The garden office has transformed the way we work, offering a dedicated workspace that combines professional productivity with the wellbeing benefits of nature. Whether you’re a seasoned remote worker or new to working from home, a garden office provides the perfect solution for separating work from domestic life while staying just steps from your back door.
More than just a trend, garden offices have become essential spaces for professionals seeking a better work-life balance. From freelancers and entrepreneurs to employees with flexible working arrangements, thousands of people now enjoy the unique advantages of a garden workspace: natural light, peaceful surroundings, and a proper boundary between professional and personal time.
But having a beautiful garden office is just the first step. Making it work effectively requires intention, routine, and a few practical strategies. We’ve gathered insights from experienced garden office owners who’ve mastered the art of remote working. Their tips cover everything from establishing daily routines and maintaining productivity to staying connected with colleagues and managing the inevitable distractions of working near home.
Whether you’re considering investing in a garden office or looking to optimise your existing workspace, these real-world experiences offer valuable guidance for creating a productive, enjoyable working environment in your garden.
Owen’s Work-From-Garden-Office Tips
Owen is a mapmaker and runner. He owns a Studio Apex which he bought to scale up his small business.
Studio Apex
Try Some Ambient Music
A bit of background music really helps keep my mood positive during the day. BBC 6 Music is my preferred choice, lots of cracking tunes to keep the spirits up in these challenging times.
In This Together
I’m now sharing the studio with the kids since the schools closed. They’ve had a fair bit of work set by their teachers, which has been great to help us build a routine for them. (We’ll be sharing the Delaney family’s #gardencommute on social media tomorrow, so keep an eye out!)
Take Breaks in the Sunshine
The studio isn’t huge at 12’x8′ but we originally planned for it to have some space for the kids to do their homework, so it’s been a godsend these past couple of weeks – enough room for the three of us (and cats) to work comfortably. And there’s plenty of sunshine to keep our vitamin D levels up!
Don’t Forget to Exercise
Getting out for some fresh air and exercise is really helpful to break up the day. However, with everything else going on right now, I’m avoiding putting too much pressure on myself on this front, so just enough to keep the fitness ticking over – a walk, short run or quick session on the static bike trainer. Goals and races can wait until we get back to normal, whatever that’s going to look like…
Lisa’s Work-From-Garden-Office Tips
Lisa is a Social Media Consultant and Coach who is busily maintaining her clients’ online presence and helping them to build relationships with their customers for when normality resumes. She owns an Studio Pent with shed extension which she has elegantly transformed with monochrome styling.
Studio Pent
Create a Schedule
My first tip would be to put a routine in place as quickly as possible and stick to it. My 15-year-old daughter is currently following her usual school timetable, with lessons taking place online. We therefore all start work at the same time and aim to take breaks and lunch hours together – which really helps us to focus during ‘lesson time’.  We also make sure we put work aside to eat dinner together as a family each evening, which is a great opportunity for us to talk about any concerns or worries and to support our daughter. It’s an extremely difficult time for us all, but our children will struggle to come to terms with missing school, their friends and social life.
Find Your Own Space
We each have a separate space to work. I am incredibly fortunate to have my garden office (fondly known as ’The Shed’), my husband works in the dining room and we’ve created a space for my daughter in the spare room so her bedroom can become a sanctuary for her to escape and relax at the end of her school day.
I might have to share ‘The Shed’ with my husband so he also has an opportunity to get out of the house and ‘go to work’. Not at the same time though…
Up Your Online Game
Get to grips with video conferencing! Google Hangouts, Zoom, Skype are all great ways to stay connected with work colleagues and clients. Houseparty, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Messenger etc are perfect for checking in with friends and family. You can even watch Netflix with your friends now with Netflix Party.
Use the Time You Have
Due to the nature of our work, we are still busy at the moment. However, I’ve found that I have spare time when I would usually be out and about doing things. So, I’ve signed up to online learning. Use this time you have to do something really positive such as up skill or learn something completely new.
Oliver & Charlotte’s Work-From-Home Tips
Oliver and Charlotte own a Studio Apex turned music room, where Oliver rehearses and manages his musical appearances. Charlotte also works from home writing novels. Both are juggling looking after and schooling their young daughter.
Get Ready for Work
Make sure you get dressed properly! I think it’s weirdly important. Although working in your pyjamas sounds fun, I think getting dressed sets you up for the day and can lift your mood – it switches you into ‘work mode’.
Don’t Work in Bed & Think about Your Posture
I (Charlotte) did this for a long time when writing my first novel (it was the middle of winter!) and although it was nice to begin with – to feel cosy and cocooned – it was actually terrible for my back and after a while I started to feel quite depressed and sloth like. I think it’s important to get up and about!
Mix it Up Sometimes
Vary the place you work from time to time. A change of scenery can really help so having a garden room or being in the garden when it’s warm makes you feel less trapped, particularly when you can’t just go to a coffee shop like we did before lockdown.
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