Outdoor SunSpaces News

When it comes to promoting creativity and artistic flair, nothing stimulates the creative juices quite like your own personal space.

The hustle and bustle of daily life often isn’t conducive to a productive, expressive environment and time away from the world can be just what you need to kick your creativity into overdrive.

With that in mind, why not harness the power of a SunSpace for your artistic side? A SunSpace garden room is the perfect location for secluded serenity and imaginative indulgence.

How so? Read on to find out…

Benefits of a garden art studio

Whether it’s the TV blaring, the kids screaming or sounds of household appliances filling your head, the soundtrack of home life can not only be a distraction but also a creative buzzkill.

Anyone that has ever had to work from home will know all too well how easy it is to be distracted. From a full fridge to the allure of Netflix, diversions can come in many forms, not to mention the needs of any loved ones you may live with.

Dedicating a specific space for work can be a fantastic way to focus and keep your mind on the task at hand. Simply shut the door, leave the world behind and zone out.

With a SunSpace garden room, audio irritants are brushed aside in favour of your own den of zen. What’s more, visual stimulation is often said to be great for inspiring creativity and a garden environment full of greenery and scenery can be just the ticket.

Things to consider

Creating a home art studio in your garden can be a uniquely effective solution to your artistic roadblocks; however, there are a few things worth keeping in mind in order to keep your space as comfortable and stimulating as possible.

Heating

When it comes to comfort, heating is arguably up there at the very top of the list. After all, a cold garden room can seem a lot less inviting once the temperature takes a downward turn.

A bitterly cold garden room is not a great way to spend your evenings at the best of times, let alone when you’re trying to be creative. Nip that problem in the bud with one of our wide variety of garden room heating options.

Sound

For some, music can be a great way to stimulate creativity whereas, for others, silence may indeed be golden. If you fall on the musical side of that equation, we have the perfect solution for you.

At SunSpaces, our "Model 5" Bluetooth heater kills two birds with one stone, providing thermal insulation and stereo sound in one remote-controlled piece of equipment. For an all-in-one solution, it really is hard to beat.

On the other hand, if you do prefer peace and quiet when you’re at work, you may want to go the other way and consider sound-proofing. Speak with our trained staff for more information on options.

Lighting

When it comes to art, working in the dark is not an option and without effective lighting, any kind of artistic creativity is naturally going to hit a pretty hefty roadblock when the sun goes down.

While working in candlelight may have its own gothic appeal, it’s not the safest solution and is largely a short-term fix. For ample lighting that won’t let you down, electric is the only way to go. Luckily, we’ve got you covered there too.

Our garden rooms can also be fitted with LED spotlights integrated into the roof for perfect visibility all day long. These LED spotlights come in sets of 6, remotely controlled for effortless light management.

Speaking of electrical hook-ups…

Power

While you can do without it, if you’re looking to make your garden room a permanent residence for your artistic side, you may want to consider getting it hooked up with an electrical supply.

Electricity can provide uninterrupted freedom for you while you’re in your garden art studio. Whether you want to expand your heating/lighting options or accessorise your space with a computer/scanner for your work, electricity can be more than a little handy.

When it comes to electrical supply to your garden room, you’ll need to connect your garden room to your mains supply in your property. For this, the underground option is the safest move but don’t attempt to do it yourself – consult a trained electrician for further details.

What are you waiting for? Unleash your creative side with your very own garden art studio and get in touch today by calling SunSpaces on 0800 085 8110 or drop us an email using the button below.

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When the summer sun has its hat on and the UK landscape is cloaked in a golden shimmer from east to west, there’s no better place to be than out in the open air, catching rays and soaking up the sunshine.

That being said, conditions aren’t always this glorious and a spell of wind or rain can easily hamper what would otherwise be a golden opportunity to enjoy the picturesque beauty of the outdoors.

Meanwhile, at other times, the weather can get a little too hot and an area of designated shade can provide the perfect retreat to escape the heat.

For these occasions, an ornamental shelter can make all the difference, providing protection against the elements and airy outdoor enjoyment at the same time.

Here at SunSpaces, we specialise in just that, with a wide range of awnings and verandas – but which one is right for you?

Let’s find out as we put verandas and awnings under the microscope in the ultimate battle of canopied competition.

Veranda the Great

Visually stunning, undeniably stylish and perfectly practical, verandas can make for a fantastic addition to any outdoor space – commercial or residential.

Verandas are essentially solid roof coverings supported by pillars/posts, providing a fixed, permanent covering for all-weather outdoor enjoyment.

Due to their permanent residency outdoors, verandas make for a great base to create an outdoor seating area, providing ample protection for garden furniture.

While verandas are traditionally built on to a property, attached to the outside wall, here at SunSpaces, we can also provide detached verandas, free-standing in an area of your choice.

Best of all, we offer a wide variety of verandas, all customisable to fit your style and personality.

For an outdoor addition that provides year-round protection and complete freedom of design, look no further than a SunSpace veranda.

Shop Verandas

“Oh, what a beautiful awning”

Uniquely versatile and impressively adaptable, this flexible fixture provides a protective covering for your outdoor space.

However, unlike the permanence of the veranda option, awnings are innately designed to provide freedom of retractability, allowing you to withdraw the canopy as you wish when not in use.

From an exterior design perspective, this provides the perfect solution for elemental protection without dramatically modifying the look of your property from the outside.

Our lightweight, canvas awnings are electrically-powered by remote control for simple yet fully-functional operation.

Unobtrusive and inconspicuous, these low-key outdoor additions offer the perfect solution for anyone looking to add a shelter with minimal alteration to the property’s overall external aesthetic.

Our Lite Awning range even comes with built-in LED lights, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space even after the sun goes down, while our Elite Awning range is customisable in a variety of ways.

With a stunning SunSpace awning, every day will be easy like a Sunday morning!

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Which SunSpace is right for me?

So, having mulled over the two like a glass of mulled wine, it begs the question: just which SunSpace is the one for you?

For sheer flexibility and inconspicuousness, the understated allure of the awning is a great choice, providing all the effortless protection of a remote-controlled canopy with the added freedom of retractable design when not in use.

For those looking to retain their property’s external design with minimal impact to the structural aesthetic of the building, an awning will provide sheltered protection with the benefit of concealment.

That being said, the sturdy, year-round permanence of a veranda can provide customisable design and ample protection that’s perfect for upgrading an outdoor space. Meanwhile, it also makes for the perfect location to create an outdoor lounge or seating area.

The Verdict

Ultimately, the choice comes down to two things: personal preference and how much you plan on using your outdoor space.

For those looking to retain their property’s external design with minimal impact to the structural aesthetic of the building, an awning will provide sheltered protection with the benefit of concealment when not in use.

For those looking to spend as much time as possible outdoors, a permanent fixture like a veranda will likely be a more useful choice, with ever-present protection for instant accessibility, whenever you want to use it.

Whichever option you choose, you won’t be disappointed. SunSpaces products don’t just add to an outdoor space, they can revolutionise it, providing you with the perfect place to enjoy your garden space, whatever the weather!

Option 3: Garden Rooms

In addition to our selection of verandas and awnings, we also offer a third option for those looking for something a little more permanent and a little less open.

Our range of glass garden rooms offer all the summery appeal of a veranda/awning, radiating light and vibrance, yet with all the insulated protection of a traditional extension.

Shop Garden Rooms

For more information on verandas, awnings or garden rooms, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0800 085 811 to speak with one of our experts or get in touch online using the button below.

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Despite the advances in science and technology, British weather can still be somewhat unpredictable. In fact, at times, it can be outright baffling!

As such, the weatherman doesn’t always speak the gospel when it comes to meteorological predictions and even the pros get it wrong from time to time.

When that happens, an unforeseen change in weather can quickly put a dampener on your outdoor plans and turn a supposed sunny Saturday into a damp squib.

Luckily, you don’t need to rely on the weatherman to enjoy your outdoor seating area. With the help of SunSpaces, you can enjoy your garden seating while still being suitably protected from the elements!

Creating an Outdoor Seating Area

At SunSpaces, we specialise in outdoor living products that allow you to truly make the most of your external space. When it comes to creating an outdoor seating space in your garden, our SunSpaces are the ultimate ace up the sleeve.

From versatile awnings and airy verandas to fully insulated contemporary garden rooms, we offer a wide variety of protective measures designed to keep your outdoor enjoyment at full capacity and your outdoor seating area fit for purpose, regardless of what weather comes your way.

Types of Outdoor Seating Areas

When creating an outdoor seating area, perhaps the most important thing to consider isn’t the seats themselves but the area you’re placing them in.

There’s nothing relaxing about sitting unprotected in the rain, while too much sun exposure also has a myriad of hazards attached. As such, appropriate protection against the elements is paramount.

At SunSpaces, we offer a wide variety of protective products, designed to effectively screen from the sun, shield against the wind and provide some shelter from the rain.

Read on for three wonderful ways to weatherproof your outdoor seating area.

Awnings

A flexible solution to outdoor shelter, our range of awnings offer a sleek and stylish solution to outdoor seating shelter with innate adaptability ingrained in each product.

Our awnings provide non-permanent shelter for your outdoor space, offering ample coverage for your external seating area.

Unlike other options, the protective canvas covering is fully retractable. This allows you to enjoy the sun unobstructed when desired, providing you with a toasty sun trap when the weather allows.

Meanwhile, if the heat gets too much or the weather takes a turn the other way, you can just as easily unfold the canvas cover to shield whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

With no posts or framework to prop up the canvas, the awnings also offer elemental protection with minimal view obstruction to the rest of your garden.

The awnings themselves come in three distinct categories; simply click the options below to find out more.

Compact Awnings                           Lite Awnings                      Elite Awnings

Verandas

For a more permanent protective fixture for your seating area, look no further than the stunningly beautiful veranda range.

An open extension built-on to your property, these fixed outdoor shelters provide ample protection for your seating area while still maintaining the healthy open airflow of an awning.

Each product is made with its own distinct perks and personality traits, from ultra-modern concept design to cutting-edge louvred roof technology.

Best of all, our verandas are also completely customisable, allowing you to create an outdoor addition that suits you and your home.

For shaded relaxation when the weather is hot and dry shelter when the weather takes a turn, a SunSpaces veranda will keep your garden seating area both habitable and comfortable.

Built to last, our glassed roof verandas also allow you to sit back and stargaze in sheltered serenity long into the night.

Verendas

Garden Rooms

For a garden seating area that offers genuine outdoor ambience with complete indoor comfort, our garden rooms are hard to beat.

The garden room range provides comprehensive protection against all weather conditions in an outdoor oasis that also acts as a serene indoor sanctuary.

With customisable glass walls for as much transparency or as much privacy as you want, the garden room offers all the sleek design of our verandas with the heightened protection of an enclosed homely extension.

Our garden rooms can also be implemented as a free-standing, detached structure elsewhere in your garden, allowing you to create a designated seating area that offers ample weather protection and outdoor atmosphere in abundance.

Garden Room

For more information on our outdoor living products and how we can make them work for your garden seating area, call 0800 085 8110 today or get in touch online using the button below.

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When the hustle and bustle of homelife gets all too much, a designated outdoor dwelling can not only be a blessing, it can also provide the ultimate means of mental escape.

However, escapism can come in many different forms, depending on your general likes and dislikes. Personality and preference can go a long way in determining just which summer house décor is the one for you.

In addition to that, situational factors can also affect and influence your choice of garden dwelling, as can the personalities that reside under your roof.

With so many moving parts, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to planning your summer house interior.

To help get your garden dreams off the ground, here’s some inspired ideas for your summer house décor.

Types of summer house interiors

While it’s easy to assume that a summer house has to resemble a woody room, decked out in natural timber or decorated in beachy colours, that is merely scratching the surface of what your summer house can be.

The choice of interior can truly revolutionise what your summer house is and make it so much more than a simple seaside chalet in your back garden. If you’re after food for thought, feast on these innovative suggestions below.

Garden Retreat

When the weather is good, the garden can provide the perfect location for destressing and mental respite.

But why limit this recreational relief to when the weather allows? Switch off from the stresses of the world whenever you please with your very own summery zen den.

In designing this outdoor oasis, it’s important to create a room that is exponentially different from your house. Start by accentuating the organic element of being outdoors by including naturistic materials and colours.

Wicker furniture adorned with light coloured cushions is a great way to establish this distinction. Meanwhile, accessorising with subtle greens, mixed with flowery shades of colour, can really help create a soothing colour scheme that is both relaxing and reflective of your outdoor environment.

Home Office

Bringing work home with you can be an unavoidable burden at times and an accepted part of many 21^st century jobs. However, finding a quiet space that allows you to do these tasks undistracted and attentively can be frustratingly difficult, particularly if you have young children or a noisy household.

Rechristening your summer house to a home office can be the perfect solution to this problem, providing peace and tranquillity for the ideal working environment.

Meanwhile, the natural setting can also provide a stress-relieving effect, which can be enhanced further by a plain white décor with plenty of natural light and airflow.

A mix of modern furniture with traditional office supplies can help create a space that’s both stylish and practical, providing a welcome space that makes working from home a breeze.

Home Gym

A luxury many Brits would love to have on-site at their property, a home gym can provide the ideal solution for those looking to achieve their fitness goals. After all, it’s hard to justify skipping the gym when it’s a stone’s throw away!

Whether it’s a minimalistic yoga studio or your own personal spin cycling classroom, a designated room on your property dedicated to fitness can be healthy for both mind and body. White interiors are commonplace for home gyms, providing an energetic atmosphere, but natural wood can be just as effective.

If you plan on incorporating heavy weights into your gym equipment, you may want to invest in protective flooring mats. Rubber jig-saw tiles are the perfect solution, providing functional protection and a professional appearance at the same time.

Similarly, sturdy lifting platforms that can withstand impact may also be advisable if you foresee yourself dropping plates and putting weights down with force. The last thing you want for your new garden gym is fresh, man-made potholes in the floor.

For heavy barbells, protection could even come in the form of something simple like used tyres, provided they reduce the impact and protect the floor. This can also give your weight room a cool industrial vibe for a raw and gritty feel.

Party Pad

Whether you want to create a boozy lad pad or a feminine lady lair, the humble summer house can quickly become the perfect location for Friday night fun.

To achieve this, accessorising is key. A bar is naturally the first step for most social butterflies (or social barflies) and an essential attribute for any self-respecting party pad.

Next up is atmosphere and there’s no better way to set the scene than with a fitting soundtrack, so sound system is key.

That’s being said, if you plan on playing music, sound-proofing is probably worthwhile too. A noise complaint from the neighbours could put the brakes on your fun in a flash.

As for décor, it depends largely on the taste of the dweller. Girly girls may want to adorn the walls with bright colours such as hot pink to turn their summer house into a girly getaway that Barbie herself would be proud of.

Meanwhile, for something a little more subtle, neutral colours will work just as well, while the stained wood-look can help recreate a traditional pub-like ambience with ease.

Play House

If you have young children and don’t happen to have a playroom in your house, creating a specific space for just that can quite literally bring a child’s dream to life.

Children’s furniture is a great way to set the scene immediately, while a play rug can add another playful element that’s both simple and effective. Meanwhile, creamy whites and pastel colours can create a cosy environment that is comfortingly kid-friendly.

Even for older children, this can be a fantastic addition to your garden, providing a peaceful place for them to read and relax or play with friends.

That being said, as this is an environment aimed at children, it’s important to ensure it’s safe and fit for purpose. Rough, un-sanded boards can be a hotbed for splinters, so ensure all surfaces are finished to a kid-friendly standard before you unleash your youngster.

Teen Escape

Speaking of kid-friendly space, let’s not forget that your summer house can also provide a home for your teenage off-spring as well.

Besides, what better way to avoid the furious wrath of a teen meltdown than by creating a personal space that’s exclusive to just them?

Throw in some bean bags and comfy furniture and you have yourself the ultimate adolescent residence for your teens to escape to.

In addition to providing them with their own space, it also frees up the house for you to enjoy some peace and quiet that’s free of hormonal rants and pubescent moods.

Sports Centre

When it comes to sport, it can often be a polarising subject – especially in properties that house numerous individual personalities with a variety of preferences.

If you really want to enhance the sport-centric atmosphere, why not add an element of interaction? A pool or foosball table could do just that, while a pinball machine or dart board can also provide an interactive sporting element while saving space at the same time.

If that isn’t ample food for thought, we don’t know what is! For more information on transforming your outdoor space, give us a call on 0800 085 8110 or click the button below to get in touch online.

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For many Brits, the garden represents the perfect place for relaxation, recharging and overall R&R.

When the weather is great and the sun has its working boots on, there’s nothing quite like kicking back and chilling out in the airy goodness of your own outdoor space.

However, for those that like to take things one step further, there are ways to make your garden a true temple of tranquillity.

Two words: outdoor spa.

If you love relaxing in your garden and don’t have space in your house for additional luxuries, what better way to let off some steam than with a spa in your garden?

Soak up the possibilities and warm up to the idea of your very own property paradise as we slide into the toasty waters of Garden Spa 101.

How do I create a garden spa?

If you’re looking to create a home spa in your garden, there are a few things to consider before you jump in at the deep end.

Site for sauna

The perfect location for relaxation is an area that acts as a suntrap but also offers privacy. While those two descriptions seemingly don’t go hand-in-hand, there are ways to achieve both with surprising ease.

Hedgerows, trellis and fencing can act as a decent border, allowing for ample sunlight while also shielding your outdoor oasis from prying eyes. However, for the ultimate in garden spa seclusion, nothing compares to a veranda or a garden room.

Both offer great solutions in terms of functionality and privacy: verandas offer an abundance of natural airflow ideal for hot summer days, while garden rooms provide protection in the event that the weather isn’t quite California hot.

Verandas are perhaps the better choice for summertime enjoyment, providing the complete outdoor experience without the drawbacks of being completely open-air; however, if you’re looking to make the most of your spa year-round a garden room may just tip the scales.

On the surface

Like any good house or relationship, the foundation of your garden spa can prove to be make or break, particularly if it’s not fit for purpose.

For a garden spa, that means water-proof decking, slip-resistant tiles and generally ensuring your surfaces are skid-safe. This is one area where it pays to invest and a top-quality tile or deluxe deck board can make all the difference in both style and substance.

Let there be light

Once you’ve picked the site, decided on the shelter that’s right for your and landed on your chosen surface, it’s time to tie up the loose ends in a beautiful bow of pampery goodness.

One of the main things worth considering once you’ve checked off the main boxes above is how you plan on lighting your space. After all, the sun has to go down at some point, so why limit your enjoyment hours to the daytime?

There is a cornucopia of options to choose from when it comes to outdoor lighting, from built-in LED lights within your outdoor space to eco-friendly solutions like strategically placed solar-powered planters.

Effective lighting can turn your garden spa into a place of enjoyment that’s equally as inviting after sundown as it is during the height of the day.

Complete your outdoor oasis

You may also want to add additional accessories to fully furnish your outdoor feature and make your home spa truly complete. Our SunSpaces verandas and garden rooms can be fitted with a variety of features to help ensure your outdoor spa is just that – yours.

From sliding frosted-glass doors and UV-protecting shades to remote-controlled blinds and retractable roofs, we offer a number of customisable options to make your outdoor spa as private, comfortable and bespoke as possible.

We even offer numerous heating options to ensure your SunSpaces spa area is just as comfortable outside the water as it is within it. These options even include heater/sound system combos with Bluetooth technology, allowing you to truly relax and unwind in a space that’s music to your ears.

Do I need planning permission for a garden spa?

Most hot tubs and spas do not require planning permission; however, you may need planning permission to build a large enclosure to house one. This is particularly prevalent when it comes large outbuildings that take up over half of the garden.

While it is unlikely you will need planning permission for a SunSpaces product, forging ahead without doing your homework could get you in hot water of a different kind, so it may be worth dropping your local authority a line, just in case.

To find out more about planning permission, check out our planning permission blog for further details.

For more information on outdoor spas and hot tubs in your garden, click here to see our various options and real-life examples of our work. To talk more about making your spa dreams a reality, drop us a line on 0800 085 8110 or hit the button below to get in touch now.

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