One of the wonderful elements of having a garden annexe in Ascot, or wherever you live, is that you can use it for far more than just as a spare room or separate living space for a loved one to move into.
In fact, garden annexes are the ideal solution for many people running small businesses that require their own consulting or creative space. This makes sense when you think about it.
It’s particularly true if you have clients coming to see you in-person, you need a dedicated space where you can not only carry out your consultation, but also for them to wait comfortably.
It often isn’t appropriate to have clients coming to your home if you don’t have a separate, self-contained area to work from.
This is precisely where a garden annexe comes into its own.
Give yourself separation from work and home
Regardless of what kind of business you run, having a dedicated space to work from rather than simply sitting at your kitchen table or a desk tucked away in a spare room gives you better separation between your work and home lives.
Research has found that one of the main challenges those working from home face is the blurring of the boundary between their personal and professional lives. When you have a garden annexe to work from, you create a natural separation.
It might sound simple, but even the act of walking from your house to the annexe in your garden can be considered a commute in your mind. The physical act of moving from one location to another, even if they are in close proximity, can help you maintain that boundary.
When you have a completely self-contained workspace, it also allows you to properly switch off from your working day in the evenings and at weekends, as you can close up your annexe and not be confronted by your work paraphernalia when you’re spending time with family and friends.
Provide a secure space for clients to visit
Many professions require face-to-face interactions with clients and when you run your own business or operate as a sole trader, it’s important that you have a welcoming and professional space in which to meet clients.
In fact, government research has revealed that 32 per cent of self-employed people always work from home, which is double the average for those in employment.
For those who work as counsellors, as physical therapists (like physiotherapist, osteopaths or massage therapists, for example), or in other healthcare professions such as podiatry or chiropody, having a separate workplace is particularly important.
A garden annexe can tick all the boxes, because they are typically designed to have a minimum of two rooms. This means you can use one space as a waiting room and have the other room set aside as your consulting space.
What’s more, garden annexes will have their own power and water supply, ensuring you can carry out every aspect of your business without needing to leave your annexe.
Set up your own creative space
An alternative way to use an annexe to build your business is if you have a creative practice that requires its own studio space. For example, as a painter, ceramicist or sculptor.
If you install an annexe, you will have a dedicated studio space from which you can work and where you can leave your materials out as needed.
Many art forms require you to leave work to dry or set, depending on the materials you’re using, and a separate annexe gives you the room you need to do so without disrupting others in your household.
What’s more, when you use your garden annexe as an art studio, you can fill it with items that spark your creativity. You have the power to turn it into your own creative sanctuary to suit the way in which you best work.
And, as we’ve already mentioned, you’ll have access to running water and electricity, which makes cleaning up a breeze when you’ve finished work for the day.
Don’t forget the convenience factor!
These are just a few suggestions of how you can use a garden annexe to help you develop your business and to ensure that, if you are self-employed, you are able to have the important separation between your home and professional lives.
In many professions, having a separate workspace is necessary and with a garden annexe you can have that luxury within the confines of your property.
This makes getting to and from work convenient while giving you complete control of your working environment and keeping you and your workspace safe.