You will have heard of a garden room, or even a garden room office, they have become a very familiar sight in the gardens of the UK, particularly since the onset of the Covid pandemic when working from home became the rule, rather than the exception to the rule. The garden room gazebo, however, is not as well known, although it is still a very useful structure to have in a garden. Its versatility is what makes the garden room gazebo such an asset, this article will look into both the advantages and disadvantages of owning a garden room gazebo, we will cover a range of designs and styles, hopefully giving you a bit of an insight into what is available on the market right now.
What is a Garden Room Gazebo?
The Garden Room
As previously mentioned, garden rooms are now quite common in the UK, so most people will know what they are and what they look like. For those who have not come across one before, a garden room is a building, usually freestanding and self-contained, that is situated within the boundaries of a garden. Garden rooms are for use in all seasons and they are generally built to building regulation standards, usually with insulation, lighting, heating and plumbing installed, they are used for a wide range of purposes, such as offices, studios, family rooms, etc.
The Gazebo
A gazebo is a freestanding structure that is open sided, although sides can be added if desired. Most people would think as a gazebo as being of a tent like construction, assembled with poles that slot together to make a frame, with a canvas roof and open sides, canvas sides can also be purchased in order to keep out the wind and to gain privacy. This type of gazebo is a temporary structure and is generally only used during the warmer months of the year, perhaps to give shade to a paddling pool or as a fly-free area for serving finger food. Permanently sited gazebos are solidly built structures that are not designed to be moved around, sometimes called pavilions, this type of gazebo can be found in public parks and are often highly decorative, with a balustrade or railing around the perimeter.
The Garden Room Gazebo
A garden room gazebo is something of a cross between a garden room and a gazebo. The garden room gazebo is a structure that consists of both permanent and temporary sections, for instance, garden room gazebos can consist of wooden or metal supporting frames, a solid floor and a range of roofing materials, these are the parts of a garden room gazebo that would be the permanent part of the structure but their sides could be temporary and detachable, although they would also be available in a range of materials to suit the owner’s taste or purpose. As with both a garden room and a gazebo, a garden room gazebo is available in many different shapes and sizes, popular shapes include round, square, rectangular, hexagonal and octagonal.
The Garden Room Gazebo Structure
As we mentioned, the roof of a garden room gazebo can be made of many types of material, common roofing types are tiles, slate, wood, bitumen, thatch and so on. The supporting framework is generally made of wood or metal and it can be plain and utilitarian in appearance, or highly decorated and ornate with trellises, latticework and fretwork.
The floor of a garden room gazebo is generally solid and it can be constructed of different materials according to taste and purpose, materials often used are wooden boards, decking, concrete, flagstones or paving slabs. If the intention is to use a wooden or decked floor when building a garden room gazebo, it is recommended that a concrete base should be installed to support this type of flooring.
The sides of a garden room gazebo can be permanently fixed or removable, or some can be permanent whilst others are removable, part of the charm and versatility of a garden room gazebo is that the structure can be completely or partly open to the breeze during the warmer months of the year and closed off to prevent chilly winds during the chilly seasons. Options regarding the materials used for the sides of a garden room gazebo include canvas, which should be lightweight for warm weather and heavy duty for cooler seasons, wood and glass. Other types of fabric can also be used during the warmer months, such as voile, this gives a lovely soft and romantic look but does not keep out the wind and rain. Sides that are permanently fixed can be made more versatile by allowing them to be opened and closed using hinges, wooden shuttering looks wonderful when used on the sides of a garden room gazebo, whether it is fitted all round the structure or just on two or more sides, the whole shutter can then be opened or just the slats, depending upon the weather or the need for privacy. It should be noted that canvas will fade over time and will require re-colouring or replacing, wood will need regular maintenance too. Garden room gazebos with railings, balustrade or solid sections that are approximately a metre high are very popular in the UK; solid sides such as this are an effective way of keeping unseasonal wind and rain at bay.
Furniture for the Garden Room Gazebo
If the furniture is to remain inside your garden room gazebo all year round then it is recommended that you choose the type that has been designed for outdoor use only, particularly if your structure is open sided, this will help to prevent it deteriorating during the colder, wetter months of the year. If possible, it is still advisable to store all furniture away from the ravages of inclement weather, even outdoor furniture, in order to lengthen its lifespan. If storage is not an option, then heavy duty waterproof furniture covers should be used, always ensure this is securely fitted and properly tied down, consider using something heavy to weigh it down where necessary.
Lighting for the Garden Room Gazebo
You and your family will want to enjoy using your garden room gazebo during the long summer evenings, however, when the night begins to draw in, you will need some form of lighting in order to avoid trips and falls. If you are fortunate enough to have mains power fitted in your garden room gazebo then you will have no problems with illumination, you will also be able to use technology, such as computers and TV, which will be very useful for business meetings or family use, perfect for running a hot tub too! It is important to note that computers and televisions do not tolerate condensation at all well, for this reason we recommend that you do not leave these items in your garden room gazebo overnight or use this kind of technology during spells of damp weather. For those of you who do not have a mains electricity supply in their garden room gazebo, solar lighting has improved dramatically in recent years and has the advantage of not being limited where placement is concerned. Fairy lights strung around the roof or balustrade of your garden room gazebo will give it a festive air, making it a great area for parties, a curtain of lights is very effective, although care should be taken when children are present. Candles or other open flames should be avoided.
Uses for the Garden Room Gazebo
A garden room gazebo is a very versatile structure, it is particularly useful during the warmer months of the year, we are in the UK after all! Here are just a few of the ways that people use their garden room gazebos:
- Business meetings
- Yoga studio
- Art studio
- Play room
- Hot tub area
- Family room
- Bar
It has to be said that these are mostly going to be summer pursuits as the main disadvantages of a garden room gazebo are exposure to the weather (always check your structure is secure when storms are forecast) and privacy, which could also be an issue if you are overlooked or have close neighbours.
A garden room gazebo can be enjoyed by your family and friends for many years, don’t be surprised when you find yourself suddenly very popular once you have built yours.