8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 73 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v ON THE HOME FRONT MM SALES & LETTINGS Visit us in branch | Call 023 8084 3094| info@mmsalesandlettings.co.uk At MM Sales & Lettings, we combine local knowledge, professional marketing and over 30 years’ experience to help achieve the best possible price for your property. We offer: • Free, no-obligation sales valuations • Competitive selling fees • Professional photography and advertising • Accompanied viewings and regular feedback • Honest advice on pricing and presentation • Sales progression from offer through to completion We also provide expert lettings and property management services, including guidance on current legislation. From Hythe and the New Forest, Southampton and across the South Coast — no property is too far. Call today or pop into our Hythe office for a friendly chat. MM SALES & LETTINGS Your local independent property experts THINKING OF SELLING? Taking the worry out of letting your property. Dining Falls Out Of Flavour As Garden Rooms Get A New Purpose Dining is no longer the main reason people are buying garden rooms, with homeowners increasingly transforming them into workspaces, hobby hubs and even private retreats for teenagers, according to new research. e shi in how garden rooms are being used has also seen people invest more than ever before, with the average spend climbing from £12,340 in 2020 to £21,579 today as buyers opt for larger, betterequipped spaces designed for year-round living. Parents are also reclaiming space inside the main home, with 43% of people who have installed a garden room saying they have handed it over to teenage or adult children, giving them their own place to relax while bringing a little more peace and quiet back into the house. e ndings come from luxury outdoor living specialist Crown Pavilions, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and recently exhibited at Southampton International Boat Show. e business, whose clients include Sir Alan Sugar, Duncan Bannatyne, Wayne and Frankie Bridge and Alan Titchmarsh, has witnessed a dramatic shi in buying habits since the pandemic. A recent survey carried out by the company found that more than four in ve (82%) people now see a garden room as a place to pursue a side hustle or hobby, while over half (56%) said they would rather invest in a garden room than go through the expense and disruption of moving house. Other ndings include: • e average garden room size has increased by 30% over the past decade to 12 square metres • Triple glazing has become the standard as homeowners increasingly use garden rooms throughout the year rather than just in the summer months • 91% of new garden rooms now include air conditioning • 74% are tted with a fridge • 47% include kitchen appliances such as cookers or BBQ hot plates • 31% are used as bars • 29% are yoga studios • 22% are home gyms • 9% are now being used as podcast studios Natalie Dejahang, designer and Co-Founder of Crown Pavilions, said: “Twenty years ago, almost every garden room we built was centred around a dining table. Today, they’re completely different spaces that have become genuine extensions of the home. People are looking for somewhere they can work, exercise, run a business, pursue a hobby or simply escape the bustle of family life without the expense of moving house. The flexibility of a garden room means it can evolve alongside a family’s needs. We’re also seeing customers invest more because they want all the comforts of the main home. Features such as air conditioning, kitchens, premium glazing and larger footprints have become increasingly common, allowing people to use their garden rooms every day of the year rather than just when the weather is nice. One of the most interesting trends is the number of families giving the space to teenagers or adult children. It creates an area where they can enjoy a degree of independence while giving everyone else a little more breathing room in the main house.”
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