Biggest Trends for Garden Rooms in 2026

Got plans to invest in a garden room in 2026? If you’ve got your heart set on a particular building style but haven’t thought of a purpose for the space, these 2026 garden room trends will give you plenty of much-needed inspiration. From cosy crafting rooms to stylish workout spaces, here are 7 practical garden room trends to consider.

Trend 1: The Cosy Reading Hideaway 

Reading nooks are everywhere at the moment, but why stick to a small corner when you can go for a whole room? Peaceful and undisturbed, bespoke log cabins and garden rooms are the ideal spaces for quiet moments with a good book. Imagine nipping out to the garden with a mug of cocoa and a classic novel in hand. You simply slide open the door, sink into a comfy chair, and get lost in the adventures of all your favourite characters. Sounds like heaven, doesn’t it?

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Make your reading hideaway extra magical by lining the walls with LED-lit rows of books, adding a sliding library ladder, and bringing in a cosy rug. Want to be extra snug? Go for a plush armchair with a matching footrest. That way, you can put your feet up and truly relax.

Trend 2: The Elegant Garden Lounge

Partner sprawled out on the sofa watching the football? Need a space to entertain friends while the living room is occupied? An elegant garden lounge room is the perfect solution. Add in a big, squishy corner sofa, a wall-mounted LED TV, and plenty of ambient lighting, and you’ve got yourself the perfect second lounge. Flood the room with light by adding large bifold doors, and bring in natural elements like flowers or potted plants to mirror greenery from outside. It’ll be a comfortable space to escape to all year round.

Trend 3: The Calming Wellness Cabin

Wellness is so much more than a trend. With many of us craving time and space to switch off from busy work schedules, seemingly endless parenting responsibilities, and life admin that never stops, having a designated wellness retreat at home is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give yourself: an intentional investment in your mental wellbeing. Nip out and do some yoga, spend 30 minutes meditating, or simply sit in a comfy spot and enjoy a podcast you’ve been meaning to catch up on. Go for calming, muted tones, subtle lighting, and plenty of soft furnishings to give the space a true zen feel. With greenery all around you and plenty of peace and quiet, you’ll never want to leave!

Trend 4: The Tranquil Crafting Space

If you love crafts but always have a busy home, it can be incredibly frustrating never having a practical space to get creative. When the dining table doubles up as a jewellery station, and your kitchen drawers end up filled with craft materials, things can quickly become chaotic. Thanks to shows like ‘Sort Your Life Out’ and social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram being filled with organisation hacks, creating dedicated craft spaces has gained a lot of traction lately. And garden rooms are the ideal places for them. 

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To create the perfect garden craft space, add tall shelves filled with labelled material boxes, a large desk in front of a window, and a pinboard or chalkboard for organising projects. By taking the mess away from the home and keeping everything in its place, you’ll feel more inclined to do the activities you love. No more worrying about packing everything away in time for tea. 

Trend 5: The High-End Home Gym

In the past, having a gym in your home was considered a bit of a luxury, but nowadays, people are coming up with all sorts of clever ways to create bespoke fitness spaces that don’t require extensions or room repurposing. Why not use a garden room to create the kind of gym that feels like a high-end fitness club? Add in a stack of minimal weights, an elliptical or reformer pilates machine, a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror, and fluted wall panels with hidden LED strips. For the final finishing touch, go for mounted Bluetooth speakers and a modern smartphone dock. That way, you can link up to all your favourite workout tunes without the hassle.

Trend 6: The Ultimate Kids’ Playroom

Tonnes of toys strewn all over the house? Give them a dedicated space. Yep, we’re talking playrooms. Playrooms aren’t just handy for hiding clutter and keeping the kids occupied for a few hours; they’re also loads of fun to design. Make their day by kitting the room out with squishy bean bags, a big fluffy rug, a mini ball pit, and a corkboard for all their artwork. You could even have dedicated zones for different activities – an area for crafting, a chillout zone for stories, and a play area for time with their toys. The kids will definitely want to input on the design, so let their imaginations run wild. An indoor trampoline park might be a step too far, but a themed fun room is definitely doable… 

Trend 7: The Grown-up Garden Office

Last on our list of trends for 2026 is the grown-up garden office. While garden room home offices aren’t anything new, the trend for 2026 is making them chic. Go for dark, cosy paint tones, bespoke built-in units, and glass dividers with vintage-style frosted decals. You could have a designated area for your desk and chair, and another area for a sofa and coffee station. This is about high-end interiors in unsuspecting spaces. So go all out and give it that wow factor!

Bespoke Garden Rooms from London Timber Buildings

Feeling inspired by our list of trends? Get the garden room of your dreams in 2026 by reaching out to our expert team. From annexes and log cabins to sheds and summerhouses, we design and build custom timber structures that perfectly suit your home and lifestyle. Get in touch today to start planning your ideal garden room.