The garden offices we feature on this site are all very well specified as standard. With each one you can safely order a building with its standard specification, and be assured of a room that will be a comfortable place to work all year round.
However, most garden office suppliers do offer a number of upgrade options which you can mix and match to create your ideal new workspace.
Over the years we have designed many garden offices, we have worked from one for years and we examine the specifications of hundreds of offices a year. This puts us in a unique position to identify the top garden office upgrades to consider, here’s our list:
1. Data cabling
Garden offices are pre-wired with lighting and power sockets so you can just plug-in and start work. If you are wanting to connect to the internet from your garden office then it is worth considering a data cabling upgrade. Most garden office suppliers offer this package, how they actually tackle getting data to your office differs between suppliers.
Some suppliers run a communications channel from your house with wires for internet, telephone and TV. These are connected to the mains supply for each system in your house. They are then normally wired into the office like your power sockets, so its just a case of plugging in and getting connected.
Other suppliers use a home plug system where the wifi from your house is beamed to your garden office via the electrical supply. If you opt for this system check out the prices your supplier quotes with the cost of buying a similar system and fitting it yourself. Its simple to do, you plug one section in in the house and another in the office. We have used this system successfully here at Garden Office HQ.
2. Blinds
Garden offices have become popular because they are highly insulated meaning you can use them all year round. They also often have large expanses of glass which flood the room with natural light. Sometimes though you need to defuse the light entering the office. A good way of doing this is with a blind.
Most garden office suppliers offer a blind package for their buildings. These blinds have been chosen to work well with the doors and windows used. In most cases venetian blinds are used that hang on the inside of the door or window. You can then pull them up or tilt them depending on the shade you want to create.
Some of the bespoke garden office suppliers offer a clever system where the blind is fitted within the double glazing. You then open or close the blind using a magnet. This is a more expensive option but is very slick.
3. Extra power sockets
Garden offices normally come with a decent number of power sockets. The number will normally depend on the size of the building. It is however worth totting up the number of items you will be using in your office and making sure the standard number is sufficient. Most suppliers will offer the opportunity to order additional power sockets. They are normally priced per double socket. It is far easier to add in a couple of extra sockets at the design stage than at a later date, so give it some thought.
4. Outside seating area
Part of the charm of working in a garden office is the connection it gives you with the garden. Many buyers like the idea of creating a veranda area outside their office to give a sheltered place to sit between work sessions.
Most garden office suppliers offer the option of adding a deck area at the front of the building. These decks are normally priced by the square meter so you can decide how big you want to go. In most cases a roof canopy which is often combined with a deck area is priced separately.
5. External lighting
Its a good idea to add an external light to your garden office specification, it can not only look good be be very useful when you are leaving the office on a winters evening. Some suppliers include external lighting as standard, but many don’t.
You have all sorts of options when it comes to external lighting from downlights recessed into the eaves of the roof, to wall washers and PIR sensor lights. Some suppliers offer mood lighting packages where you can change the colours of light around your office depending on your mood!
6. Fitted furniture
One of the best ways to maximise space in a garden office is to choose fitted furniture i.e. desks & storage. A number of suppliers offer fitted furniture packages which have been designed to make the best use of the space available. Ask your garden office supplier about this.
7. Air conditioning
More and more garden office buyers are choosing to upgrade to an air conditioning system. Not only does this give them a way to keep their office cool in summer, but it can also warm the office in winter. Many suppliers offer this as an upgrade, with some of the larger suppliers they will have more than one air conditioning package for you to choose from.
Air conditioning is one of the more expensive garden office upgrade options, but it will give you year round temperature control.
8. Water butt
Most garden offices are fitted with a guttering system which is either directed to a soakaway or water butt. Some suppliers offer a water butt as part of their standard package, but if not we think its worth considering adding one.
You’ll be amazed at how much water runs off a garden office and its a good idea to collect it – your garden will love it!