How to kit out your perfect garden office room

Unless you’re a Trust Fund baby or the lucky recipient of the latest Euro millions win then you probably have to work in order to keep a roof over your head. And when that roof is attached to a beautiful garden office room, it’s worth investing in the very best office equipment to live your dream garden office life.

From tech to furniture, here are some of the items you’ll want to include when kitting out your garden office pod.

The most supportive office chair

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin. As glorious as it is to spend your working day secluded in a purpose-built garden office, after your seventeenth zoom call your gluteus maximus will be crying out for a comfortable chair. That rigid wooden dining room chair you carried out from the main house just isn’t going to cut it. Consider gifting your bum and back one of these alternatives:

Herman Miller Aeron Chair

If you’re going all out, then you’d be hard-pressed to do better than the iconic Herman Miller Aeron Chair. A Design classic that is not only on permanent exhibit at the New York Museum of Modern Art, but has made numerous pop culture appearances on everything from The Office (makes sense) to The Simpsons.

Thankfully, the HMA Chair isn’t all mouth and no trousers and is one of the most comfortable and supportive chairs on the market today. You can have your own slice of history for £1100.

IKEA MILLBERGET

At the other end of the spectrum is the MILLBERGET. One of IKEA’s interestingly named range of office desk chairs. Unobtrusive, the Millberget offers all the fun of spinning, whirling and zooming in between responding to your accountant. Pick one up for less than £100.

A flexible desk

With the IKEA Lagkapten/Mittback combination, you can mix and match your choice of table top and legs. Strong and light-weight, made with a technique that uses less raw materials, this desk reduces the impact on the environment and is perfect for a garden room setting. The trestle has a tilt function that helps you get the comfort you need to unleash your creativity when you work from home or enjoy a hobby.

Stay Healthy While You Work

We all know that sitting for prolonged periods is bad for our health, but if your job keeps you tied to a desk all day, it can be hard to squeeze in those recommended 10,000 steps.

In fact, being sedentary for large parts of the day can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer – and costs NHS £700m. But what if there was a solution? What if your garden office was also a gym? Thankfully, clever boffins have managed to combine the humble office desk with a treadmill, meaning you can exercise all day in your garden pod while still keeping on top of your work. Pop on your trainers and headband and have a read of these dual-task desk ideas.

Lifespan TR1200-DT7 Treadmill Desk

Beloved by celebrities and influences alike, the Lifespan TR1200 has space for a full desk setup including a laptop, cup of coffee and phone that you certainly won’t check twice a minute every minute. This desk treadmill features customisable speeds from a leisurely 0.4mph to a comfortable 4mph and has an extra quiet motor that won’t distract during your Zoom calls, although your wheezing might. Smash your daily steps from your garden office/Gym for around £1200.

Bluefin Fitness TASK

For those who don’t need the desk space, the Blufin offers all the health benefits of a treadmill with an integrated tablet holder. Video call after video call is no hindrance to reaching your PB all without leaving your beautiful garden room. Available for £400.

To Pod or Not to Pod

Although we all love a good cup of builders’ tea, the fuel that keeps us going through a grueling day of responding to clients and looking up ‘how-to videos on YouTube”, is coffee. Of course, you could just wander back inside the house every time you want one, avoiding eye contact with your partner who’s relegated to working at the kitchen table, but you don’t want to do that.

You’ve got a few options available to get your hourly dose safe in your insulated and isolated garden room, so let’s take a look. 

Sage Oracle Touch Fully Automatic Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine

Indulge your inner barista dreams with this frankly wonderful coffee machine. Bean-to-cup ensures a strong fresh beverage every time. Simply swipe through the interactive touchscreen menu, select your drink of choice from classics like Latte, Espresso, Americano, Flat White and Cappuccino then gaze out the windows of your garden office and enjoy while you sip. Bring enchanting aromas to your garden room for £2000.

Tassimo by Bosch TAS1402GB VIVY 2 Pod Coffee Machine

If you’re pressed for space or simply want coffee RIGHT NOW and don’t have time for a complicated bean-crushing process to run its course then you might like the Tassimo 2 Pod Coffee Machine. The small footprint means it can sit right next to your laptop or monitor. Pop a pod in the top, press a single button and hey presto you’ve got hot coffee. You didn’t even need to take your eyes off the spreadsheet. Pick this little miracle up for just £29!

The Garden is Alive with the Sound of Music

Some people like sweet silence while they work or just the gentle sounds of insects busily buzzing around the garden and occasionally flying in through bifold doors. Others like to listen to music or podcasts and while your laptop’s built-in speakers might be good enough to listen to Rachel’s monthly financial forecast, they don’t do the lyrical talents of South Korean pop sensation BTS any justice. 

Bose Smart Speaker 500

One of the leading names in the audiophile industry, Bose has created a single speaker that can fill your garden room from wall to wall with a rich, crisp sound. Ditch the tinny laptop speakers and experience true fidelity turning your garden room into a personal theatre. Team the smart speaker with a 4k projector and you have everything you need to turn your office space into a garden cinema room. Your ears will thank you for forking out £350.

Anker Soundcore 2 Bluetooth Speaker

If you’re not planning on hosting a festival in your garden room, then you can make do with a simple bluetooth speaker. A fraction of the cost and size of the Bose, this great little speaker lasts for 24 hours on a single charge and is waterproof so once you’ve finished with your day’s work you can take it over to the hot tub without fear of it falling in. Grab one for £40.

Speak to Outside In Garden Rooms today to realise your garden office dream. We build stunning pods across Glasgow, Edinburgh and central Scotland.