Building, renovating or upgrading a home or garden cabin can be an expensive affair, but it doesn’t have to be – we have 15 cheap garden room ideas that you can use to take your outdoor cabin to the next level without having to break the bank.
From making your furniture to being smart about energy-efficient lighting, there are plenty of ways you can bring down the costs of building, upgrading and operating your garden room.
Stick around while we give you seven ways to improve your garden room without bleeding money.
Building a garden room can be expensive, but you can save money in plenty of ways. Here are 7 cheap garden room ideas you’ll love.
7 Ways to Create and Improve Your Garden Room on a Budget
If you’re trying to build a garden room or even do some upgrades to an existing cabin and refresh it, there are plenty of different ways you can do so without spending too much money.
You can reuse old furniture and give it new life or try smart building methods and construction hacks to avoid spending more money than you need to.
Whatever your skills and experience, you’re sure to find ways to lower your costs without compromising your vision for your garden room.
Here are our 7 favourite ideas for improving your garden room on a budget.
1. Use Repurposed Materials
Hands down, the best way to save money is to use materials you already have or find cheap materials you can repurpose yourself. Of course, this depends on how handy you are, but there are many fairly easy ways to repurpose materials to create incredible new furniture.
- Re-Use Old Doors and Windows
Source old windows and doors that are no longer in use and incorporate them into your design to achieve a rustic, almost eclectic look.
Mix and match different doors and windows around the cabin for a fun and charming aesthetic.
Best of all, by using old doors and windows from other homes and buildings, you’re likely to find items that boast good quality.
- Repurpose Pallets
Wooden pallets are one of the best-kept secrets in home decor and construction – not only are they used in many different contexts and are fairly easy to source, but there are also loads of different things you can do with them.
You can use them exactly as they are, flipped upside down, as seating or as a little coffee table. Or, you can stack them in different ways to add extra storage.
Another option is completely dismantling them and using the wood to create something else entirely.
Since pallets are made from several different panels of wood, these panels can be used for anything from flooring and constructing walls to building brand-new pieces of furniture like tables, chairs or shelves.
2. DIY Furniture and Decor
Build and create your own DIY furniture and interior decor to save money and add your personal touch to your garden cabin.
Of course, one thing people gravitate towards when it comes to making their own furniture is IKEA-style kits. However, as handy as these are, they can still be rather pricey, and there are other options.
- Homemade Furniture
These days, there are online tutorials for just about everything, so find a guide on how to build something you want and get to work.
Not only will this save money, but it’ll also allow you to add your own creative flare and an extra dash of personality to the space.
Additionally, you can save money using materials you already have or purchasing cheaper alternatives.
- DIY Decor
It all depends on how creative you are, but there are plenty of things you can make yourself to decorate your garden cabin.
Create decorative pieces like paintings or drawings, or put together a collage of your favourite photos to fill a wall.
If you have a flare for the artsy side of things, make your own crafty decor – things like woven hanging shelves or decorated mason jars.
3. Cost-Effective Weather Protection
One of the most important parts of building and maintaining any outdoor structure, garden cabins included, is ensuring that it’s protected from the weather – whether it’s rain and snow or extreme heat.
Often, these things can be pretty expensive – there are always fancy means and methods you can use to minimise weather damage.
But it doesn’t have to be. Instead of using fancy materials, you can use canvas or tarps to make temporary walls or roofs.
Another option is plastic sheeting—this will help you keep rain and wind away, and if you like, you can opt for clear sheeting so you can see straight through it.
4. Get Creative with Seating
Fancy chairs and couches are cool but optional in a garden room. Some may argue they’re out of place in an outdoor cabin.
Instead, make the space your own and get creative with seating.
That could mean finding cheap or inherited secondhand couches and chairs or creating your own seating using things like crates.
In fact, you can have a lot of fun by getting creative with seating. Choose hammocks or bean bags for your garden room to create a laid-back and relaxing atmosphere.
Not only are these things comfy and fun, but they’re also way cheaper than couches and other traditional seating options—in fact, you can even make them yourself if you want.
5. Be Smart About Lighting
Lighting can introduce two main types of costs: buying the actual fixtures and paying your electricity bills.
To save some money on the former, try finding vintage fixtures at antique stores or secondhand stores that you can repurpose—they’re often way cheaper than buying them new, and mixing and matching can look eclectic and fun.
There are two main ways you can cut costs on the latter. First, use LED bulbs and other types of energy-efficient solutions.
Second, use natural lighting to minimise the number of lights you must switch on during the day!
6. Plant a Garden on a Budget
Planting a small garden outside your garden room or cabin can be a fun hobby, and it will also improve the overall appearance of your outdoor space.
However, gardening can be quite expensive, so if you do this, consider collecting cuttings and seeds and planting them rather than purchasing whole plants.
Instead of buying expensive planters, you can repurpose old buckets, tyres, and crates as makeshift planters.
If possible, participate in community plant swaps to diversify your garden and obtain low-cost plants and tools.
7. Low-Cost Flooring
Building a floor for a garden cabin can be both a lot of work and a pricy endeavour.
Of course, it’s a really important part of the construction process, so you’ll want to make sure you do it properly.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to install flooring.
Two good options are pavers and bricks. Both are relatively inexpensive and practical and durable.
The nice thing about bricks and pavers is that you can use them to make the space look rustic and homely.
If you’re lucky, you might be able to get some bricks or pavers for free—try old construction sites or builders.
Closing Thoughts on 7 Cheap Garden Room Ideas
Creating a garden room may seem like a necessarily expensive ordeal, but it doesn’t have to be.
If you’re happy to take a little more time to source materials and build your own furniture and decor, for instance, there are plenty of ways to cut costs without compromising on the quality and aesthetic of your garden cabin.
All it takes is a little bit of patience, effort and creativity, so look at our 7 cheap garden room ideas and start building your very own garden cabin.
Contact 1st Choice Leisure Buildings today for a quote today.
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