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There are many ways to maximise your outdoor space, and adding a mini garden library is one of them. This is perfect if your book collection has outgrown your home, if you’re looking for a more relaxing place to enjoy literature, or if having one has always been your dream.
This quick guide will provide you with a few tips and ideas to help you get started on creating your dream garden library.
Use a Garden Building as a Reading Room
(Image Credit: Freerange Stock)
If you don’t have space in your house for a library, you can create a functional reading space in a garden room. This approach comes with tons of benefits compared to building it from scratch, with the top two reasons being:
- It saves time and effort. You can repurpose your existing outbuilding and focus on designing the interior. While minor repairs and maintenance might be needed, this is usually less hassle than starting with a blank slate. All you need to do is select the type of garden room that best fits your needs for a perfect library.
- It often incurs fewer costs. Using a garden building is usually more cost-effective — for one, they’re less expensive. The estimated cost of building a custom garden library ranges from £3,500 – £15,000, depending on specific requirements, design choices, and local rates. In contrast, log cabins and summer houses large enough to serve as a library are available for under £5,000. Some even come with insulation and foundation kits, offering great value. Moreover, their simpler setup can help you stay within budget by reducing construction and labour costs.
You can DIY the rest to save more money, including the built-in shelves for your precious books. Refer to our guide, ‘Summer House Interior Ideas You Don’t Wanna Miss!’ to find more inspiration for setting up your reading haven.
Playhouse for Kids Who Love to Read
Is your little one fond of books and playing outdoors at the same time? If so, a playhouse can offer the best of both worlds. This garden room can serve as their playroom and mini library, creating a perfect space for fun and reading.
Take the BillyOh Annex Log Cabin Wooden Playhouse, for instance. This unit is packed with windows, giving the interior a bright and airy feeling, perfect for reading and playing. The multi-floor open areas give you a wider canvas for decorating the space and getting creative. Extras include optional shelving, but you can add more cabinets to keep a variety of books with all the floor space available.
Speaking of books, consider different genres for your or your kids’ collection, including historical fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, fairy tale folklore, and adventure. Include popular contemporary authors like J.K. Rowling, David Walliams and Roald Dahl.
Round-up
Creating a garden library is a great way to enjoy books and nature together. Investing or using existing structures like garden buildings or playhouses can save you time and money. With some effort, you can build a simple and peaceful reading retreat for yourself, your children, and everyone.
Shop Garden Buildings Direct for a range of versatile garden rooms. For product inquiry and price quote, call our customer support at 01909 768840.
Up next on your reading list: 10 Steps to Build a Playhouse (Even Beginners Can Do!)
