We Ask Paul Farmer of Woodtex.com What Women Entrepreneurs Who Work from Home Should Look for in a Garden Office

More women than ever are going into business for themselves. The number of women owning businesses has doubled in the last twenty years, along with their revenue.

The rise of remote working and home businesses has also opened up the need for home offices. Paul Farmer of Woodtex says that garden offices have increased in popularity.

But what makes a good garden office? We ask Paul what you have to take into account.

What You Have to Consider When Making a Garden Office

Paul has spent years building garden offices for his clients. He understands that location is everything. For example, if your garden regularly floods you need to make sure that the garden office is either elevated or built in a location where flooding doesn’t occur.

Remember that 30 million people live on floodplain areas and many of them don’t even know it. Paul says that many of his clients are shocked when he tells them about potential flood risks.

Another important point is the logistics of getting power and a reliable Internet connection into that new garden office. This is why you should always consider the logistics to avoid wasting your money.

Always make sure you have a professional run through this, says Paul.

Get the Look You Want

The right look is crucial because your garden office is a place where you’re likely to spend a lot of time, says Paul. He says that you should have a style in mind but be open to new ideas.

One of Paul’s main principles is that a garden office should still match the style and décor of the rest of your home. It shouldn’t stick out for all the wrong reasons.

This applies even if you happen to have a garden office in the form of an outbuilding.

Make Sure it’s a Productive Place for Work

Paul says that nothing is more important than the layout of your office. You should go through this meticulously because the environment has a big effect on how productive you are.

One study says that workplace design can increase productivity by 25%. A window in the wrong place, a distracting piece of artwork, or a badly positioned desk could have more of an impact than you think.

Paul’s top three pieces of advice include:

• Opting for an outbuilding to keep away distractions from family and friends.
• A neutral color scheme to improve productivity.
• Avoiding distracting additions, such as television screens.

But Paul always says that it’s up to the client as to what they want in their garden office. However, it’s important to listen to professional advice when designing your new office.

Last Word – Building the Perfect Garden Office

The perfect garden office is a collaboration between client and professional. Paul says that it’s important to discuss every aspect of a garden office prior to making a final decision. This will ensure that you get a productive workspace and a great return on your investment.

Do you have any ideas for your new garden office?