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How to build a home office in the garden

Small building clad in Colorbond with deck and French doors in a bushland garden
Swap the endless commute for an amble through the garden with this inspirational idea for a backyard home office.

 

More than just a home office

There are plenty of benefits in working from home and it’s a bonus if you can have your own dedicated space. This garden home office is designed as a multi-use room: homeowner Paul works in it during the week, while on weekends his wife Paula can use it as an art studio. 

Paul worked with his builder brother Matt to complete the three square metre, steel-clad cube in just under a month. “It’s a wonderful asset to have,” says Paula. “Working out there provides Paul with separation from the house, and the comforts of home are just a stroll away.”

Going bush

Paula’s brief for the studio/office was “a simple box in the backyard that was practical and a little creative.” The corrugated steel with a plain zinc finish won’t need repainting, while standard-sized hardwood decking boards at the front were left unstained to grey off naturally. A pergola-style roof helps frame the space, as do the painted timber planks around the base. For a similar colour, try Dulux Colorbond Monument. The French doors were kept from a former renovation and are a great budget-friendly option that adds character to the office’s clean lines. 

View from a deck through French doors into a home office

Dressed to impress

Floating timber flooring and Dulux Natural White painted walls bring a bright feel to the studio, while Paula’s artwork adds personality and a vibrant punch. Storage is provided by a cube unit with a mix of attractive, on-show items and baskets to conceal clutter. A pair of pendant lights offer ambient illumination, supplemented by a desk lamp for task lighting as needed. Easy care plants, including sansevieria, cactus and fiddle leaf fig, supply a lively burst of low-maintenance greenery. 

Desk job

To suit the compact floor area, Paul built a desk for the office with an off-the-shelf SpecRite finger-jointed beech panel. For the base, several lengths of Tasmanian oak were cut to size and joined together to create square frame legs. The table was then sanded and given two coats of clear varnish. For year-round comfort and connectivity – a must for any WFH situation – an electrician installed air-conditioning and fitted the office with wi-fi.

Chair, desk and window in a home office looking onto garden

Tip: If planning to build your own backyard office, first check with your local authority, as development permits may apply. 

In need of a desk?

Use a timber panel and furniture legs to make your own industrial style desk.

 

Photo credit: John Downs

 

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.