A garden room as a teenage den or playroom

Can a teenager sleep there?

The garden room exemption doesn't cover use for sleeping or living. A sofa bed for the odd sleepover is a grey area; a room someone sleeps in every night is not a garden room any more. See can you sleep in a garden room?

A teenage den

A 4 × 3 m den, drawn to scale:

• Soundproofing: insulation, acoustic panels and a solid door keep gaming and music from the neighbours. See music rooms.
• Wired internet for gaming. Lay an ethernet cable with the power. See broadband.
• Heating on a timer so it's warm after school.
• A space to study as well as relax.

A playroom for younger children

• Glazing that faces the house so you can see in from the kitchen.
• Soft, warm flooring and plenty of low storage.
• A room that can become an office or den later as they grow.

Safety

• Toughened or laminated safety glass in doors and low windows.
• Certified electrics with RCD protection, and no extension leads trailing across the floor. See electrics.
• Electric heating only. No gas or solid fuel heaters in a room children use.
• Smoke alarm and a clear way out.
• Ventilation to avoid condensation. See condensation.

What it costs

A 12 m² catalogue room costs roughly €8,500 to €18,000, or €21,500 to €38,500 builder-built, before the base, electrics and heating. See the cost estimator.