Garden Room vs Home Extension: Which one is right for you?

30th April 2026

If you want more entertaining space or a larger kitchen, it makes sense to maximise the space that you have rather than face the upheaval and cost of moving house.

Until recently, traditional extensions have been the typical way to add more space, but many homeowners are now looking to create more living space by making better use of their gardens. Stylish garden rooms are becoming a familiar sight, with our stylish cedar-clad garden rooms a popular choice.

Of course, we are biased, but we think we can make a pretty strong case for you to choose a garden room to create that additional space your family needs.

Read on as we consider ‘Garden room vs Home extension’ to help you decide which is right for you.

The differences between a house extension and a garden room

A garden room and a traditional extension attached to an existing home can both offer extra space, but also have their own unique characteristics.

House extensions

Bricks and mortar
Attached to the main house and fully integrated into your busy home life
Suitable for many purposes
Builders may offer a structural guarantee for typically 5 to 20 years on their construction

Garden room

Timber structure with Western Red Cedar and thermowood cladding
Self-contained space separate from the main house
Suitable for many purposes
We offer a 10-year guarantee on every garden room

The cost of home extensions vs garden room extensions

According to the British Federation of Master Builders, the simplest single-storey extension costs between £1,800 and £3,000 per square metre, meaning that the construction cost of a small single-storey extension starts at around £40,000.

A Smartspaces luxurious two-room garden room costs from £20 500, meaning a garden room offers a cost-effective alternative to a traditional extension.

However, the cost of construction is just one aspect of a traditional home extension.

Additional costs of a home extension vs a garden room extension

It is certainly easier for homeowners to keep control of the overall cost of a garden room project due to the extra costs required by a traditional extension.

Technical drawings

Home extension: You may need an architect to draw up detailed plans for your building project

Garden room: You can choose from our range of stylish and contemporary designs

Unexpected issues requiring specialist advice

Home extension: It is not uncommon for unexpected issues to arise during brick-and-mortar building work that require the advice of other professionals, such as surveyors or structural engineers. These complications can add to the build duration and overall cost.

Garden room: The components of your garden room are constructed according to your required dimensions in our Yorkshire factory.

Party wall agreement

Home Extension: If your property is semi-detached and you plan an extension on your neighbour’s side, you may need to pay for a party wall survey and a party wall agreement with your neighbour.

Garden room: Not applicable

Planning permission

Home extension: Your permitted development rights allow you to build a single-story traditional extension at the rear of your existing property of up to three metres for a semi-detached house and up to four metres for a detached house without planning permission. Many homeowners choose to build larger extensions and need to obtain local planning approval. You can check if your project needs approval here.

Garden Room: Most garden rooms fall within permitted development rights and do not require planning permission.

If you are beginning to like the idea of a garden room more and more, you can book a site survey here.

When is a garden room the best choice?

If you are looking to extend a room, perhaps to create a kitchen and living space, then a traditional home extension may be right for you.

However, there are some purposes for which a garden room is the ideal solution.

Garden office

A garden office provides complete privacy from family life and creates an ideal environment for work, business calls, and video meetings.

Gym, yoga or exercise room

A garden room is ideal for working out, yoga, and other mat-based activities. It will provide a dedicated space that allows you to enter the exercise zone as soon as you close the door behind you.

Hobby room or art studio

Your garden room will provide a private retreat to enjoy your hobbies, but also give extra space for your train set, tabletop games or art supplies that would otherwise be creating clutter in your main house.

Extra living space

Garden buildings are ideal for full-time living accommodation for elderly relatives or young adults who want to be close but within a self-contained space.

Next Steps

If you would like to find out more about the advantages of a garden room for your home, contact us on 08081341345 or [email protected]

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