Photo Credit: ergonofis via Unsplash

Enjoying more and more popularity worldwide and yielding impressive results, homeworking is surely here to stay. In some industries, employees might never return to the office, so millions of people are currently searching for ways to get more workspace at home. Finding the perfect spot to set up your desk can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have an empty room that you can simply transform into a satisfactory home office. Working from the kitchen counter is not a long-term option, but we have good news – a garden office pod is a perfect solution.

Setting up a garden in your office has never been easier, and here’s what you need to do.

Step 1 – Choose a garden office pod

With so many garden office pods available on the market, all it takes is finding the perfect one for you. A garden pod is a versatile outbuilding that you can use for many different purposes, including as a garden office. Most garden pods don’t require planning permission, so all you need to do is to assess your available space, your budget, and your preferences in terms of design. Once you have these things figured out, you can start looking at garden offices.

An important aspect that you need to remember is the fact that if you plan on using your garden office year-round, you’re going to need a floor, roof, and wall insulation, so make sure you add those to your shopping cart. An insulated garden office is comfortable in all seasons, and it will reduce the costs of heating and cooling the space.

Small and medium-sized pods can be easily installed by someone who has some DIY experience, or you can opt to have them installed by a team of specialists. Either way, you will be able to enjoy your new garden office pod in a matter of days.

Step 2 –Electricity and Wi-Fi

Once you chose the perfect office pod and you had it installed, the next step should be equipping it with electricity and Wi-Fi. These two additions are vital for a garden office and, if you chose a garden office that has a toilet, you’ll also need plumbing. Most garden offices are equipped with plug sockets and electric wiring, and that makes things very easy. The only thing that you’ll need to do is to hire a specialist to connect your garden pod to the mains electricity.

When it comes to bringing Wi-Fi to your garden pod, you have several options. If your garden pod is close to your main house, you can use a Wi-Fi extender that connects to the existing network and acts as a Wi-Fi booster. A Wi-Fi extender has a relatively short range of max 30 meters. If your garden pod is not close enough to use a Wi-Fi extender, you can try a Wi-Fi point to point unit or you canlay an Ethernet cable.

Adding a toilet to your garden office will prove to be a great idea in the long run as you won’t have to go to the main house several times a day. It’ll help you maintain your focus and, it will also be very useful if you plan on meeting potential clients in your garden office. However, planning permission regulations might differ for a garden pod with a toilet, so make sure you do some research and check the rules of your local council.The easiest way to incorporate a toilet is by connecting it to the main sewerage system and water supply. You will require two different sets of piping, one for freshwater and one for waste removal. If this sounds complicated, a dry or an eco-toilet might be a good alternative.

Step 3 –Furnish and decorate your garden office

This is the best part of setting up a garden office as you get to use your skills and your creativity to create a space that will boost your productivity and that will help you focus on your tasks. A very essential part of a home office is the office furniture. It’s highly recommended to invest in a comfortable desk chair that will offer lumbar support and keep you comfortable for many hours. The desk is important as well, as an ergonomic desk is adjustable, so you can use it to sit down and to work at standing height. Sitting down all day is bad for your health, so a “sit-stand” desk is a great option.

If your office pod is small, opt for light-coloured items that are sleek and elegant to make the space seem bigger. Bulky furniture is not great for small spaces, so it’s best to avoid it. If you plan to meet with clients or work colleagues in your garden pod, set up a cosy area with a couch, armchairs, and a coffee table. And last but not least, decorate your office with wall art and plants as both of these elements will boost creativity and improve your mood.

You’re all set! Once you start working from your garden office you’ll realise that it truly was a great investment. You’ll finally be able to work without distractions while also being there for your loved ones. Having a garden office comes with many benefits as you will soon discover. And, if you ever decide that you don’t need a garden office, you can transform your garden pod into a man cave, a garden gym, a hobby room, etc.