocre room to a plant wonderland with just a dose of stunning greenery. Look up ‘jungalow style’ on Pinterest for inspiration.
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The Best Colors To Decorate A Garden Room
Whether it be with a layer of fresh paint or big open windows that let in the most beautiful, natural light, a bright and airy garden room is a happy garden room. Beautiful colours to add to a garden room include, of course, white and green. These are natural and light colours that we love seeing in nature, thus they will look equally as beautiful in a garden room.
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English garden cottage, is that you?
we are so in love with this cute garden room and its English cottage style!
Say “English Garden” and my mind immediately goes to luxurious rose bushes and a charming space where the pillows are always fluffed and yes, there’s always time for tea. Deciding to decorate your garden room in an English garden cottage style will open a realm of ideas. Just remember that an old-school charm is key, and you can’t go wrong with a sweet hydrangea bush. Add in vintage vases, tea trays, gold butler trolleys, and stacks of books and magazines.
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Add a rose garden or indoor garden to your garden room
Sure, it’s on the inside that counts, but that doesn’t mean your tranquil garden room can’t have a stunning garden of its own. I love the idea of creating a little pathway towards my garden room or adding a lush rose arch at its entryway. Think lush lemon trees, perfect for shade on a sunny day, or little lollipop trees if you are trying to save space. You can even take it one step further and start a veggie garden outside your garden room – perfect for all the mint tea you’ll be having in your little hideout.
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Window boxes provide a neat transition from an indoor space to outdoor
Seriously, how charming are window boxes! This is also a super inexpensive way to beautify your garden room. Imagine a sea of bright pink petunias, or perhaps begonias are more your style? Ivy is perfect for a green cascading effect, or add a touch of hot purple Amaranthus if you’re a gal who loves the dramatics (I know I am!).
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Ok, but imagine a mini-me garden room
Ever since seeing 13 Going on 30, I’ve dreamed of having a dollhouse that looks exactly like my actual home (in shades of pink, of course) but why stop there? In essence, your garden room is an extension of your actual home, so imagine the cuteness if you were to model this space to your actual home. Paint it in a similar colour, have the themes from your garden match its exterior, or plant the same succulents as in your front garden. We’re not saying it has to match exactly, but consistent themes are always stunning.
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Go grand, if you can
Tiny shed for what? If you’re looking to splurge on an outdoor space, why not invest in a proper garden annexe where you can dream your gardening dreams away? We’re thinking of a space for a tropical goddess, where you can drink wine, eat grapes and just be merry in general, while admiring the lush views of your garden, of course.
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Did someone say garden retreat?
Your garden room doesn’t only have to be a space for tools of the trade. In need of an extra bedroom? Why not make your garden room just that: a room in your garden where guests (or you) can escape to. Nothing says comfort like a dainty-decorated throw, big lush pillows and a coffee and tea stand. Like Airbnb, but better. And you can always rent it out for extra income!
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Add Grass On The Roof
Take your gardening skills to the (literal) next level by planting grass on the roof of your garden room. That’s right, grass! Adding a touch of green to the sky will set the scene to your fairy garden dreams, or at least like you feel like you’re in a J. R. R. Tolkien book. Grass on the roof is a great way to keep things cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Plus, it’s pretty! Here’s an easy guide to get you started: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-grass-rooftop-deck-40996.html
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Best Rocking Chair For Garden Rooms
The thought of rocking chairs immediately transports me to carefree childhood days spent in gran’s garden, where she’ll wait with tea, biscuits and a story on her pink rocking chair (is this where my love for the colour comes from!). Adding a rocking chair, or any cosy chair to the porch of your garden room will give it an instant homey feel, and where else would you sit to admire your beautiful garden? Add some pizzazz to an old chair or go thrifting: either way you’ll want to sit down for this one. These rocking chairs will help beautify your garden room.
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What Is The Best Flooring For My Garden Room?
The best flooring for your garden room will be resilient, stylish, and practical. The most common flooring for a garden room is laminate flooring, as it is low cost (between $2-$8 per square foot for the installation, materials and underlay), hardwearing and practical.
However a laminated floor is not the most stylish of choices for your garden room, and there are other options. Opt for stone flooring if you plan on using your garden room mainly during the summer months – it’s stylish and keeps your room cool. Or you can go for the poured concrete industrial feel,
No garden room is complete without a solid foundation (of stunning flooring, that is!). Go for neat and tidy with wood that will last forever, or add a touch of grand with black and white check tiles for a touch of faded french elegance.
(Which reminds us, a chessboard would also look lovely in your garden room)!
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Gardening but make it glamorous
Who doesn’t love a dose of glam? An no, glam definitely doesn’t need to be confined to the walls of your home. Add little touches of luxury to your garden room through a chic sofa, a small (or large) dangling chandelier, and all those glossy photography coffee table books and collector’s Vogues you’ve been stowing away.
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Twinkle things up with fairy lights
We love natural light (hello stunning photos!) but what to do if you want to spend time dining outside your garden room in the evening? Fairy lights, my dear friend, are a lovely way to add a touch of magic to your outdoor space that won’t be too harsh.
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Welcome to the book nook
Come summer or winter, there’s nothing as good as curling up with a good ol’ book in a space dedicated to reading. Think comfy leather armchairs and books stacked to the roof, together with baskets filled with comfy blankets for rainy day reading. Peter Rabbit and The Faraway Tree on the shelf is a must, of course.
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Slide into beautiful views of your garden
Remember that natural light we spoke about? What better way to give your garden room an all-access view to your green garden haven than with sliding glass doors or glass doors that stack together to create a sense of openness.
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Take your work outside
You must be tired of hearing the “C” word by now, but let’s face it: this pandemic has turned life as we know it around! Many are now working from home, which might be difficult to juggle with home life. I know I sometimes struggle to get my head in the game when surrounded by so many distractions, which is exactly why the garden room is now also my dedicated workspace. Put in your fave desk, make sure there’s a good wifi connection and get working, girl!
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Let the walls do the talking
Don’t even get me started on wallpaper! Oh how I love flowery prints, bolds prints and prints that make you go “wow”. For a garden room, my mind immediately goes to lemon trees and that makes me really happy. If wallpaper is too much of a commitment, go for bold paint colours, or even paint one wall with black chalk paint so that your creative juices have a blank canvas.
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What Color Garden Room Doors Are Best?
By now you know that I love bold colours, so it should come as no surprise that I think you should paint the front door of your garden room a bold shade. This works really well if you have a more characterful garden room with older style or french doors. For a modern, glass fronted space, neutral colours will be a more practical choice for your garden room door.
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Get artsy
Arts and craft station taking up the dining room table? Honey, move it all outside and make the garden room your dedicated art space. You deserve as much. Get containers for all the mosaic tiles you’ll still use, colour code the paint tins and don’t forget a radio to blast inspirational French music while you get to work on your next masterpiece.
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Dried flower magic
Dried flowers are all the rage (trends really do come full circle!) and I see no reason why you can’t add a touch of dried beauties to your garden room. Fill vases with bright yellow dried Craspedia or bunny tails in earthy tones.
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Be courteous with curtains
Soft and frilly or bold and stripy, curtains will add a dash of wholesomeness to your garden room and I’m totally here for it. Plus, you’ll need something to keep the sun out of your eyes when it’s time for a midday nap.
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Hang around on a hammock
Need I say more? Hammocks are the perfect way to add a sense of relaxation to any space, and you don’t even need to hang this one outdoors. An indoor hammock works just as well as an outdoor one and are the perfect garden room decorating ideas if you’re going for that rustic, relaxed vibe.
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Make way for tranquillity
My happy place? Anywhere near the ocean. Or my ocean playlist on Spotify when I’m not that lucky to be seaside all year long. Why not take the ocean to you in the form of an outdoor water feature near your garden room? These are easy to make and you’ll be wishing you had a pina colada to sip on when the water starts to trickle.
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Get rugged
We’ve covered flooring already, but have we done it with rugs? Big rugs, small rugs, lush rugs and quirky rugs – say hello to a homey garden room in a jiffy with a, you guessed it, rug! I repurposed an old (but stunning) Persian rug from the house, and you will not believe how it ties the entire space together!
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Why not wine and dine?
Garden rooms are for relaxation and being merry: we’ve got that covered. But why not take it a step further and make your garden room a haven of fine dining? Imagine this: your friends are over for dinner. After wine in the lounge, you lead them outdoors, on a path filled with fairy lights and framed by rose arches, where an inviting dining table and comfy chairs wait so that the feast can begin. French music, again, is a must.
Oh, dreamy garden rooms, where the lady of the house can break away for a little bit of me-time, and children can let their imaginations run wild. Use it as your reading nook or eating nook or working nook, as long as it’s as beautiful as your wildest Pinterest dreams. Here, I’ve given some of my favourite go-to tips when it comes to garden room decorating ideas. The bottom line? Bold is in, boring is out, and tranquillity will always be the order of the day. Have fun when it comes to decorating your garden room, but just be careful: you might never want to leave!
