Staying warm while working in your garden office

We all know that working from home comes with many perks; no time wasted on commuting, more sleep-ins, and the option to work in your pyjamas from your couch or desk.

However, it can also come with a few challenges, especially when you have an outdoor office. As soon as winter arrives, you’ll be fighting off the shivers while working in your home office and struggling to stay comfortable.

Luckily for you, we have just the tips to make sure you stay warm while working in your garden office. After all, it’s the key to staying productive and producing high-quality work!

Are you in need of a new shed this winter? Why not treat yourself to an Atlas Sheds shed before the new year? It’ll be an early christmas gift from you to you. Go on, you deserve it!

A quick office checklist

Before we begin, ask yourself:

Do I have the right heater for the size of my shed?
Are the doors and windows draught-free and double-glazed?
Are my shed floors, walls, and roof all well insulated?
Do I have a consistent routine for pre-heating my office before starting work?

If the answer to these is no, then fixing these few things will help you get ahead of the game and completely transform your shed office.

Stick with us to make sure you cover everything and turn your shed from merely convenient to extremely comfortable and cosy.

The benefits of staying warm while working

As hybrid and work-from-home jobs are on the rise, more and more people are turning to creating an office in a garden shed to create that physical barrier between their work and home life.

So, when it comes to staying warm, it can be a bit trickier when working from a shed than if you were sitting in your living room. Plus, how comfortable you are affects everything from how well you focus at work to how you feel when you switch off at night.

Better focus and productivity

If you’re having to work hard to insulate yourself and fight off the shivers, then you’re not going to have much energy left to do anything else.

A warm, consistent temperature helps your brain stay focused on the task in front of you, rather than on how cold your feet are. You’ll be more inclined to finish off your to-do list and less in a rush to ditch your outdoor office and relax in your living room.

Improved comfort

As a knock-on effect to the above point, a warm garden office will help your muscles stay relaxed and prevent your body from scrunching up to stay warm.

Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can cause the body to feel stiff, leading to sore joints and feeling tired much more quickly. By keeping your garden office warm, you’ll be able to maintain good posture throughout the day, reducing back aches and strains.

Improved mood and motivation

We all know that how comfortable we are affects how we’re feeling that day. If you feel cold, you’re more likely to become irritable, have less patience for colleagues and clients, and be more likely to clock-watch.

So, making sure your garden office is somewhere you enjoy working in will make you more likely to enjoy waking up and going to work in it every day. As a result, you’ll put more effort into your work.

Warm offices keep tech and equipment safe

Besides influencing how well you perform at work, the level of insulation and protection in your shed office is also important for the tech and equipment stored there.

It’s easy to forget that your computer, printer, and other equipment don’t love rapid temperature changes or damp, either. By keeping your shed well-insulated, you’ll reduce the risk of condensation, rust, and other issues that could damage your devices.

Why insulation makes the biggest difference

Think of insulation as a bubble coat for your shed. It helps trap heat inside, keeping your home office toasty and preventing cold air from slipping through.

In the same way many people invest in a high-end coat to stay warm, it’s important to choose high-quality insulation materials that have proven to be effective. You’ll want to add insulation to the cavities of your shed's floor, walls, and ceiling to stop draughts from getting in.

Heating is what you pay for every month, but insulation determines whether that heat actually stays in the room. Good insulation should do each of these three things:

Slow heat loss so your heater can cycle on and off instead of running flat out all day.
Keep surfaces in your shed warm to reduce the risk of condensation, mould, and mildew.
Muffle outside noise, so you can focus better and create a quiet space for calls and Zooms.

When you buy a shed from Atlas Sheds, you can choose a structure that comes with insulation and internal cladding pre-installed, for a more stable indoor climate and a durable shed.

Plus, our office sheds come with uPVC doors and windows with double glazing to keep draughts out. EPDM fireproof rubber roofing also helps trap heat. If you want to improve an old shed, we have a whole post on the best shed insulation techniques for winter.

4 best ways to heat a garden office

When it comes to turning your garden shed into a workable space, it all starts with installing a reliable heating system.

While there are ways to heat your shed without electricity, we suggest installing a reliable heating system, since you’ll be using your office for work every day (the setup and heating costs will be worth it).

However, the best choice for you all depends on the size of your shed, your budget, and the amount of free space you have after office essentials, like desks and shelves.

Make sure that your shed is connected to the mains power supply by a qualified technician before you make a decision; you can read our guide here on getting started.

1. Wall-mounted electric panel heaters

The best option for space-saving purposes, wall-mounted electric panel heaters can be installed on the wall of your shed, freeing up floor space.

These slimline radiators are simple to install and distribute heat evenly throughout your shed, so there are no cold spots. Most modern electric panel heaters come with timers and control panels, so you can choose how long they stay on for and adjust the temperature.

Choose this if:

You want something low-maintenance.
You work in your shed most days of the week.
Your shed is well-insulated.

2. Electric radiators and oil-filled radiators

A classic choice, electric and oil-filled radiators are great for heating small rooms, like a garden shed, but they do so in different ways.

Electric radiators are commonly wall-mounted, like a standard radiator, while oil-filled units are portable, allowing them to be moved around the room. The latter is the best choice if you want something more flexible and temporary.

Plus, oil-filled radiators have warm oil inside that continues to release heat even after you switch them off. If you’ve invested in a larger shed, an electric radiator may be the better choice, since they tend to emit more heat across the entirety of the room.

These are good options if:

You want steady warmth through the day.
You’re on a tighter budget and don’t mind a freestanding unit.
You use your garden office a few days a week rather than all day, every day.

3. Infrared panels

A fancier, more modern investment, infrared panel heaters actually warm people and objects rather than the room itself.

These heaters provide targeted, direct warmth to workers sitting in their shed, meaning you warm up much quicker than with a traditional radiator. Many hybrid workers love these heaters because they save time and energy by heating only the areas you use, focusing on heating the most important thing: you.

Infrared panels tend to suit people who:

Want heat they can feel quite quickly when they sit down.
Have a dedicated desk or area that they always work from.
Prefer a slim panel on the wall or ceiling instead of a bulky radiator.

4. Underfloor heating

A bit more complicated and expensive setup (but completely worth it) is underfloor heating. We highly recommend this for people who constantly work from their garden and use their shed for hours on end every day.

Underfloor heating will transform your shed into a cosy space, keeping your feet warm and your muscles relaxed while sitting at a desk all day. If you’re going to choose this, make sure you install it when you first set up your new shed, as it’s trickier and more expensive to add later once the floor is down.

You can choose between an electric matting or a “wet” system linked to a heat pump or other source, both providing an even distribution of heat. Here’s why you should consider this setup:

There’s no heater on the wall, which creates more space for furniture.
It keeps extremities toasty and makes your shed more comfortable to work in.
It’s a low-maintenance option which works well with engineered wood and laminate.

However, it takes a while to heat up, so it’s best to leave it on for a bit before you’re due to start work. That way, your shed will be warm and ready for you.

Low-energy habits that keep you warm at your desk

Besides installing a good heating system, there are a few other things you can do every day during autumn and winter to stay warm and comfortable in your shed.

These tips are great for those who need to cut back on heating costs or for people who just perform better at work when they feel comfortable and snug. Here are a few things you can do that take only a few minutes to make working from your garden office that much better:

Wear some thermal layers: Add leg warmers, wrist warmers, and thermal socks to your work-from-home outfit to make a world of difference. It’ll keep the extremities warm while you type away.
Heated desk setup: Add small under-desk heaters (safe to use in sheds), heated blankets, or a heated mouse pad to your workspace to keep it constantly warm.
Hot water bottles: If you feel the cold a lot, heat one before you start working and keep it on your lap to stay focused. It’s also great for relieving back pain from sitting in your desk chair.
Hot flasks: We all know how much a cup of coffee or a brew can keep us going when we’re struggling through the workday. Placing your drink in a flask will help it last longer, so you stay more productive.
Dress in warm, soft clothes: If you’re someone who can get away with working in pyjamas, then working in an oodie, soft jumper, or dressing gown could be just the thing to get you through the workday.
Add a plush rug under your desk: Placing a soft, warm rug under your desk will help keep your feet warmer while they rest on the floor. It’ll also provide another layer of insulation for your shed floors.
Heated foot and hand warmers: If you want to go all out, invest in a heated foot warmer that you can slip your feet into like one giant slipper. These heat up electrically to keep your toes toasty all day. Classic hand warmers that come in a packet are also a great investment.
Create a consistent pre-work routine: Getting your blood pumping in the morning with a quick pre-work stretch and yoga session is great for keeping the cold at bay. We also recommend heating your shed office up around 30 minutes before you’re due to start work.

Transform your home work life with Atlas Sheds

If you’re tired of your old shed making it impossible to stay focused on work, or your desk is placed in a small, dull box room, then it’s time to upgrade.

At Atlas Sheds, we have a beautiful, modern selection of garden offices to choose from, fitted with stunning large bi-fold doors and well-insulated windows for plenty of natural light.

Built with long-lasting timber that’s being sustainably sourced from European forests, these are designed to withstand harsh weather, keeping your workspace dry and comfortable all year round. Plus, we have a range of sizes for every type of garden and office!

Visit our showroom in Liverpool or Warrington to see what we have on offer in person.