Although the terms “garden annexe” and “garden room” are often used interchangeably, they are in fact different kinds of structures and it is worth bearing this in mind when you are deciding what kind of outbuilding to add to your home. 

Let’s look at what defines a garden annexe versus a garden room, as well as the main use cases for each to help you work out which is most suitable for your property. 

What is a garden annexe?

Garden annexes can also be called granny annexes because one of their most popular uses is as a way of providing a separate living space for a relative.

A garden annexe is therefore a self-contained living space, which means it features a private bedroom, bathroom, living area and a kitchen. Some garden annexes can be a little larger and have two bedrooms. 

However, the main point is that these kinds of spaces can be a residence in their own right, allowing another member of your family to live independently while still being part of your household.

We have various garden annexe designs, which means you can choose one that works for both the space available in your garden and for the person who will be living in the annexe. 

Of course, you could use the annexe as guest accommodation, rather than for a relative to live in, which may mean you choose one of the smaller options as it won’t be a permanent living space. 

What is a garden room?

As their name suggests, garden rooms are just that – a separate self-contained room in your garden. Unlike a garden annexe, these kinds of additions won’t necessarily have their own bathroom or kitchen area.

While we offer garden rooms that are split into two separate spaces, these are not designed as a house-style layout. 

Garden rooms also tend to have a much smaller footprint than garden annexes, which means they are a good option if space is limited in your garden.

They are also a good choice if you want to have a separate office or home gym, for instance, rather than extra accommodation at your property. 

Given that 27 per cent of employees in Great Britain now work from home at least part of the week, it’s easy to see why garden rooms that can be used as offices have risen in popularity. 

That also doesn’t account for the number of self-employed people who may run their business at least partially from their homes. 

How do garden annexes and garden rooms vary in size?

To give you an idea of how different garden annexes and garden rooms can be, it can be helpful to compare them purely by their floorspace as a starting point.

For instance, our smallest garden annexe is 8.8m x 3.8m, which provides 33m2 of floorspace. Our largest garden annexe, which has two bedrooms, is 10.6m x 6.5m in size, delivering 64m2  of floorspace.

By contrast, our smallest garden room is less than half the size of our smallest annexe, coming in at 4.8m x 2.5m and providing a floorspace of 12m2. 

Even our largest garden room is only a little bigger than the smallest garden annexe we offer – with measurements of 8m x 4.5m and floorspace of 36m2.

This makes sense when you consider that a garden annexe will feature a bathroom, kitchen facilities and a separate bedroom in addition to a living area. 

Should I get a garden annexe or a garden room?

Only you can really know whether you should invest in a garden annexe or a garden room, but answering the following questions could help you narrow it down to one or the other. Then your only job will be to choose which garden annexe or room you want!

  • Will you be using your new space to provide living space for a member of your family?
  • Are you looking to add a spare bedroom to your property? 
  • Do you need separate rooms within your space – for instance to act as a waiting room and consulting room if you run a business from home?
  • Do you want a home office?
  • Are you seeking a space for a home gym or an art studio?
  • How much space do you have in your garden?
  • How much space are you prepared to take out of your garden for your new room or annexe?

By answering these questions honestly, you can work out whether a garden annexe or a garden room is most appropriate for your needs. 

Of course, your budget will also be a factor, but there is no point investing in a garden room to save money, if what you really need is a garden annexe. So, before you think about cost, it is better to work out which type of addition you need and then budget from there.