Join the Revolution!

And we are not talking the Grow Your Own revolution this time! According to Smarta – ‘the ultimate advice and networking resource for anyone starting and running a small business’ – ‘the chicest, most bang-on trend for office space this season is …the humble garden shed”.

Shedworking is fast becoming a national phenomenon with many home workers choosing to locate their business premises in the garden. So if one of your new year resolutions is to start your own business, or even to try and maintain your current role but working from home, consider the following benefits of a garden office:

• free from the disruption and distraction of the traditional office, working from a dedicated garden office you are likely to be more productive and focussed
• cutting out the daily commute means that you get to spend more time actually working and less time wasting precious hours sitting in traffic or on a crowded train
• no more costly train fares or petrol expenses – AND a reduced food bill as eating from home is far cheaper than buying lunch from your local sandwich bar
• opportunity for parents to embrace flexible working patterns – the time you save on travelling to and from work can be put to better use doing the school run / attending children’s school events
• psychologically you are likely to perform better without the stress associated with travelling to and from work, and the natural garden landscape provides a comforting environment and an enhanced sense of work / life balance
• a good garden studio can add up to 5% to the value of your property, and works well as a selling point in competitive markets

Why not contact Lime Orchard to discuss how a home office can be blended into our garden landscape? .

Ditch the Daily Commute

Whereas working from home used to be reserved for ‘mumpreneurs’ or retirees looking to make some extra money, this trend has been sharply reversed as more and more employers recognise the benefits of flexible working arrangements.  If you are looking to reduce the commute to your office and have the opportunity to work full or part-time from home, or, if you are looking to launch your own business and don’t want to incur pricey office rental costs - or maybe you simply want to create  a dedicated home office / craft project area distinct from your day to day living accommodation, then your outdoor space could provide the perfect solution. 

With websites such as www.shedworking.co.uk delivering ‘a lifestyle guide for shed workers’ it is clear that the home working revolution has gathered momentum but today’s home offices are a million miles away from the poorly converted garden sheds of yesteryear. Although the garden office has been around for quite some time now, its basic designs have evolved considerably over recent years. Indeed, modern garden offices, offer attractive, fully functional and potentially lucrative additions to the home,  equipped with solid walls, floors, cladding, electrics and even plumbing to provide a peaceful and pleasant environment for home workers.  And don’t forget, it’s not just money that is saved by avoiding rising petrol / travel costs -  you’ll also be doing your bit to save the planet by reducing your carbon footprint … 
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Shed Life!

According to an article in the Guardian earlier this year, garden offices are cheap, chic, eco-friendly and above all, do away with the dreaded daily commute – so the trend for ‘shedworking’ is becoming increasingly commonplace. With more than 2.5 million businesses being run from home, the creation of a garden building represents the second most popular siting for a home office, although the spare room retain the no1 slot.  Aside from the practical advantages of a garden based home office, the decision to invest in an alfresco work space can also add value to your property – up to 5% according to some experts - and installing an office in the garden is certainly far cheaper than buying a house with an extra room!

Garden offices can be home built, designed by an architect or purchased from the myriad of suppliers competing in this growing market.  Latest models sport not only ultra chic and stylish designs, but also boast added green credentials such as power generation through solar panels in the roof and solar light generation.