Four homes for sale with useful garden shed spaces

By John Last updated Aug 5, 2022

Converted barns came into their own during the pandemic as people tried to use every inch of the space available after several lockdowns.

It meant that covered outdoor areas in the garden were no longer just a discarded space for storing garden tools and a lawnmower.

Instead, they often became dedicated shrines, whether that was for a relaxing garden room, a quiet office—which is what coined the term shoffice—or a playroom to keep children occupied and out of the main house.

We take a look at four properties for sale with useful outdoor spaces (scroll down for more details on the barn pictured on a property for sale in Kington Magna, Gillingham, and what’s inside)

Daniel Copley, of Zoopla, said: ‘Shoffices have undoubtedly grown in popularity during the pandemic as homeowners tried to maintain a sense of work-life separation during an extended period of working from home.

“In addition to being used as a home office, these adaptable spaces can be repurposed into a gym, yoga studio, bar or even a children’s playroom.”

Below we take a look at four properties for sale with various outdoor spaces – including a games room, hair salon, dog grooming facility and music studio.

1. Playroom

This property in Farlington, Portsmouth, has a large outside cabin in the garden with transom window and door windows

Inside, the outdoor cabin has a significant amount of space that can easily accommodate piano, pool table and tennis table

The four-bedroom house is currently up for sale with an asking price of £750,000 through Bernards Drayton’s estate agents

The outdoor space of this Farlington, Portsmouth property offers ample space for a range of entertainment facilities.

In addition to a large screen TV and seating area, there is currently a pool table, piano and table tennis table.

The outside gives no indication of what lies inside, as the windows and double doors have transom panes, reflecting nothing but the manicured lawn outside.

The gray garden hut is part of a four bedroom property currently for sale at £750,000 through Bernards Drayton brokers.

2. Hair Salon

From the outside it looks like a regular garden shed with basic garden tools

But the shed in the yard of this cottage in Kington Magna, Gillingham, houses equipment needed to run a hair salon

The three bedroom detached cottage is for sale through Chaffers estate agents and has a current asking price of £430,000

The barn in the garden of this cottage in Kington Magna, Gillingham, currently houses all the equipment needed to run a hairdressing salon.

The shed is not only insulated, but also has a useful power supply, which supplies the necessary energy for hair dryers and hair straighteners.

The barn is on a three bedroom property for sale at £430,000 through Chaffer’s brokers.

3. Dog Grooming

This barn stands at the back of the garden on a property for sale in Surrey – behind a lawn surrounded by secure fencing

The outdoor space on the Surrey property currently houses equipment needed to run a dog grooming business

The three bedroom semi-detached house is in Old Coulsdon and is for sale for £575,000 through Woodcote estate agents

If you own multiple dogs – or feel like running a dog grooming business – this outdoor space in Surrey could be a perfect fit.

It includes all the necessary equipment to keep puppies well groomed and cool during the summer with a shorter haircut.

The facility is in this three bedroom semi-detached house in old Coulsdon and is for sale for £575,000 through Woodcote estate agents.

4. Music studio

This barn is part of a well-maintained lawned garden with a lovely patio where there is plenty of room to entertain

Inside the barn of this Leicester property is a music room where you can make music without waking those sleeping in the main house

The barn is currently used as a music room and has an essential electricity supply but could be used for other purposes

The three bedroom semi-detached house is located in Blaby, Leicester and is up for sale with an asking price of £300,000

If you like to play the guitar late at night, but don’t want to disturb the rest of the family, this accommodation offers the solution with its outdoor space.

The barn is currently used as a music room and has an essential electricity supply.

It is part of atThree bedroom semi-detached house in Blaby, Leicester and is on the market with an asking price of £300,000.

Can you run a small business from your shed?

There may be questions about using a garden shed to run a business, but as long as it stays small-scale it shouldn’t be a problem.

Chartered urban planner and author Martin Gaine explains: ‘The planning system is hostile to larger companies that operate from homes because of the possibility of traffic and noise and inconvenience from customers and staff coming and going.

“However, running a small-scale business from home is not a change of use – it is still mainly a residence – so no planning permission is required.”

He adds, “It’s not exactly clear where the line is drawn between a small-scale home business that doesn’t require planning and a larger one that does.

“Some small-scale businesses are known – a tutor who teaches piano or math from their living room, a nanny with a few kids who are dropped off, someone who makes pottery in a shed, etc.

“As a rule of thumb, your home business shouldn’t be a nuisance – with lots of customers or deliveries – or a lot of noise or activity, probably not have any staff and no signage visible from the front. A hair salon where the homeowner worked alone and had a few clients a day is okay, one with a few employees and a few appointments an hour should be scheduled — and probably wouldn’t get it.