Working from home isn’t just sticking a laptop on the kitchen table anymore. After a while that spot starts to feel cramped, noisy, and uncomfortable. If you want a space that makes long days and endless video calls manageable, it usually means carving out a proper room. That might be a garden office, a converted garage, or finally turning the attic into something useful.
Check the rules first
Before you think about building, check whether you need planning permission. Some garden rooms fit under permitted development if they meet size and height rules, but it depends where you live. Garage and attic conversions often fall under building regulations, especially if you’re altering floors or adding windows. A quick call or email to the local authority can save a lot of trouble later. Make sure you’re working with a good construction company from the start too so that everything is done to the highest standard,
Build basics
The foundations matter more than most people expect. A flimsy garden room floor can sag or get damp quickly, so it’s worth paying for a solid slab or screw pile base. With attic and garage conversions you’ll need to look carefully at floor strength and joists. Sometimes that means getting a structural engineer to sign it off. Insulation is non-negotiable. Walls, floors, and roofs should all be done properly. There’s nothing worse than trying to work in a freezing room in January or an attic that feels like a sauna in July. Ventilation is just as important. Air needs to move without turning the space drafty, otherwise it’s hard to stay comfortable.
Comfort and tech
Plan your electrics, heating, and internet before you finish the walls. Extending a heating circuit, fitting electric heaters, or adding underfloor heating (if the insulation is up to scratch) makes a huge difference. Think carefully about sockets too. You’ll need them for screens, lamps, chargers, and probably a desk fan in summer. Natural light helps, but roof windows or big panes of glass can make glare a problem. Blinds or shades are worth fitting from the start. A bit of soundproofing also pays off. It makes meetings calmer and helps you concentrate when the rest of the house or garden is busy.
Access and layout
If the office is at the end of the garden, muddy paths and wet shoes soon get old. Attic rooms need safe stairs, and garages often need a rethink on entrances. Storage makes or breaks a workspace. A room that’s constantly cluttered isn’t somewhere you’ll want to spend hours every day. Even planning how you’ll get large desks or chairs through the door during the build can save a lot of hassle later.
Live in it before you call it done
When the space is finished, use it for a week as if it’s just another working week. Notice how the heating, ventilation, light, and storage hold up. Make adjustments while it’s still easy. Spending a bit more on insulation, extra glazing, or extra sockets often pays back in comfort and productivity.