How to use your winter garden room

Garden rooms aren’t just for use during the spring and summer. With the right insulation, you can enjoy your garden room in any season. Here are some of our favourite ways to utilise a winter garden room – even during harsh weather.

Are garden rooms warm in winter?

With the right insulation and double glazing, garden rooms function largely the same as the inside of your home. While you might need heating in the depths of winter, you likely only need one electric heater or radiator to help you feel warm and cosy.

Because a winter garden room is compact and well-insulated, it retains heat incredibly well. Sometimes, just the warmth from your lighting and computer equipment is enough to take the chill off.

This makes them surprisingly efficient to run. Heating a small, sealed garden room is far cheaper than cranking up the central heating for your entire main house just to warm one person. For extra warmth, consider swapping laminate for carpet, which helps hold the ambient temperature better during those colder months.

Winter garden room ideas to make the most of limited sunlight

We all feel a bit glum during the dark winter days, but some people suffer more than others. It’s not uncommon to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD – a depression that comes and goes with a seasonal pattern. 

Also known as ‘winter depression’, it’s often advised to get as much sunlight as possible to combat the symptoms, which include low mood, feelings of despair and sadness, and irritability. Spending time in a garden room is a great way to maximise your sunlight exposure even in the darkest depths of winter. To reap the benefits of sunlight exposure, you don’t need to be sitting in full, direct sunlight. Often, just getting out into the light of day can make a big difference to your mood.

Build a home gym

It’s harder to find the discipline to go to the gym when it’s dark and cold, but you can make it easier by bringing the gym to you! A garden room is the perfect space to create your own home gym, kitted out with all your favourite gym equipment.

Exercising is also a great way to beat those winter blues, especially when all you need to do is step out into the garden for a great mood-boosting workout.

Create a space to unwind

Home life can be hectic, particularly if you are juggling work and taking care of the kids, too. When it all gets a bit much, you can retreat to your garden room sanctuary for a bit of rest and relaxation. Choose plush seats, soft fabrics and your favourite entertainment for an afternoon of cosy comfort. 

You could turn your garden room into a reading nook, a craft room, or an entertainment room, too. Don’t forget, your garden room is designed to be enjoyed all year round! Follow our blog posts for more inspiration on the best ways to use and decorate your outdoor room. 

Use smart lighting for short days

When the sun sets at 4 pm, your lighting scheme becomes all-important. You don’t want to work under harsh, clinical strip lights when it is pitch black outside. We recommend a layered approach to keep the space inviting on long winter evenings.

Dimmable LED spotlights are excellent for brightening up the space, but adding smart bulbs (compatible with Alexa or Google Home) allows you to change the lights without leaving your chair. For a softer vibe, try floor lamps or warm LED strips to create a cosy feel that counteracts the cold outdoors.

Winter hobbies

Winter is a great time to enjoy your hobbies. But painting or crafting can quickly clutter up your dining table. A dedicated garden room gives you a permanent messy zone where you can leave your easel out or your clutter piled up without needing to pack it away for dinner.

We have seen clients transform their spaces into everything from art studios to model workshops. By moving these activities out of the main house, you create a place to escape the noise of the family home and focus entirely on your passion, no matter the weather outside.