| Some of us would live in our gardens if we | | | | garden shed? In the house where I grew up, |
| could. To be surrounded by the lush beauty of | | | | the garden shed was a magical little haven |
| nature and growing things, the soothing | | | | that exactly matched our house in color and |
| sounds of the wind rustling leaves, the | | | | style - a tiny little room just the right |
| buzzing of bees and the sweet trill of the | | | | size to fit a desk and chair and a few office |
| birds is the ultimate in luxury - but it's | | | | cabinets. For someone like me, a professional |
| impractical for most of us. What's not | | | | writer working at home, converting the garden |
| impractical, though, is using a garden shed | | | | shed to a garden office would be a simple |
| as a garden office to leave at least some of | | | | matter of adding a few outlets - there's |
| the stresses of every day work behind.If you | | | | electricity there already - and insulating |
| work from home, you know how important having | | | | the walls for the winter.Consider your needs |
| your own space for an office is. It may mean | | | | before you start dreaming though. Will you |
| taking over a spare bedroom for your desk and | | | | need to run wiring from the house to the |
| computer, or refinishing a basement room to | | | | shed? Add in the cost of the electricians, |
| take you out of the hustle and bustle of the | | | | then. If you're in an area with cold winters |
| family. Even if you live alone, being 'in the | | | | or hot summers, will you need insulation, |
| office' adds a psychological nudge that makes | | | | heat and air conditioning? Remember, it's |
| you feel like you're at 'work' rather than | | | | more than just your comfort you need |
| lounging around the house and subject to | | | | consider. When you're using a shed as a |
| distraction. More and more, those who work at | | | | garden office, you also need to consider the |
| home are opting to outfit a garden shed and | | | | 'comfort' of your equipment. Most electrical |
| using it as a garden office.So popular an | | | | equipment - computers and the like - are |
| option is using a shed as a garden office, | | | | happiest if the temperature is kept at around |
| that the BBC has reported on it in their | | | | 68 F. What about phones? Will you need a land |
| online Magazine. According to correspondent | | | | line with multiple extensions - or will your |
| Giles Wilson, using a shed as a garden office | | | | cell phone do just fine? For that matter - |
| is a high-priced luxury conversion - but we | | | | with a good wireless connection, can you make |
| have our doubts. For the average work-at-home | | | | do with a laptop and docking station for your |
| business mom or pop, managing a web site, or | | | | computing needs?Using a shed as a garden |
| selling out of their homes, high end items | | | | office can be a wonderful option - and |
| like 36 power outlets and a full security | | | | depending on your needs, it can be extremely |
| system aren't necessary. Instead, one could | | | | affordable - or pure luxury. Think it |
| turn a shed into a garden office for far less | | | | through, make your plans, and then decide if |
| money - and still enjoy all the benefits of | | | | it's worth it to have a beautiful, |
| using a shed as a garden office.First, | | | | comfortable office that makes your workday a |
| consider your needs. Do you already have a | | | | pleasure. |