| ||||||||||
Using a Shed as a Garden OfficeThe frugal way to have an Office and escape!First we have to ask ourselves 'What do we use an Office for?'. Most of the time it's just for doing Internet work and filing and with a bit of prowess in spacing everything out, it doesn't actually take up too much space. Some may convert a disused bedroom into an Office and others may find they can afford building an extension to their house or convert a Garage. I have a pretty small house, it's rented and I can't afford an Extension, especially when I leave, someone else will get the benefits and I don't get anything! I decided on an Economy Shed in the Garden. This would give me a nice spot and view from a window and most of all, feel I was going to an Office and not simply to a bedroom upstairs. Looking at exactly what I needed; a Desk, a Seat and space enough to put some shelves up for files, all be it, files almost being a thing of the past now, I went for the smallest possible within a comfort zone - for me this was 8 feet x 6 feet. I brought the Shed brand new for £190 and lined the inside with Plasterboard. The most expensive item of furniture and fittings is the Chair for which I paid £29. Being the size it is, the cost of heating in Winter is minimal, I use an 800W Radiator with a thermostat. In fact the heat from the light bulb in there does pretty well on it's own! With security in mind, I purchased a Shed without a Window and made a small window, large enough to have a nice view of the garden and also small enough not to get a human body through! The electricity for the PC, Heater and other bits is simply an extension from the main shed of mine and I've run a 25 meter Broadband cable direct from the Router inside the house. All this is safely buried under the ground. Security of a Shed / OfficeYou may think security is a problem, but with a suitable Door Alarm, it is really just as 'safe' as the House itself. I've found so many benefits doing it this way, not only are you 'escaping' your living environment, but being the size it is, the overheads, fuel and efficiency wise are very good. All told, my converted Garden Shed to Garden Office cost me, exc. PC etc., no more than £230 - slightly less than a home extension! To others you may appear to be a cheapskate, but you're an artist of your craft; you move as the moment takes you and by doing this, you'll achieve more satisfaction and basically run a better home. |
A more recent shot than the one below, now with foam backed aluminium insulation covered with white hardboard on ceiling. Also somewhere where you can't be heard! A good security tip for Garden Sheds is to make the pathway shingle (noisy) and grow unfriendly bushes beside them such as stinging nettles or of a thorny nature. An Alarm is a must of course! Anything to slow things up is beneficial! ____________________ |
|||||||||
Frugal Living
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
The Down the Lane Web Site contains Cookies Read our Privacy & Cookie Policy here About this Site | Leave Feedback |
Newsletter | Facebook Group | Twitter | Site Map Copyright © Richard Cannon 2001 - 2024             Down the Lane is now based in Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, UK
|