Garden home layouts from 32 to 45 m²

Every Class 3A garden home needs a shower room, a kitchen area and somewhere to sleep, and it must meet the Building Regulations for a home. These plans show what fits at each size. They are starting points for a conversation with a designer, not construction drawings.

32 m²: studio (8 × 4 m)

The kitchen, living and sleeping areas share one space, with the shower room in the middle to separate them a little. Good for one person.

40 m²: one bedroom (8 × 5 m)

A separate bedroom in one corner, with the open-plan kitchen and living area by the doors. This is the size most suppliers design around for an older parent.

45 m²: one bedroom and study (9 × 5 m)

The extra 5 m² buys a small second room for a study, hobby room or occasional guest bed. Remember the 45 m² limit includes any sheds or garden rooms you keep.

45 m²: compact two bedroom (9 × 5 m)

A double bedroom of about 10 m² and a single of about 7.5 m², sharing the shower room, with roughly 16 m² of open-plan kitchen and living space. For comparison, Department of Housing guidelines for new homes suggest at least 11.4 m² for a main double bedroom and 7.1 m² for a single. It works for a parent with a carer who stays over, but there's little room to spare.

Design tips

• Plan for accessibility. Many garden homes are for older parents. A level threshold, a wide door and a walk-in shower make it usable for longer. See a garden home for your parents.
• Keep plumbing together. Putting the kitchen and shower room back to back, near the side facing the house, shortens the water and waste runs.
• Mind the 0.6 m rule. Walls and windows must be at least 0.6 m from the boundary, which affects where you can put glazing.
• Use height. A pitched roof can reach 4 m if it's tiled or slated, which makes a small home feel much larger inside.
• Think about privacy. Place the bedroom away from the main house's windows, and the living area towards the garden.