beauty brawl

 

If you happen to work from home, you’ve likely found yourself wanting a designated office space at one point or another. Being able to work from home is a comfortable option, but many ultimately find that they’re more dedicated and productive if they have a particular space set aside for work-related activity. At the same time, setting aside a room in the house for this kind of purpose can be easier said than done. So why not build an office in the garden?

 

On a very simple level, this might just mean creating a work space you can use on occasion. It can consist of a single table with a few paperweights and odds and ends you need to be productive. But if you’re really seeking to create a reliable home office space in your yard or garden, you’ll want to build a full room to suit your needs.

 

garden office

 

Choosing A Shed

 

We tend to think of garden sheds primarily as small spaces designated for garden equipment storage and the like. Many of the options you’ll find amount to just that, but there are plenty of other types of sheds. If you want to get particularly industrious about this project, you can always build your own shed, but you may be surprised how many you’ll find that effectively amount to being outdoor sunrooms. The Balance captured the variety of options available in a list of shed plans that can serve as helpful inspiration, either to build your own or to have something in mind as you shop around.

 

Preparing For Customisation

 

Ultimately, the shed is just the beginning. It may be the most important part of the process, but even if you secure a shed you’re crazy about, you’ll need to make a few renovations and customisations of your own to have a suitable work space. For this, you simply need to have a vision in mind and a stash of tools and equipment for basic woodworking and remodelling. Screwfix’s online inventory can serve as a handy guide in this regard, with a full array of household tools that can help you to recognise what you may already have—whether it be a power drill, a kit of hand tools, etc.—and what might be helpful for some of the tasks we’ll discuss below.

 

Adding Windows

 

Building in windows is a key component to setting up a garden office, even if the shed you settle on already has a few in place. After all, the point of getting out in the garden with your home office is enjoying the pleasure of nature while you get your work done. Thus, you’ll want as much window space as possible. Some might take this concept so far as to look for more of a greenhouse than a shed during the original shopping process, but if you have a more ordinary shed you can fairly easily find a window-making guide online and put your carpentry skills to the test. Fitting in a glass pane can be a job for a professional, but you can carve out the space and build a frame all on your own.

 

garden office 2

 

Adding Storage

 

Another carpentry project you may want to undertake once you have a garden shed picked out is to build in storage and space for your work. You may simply be able to find an unused desk, set of drawers, shelving unit, etc. to bring outside from the house. However, if the goal is to create a unique and pleasant place for work, you may want to start from scratch, crafting yourself a desk that fits the space and building in some storage for anything you’ll need. That may sound like a lot of work, but again, it can boil down to a fairly straightforward project with the right tools and supplies.

 

The Finishing Touches

 

Finally, you’ll want to put the finishing touches on your garden office, whatever that may mean for your line of work. For most people these days, one important final step will probably be purchasing a wireless internet extension router, which can (in most circumstances) link up to your home modem to extend your WiFi network outside. Fixing up an electrical outlet for power and lighting is a little bit more involved, but it can be managed.

 

All told, creating a beautiful and constructive workspace in the garden is actually easier than it sounds. There are a number of costs involved that can’t easily be avoided, but many will find that the resulting productivity easily offsets these expenses.