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Music studio sheds: What you need to know
Whether you’re a professional musician or like to rock out as a hobby, a music studio shed can be a perfect investment for your back garden.
Sturdy, hard-wearing, and secure, garden sheds and outbuildings have come a long way since they were used to store spades and bags of compost! If you want a dedicated space for listening to and making music, they’re a fantastic choice.
If you’re considering a music studio in your garden, this guide will explain everything you need to know, as well as some of our favourite music studio sheds on the market.
What are the benefits of having a music studio shed in the garden?
Creating any shed or outbuilding in your garden is a significant investment, so you want to make sure it’s the right choice and will provide all the benefits you want. Here are just some of the reasons why a music studio shed may be the perfect option for your home.
You can play music without disturbing family and friends
The main benefit of a shed for a music studio is that you have a dedicated space for playing music. You don’t have to sacrifice space in the home, fill up a room with noisy equipment, or disturb everyone while you practice.
You can soundproof your music studio shed to stop noise from leaking out and annoying the neighbours, as well as improve the acoustics of your building. We’ll talk about this in more detail later in the article.
You have a space of your own to inspire creativity
There’s nothing like having your own space to make you feel more creative. After all, it’s hard to practice a musical instrument and get into the groove when you’re surrounded by clothes, paperwork, and toys!
Your very own music studio shed lets you stay organised and gives you the privacy you need. Just step out the back door, walk a couple of metres into your garden, and you’re ready to go.
The best thing is that you can set your music studio shed exactly how you want. You can paint it a motivating colour, hang posters of your favourite artists on the wall, and even add a heater for those chilly winter nights. And, of course, you can extend your wi-fi to your studio shed so you can listen to those Spotify playlists!
You can combine a music studio with other facilities
Not sure if you want a music studio shed, a bar, or a home gym? Why not mix and match? A music studio shed can be as flexible as you like. For example, you can invite your friends around to jam, and wind down with some drinks or a game of pool afterwards!
Do I need planning permission for a music studio shed?
As long as it meets planning regulations, you won’t need planning permission to build a shed for a music studio. Most sheds and cabins are classed as ‘outbuildings,’ which means you can build them without getting planning permission.
You may need planning permission for your music studio shed if:
- It is over 4m tall (or over 2.5m tall if within two metres of a boundary)
- It is on land forward of the front wall of the house
- It (as well as other outbuildings) take up over 50% of the garden
- It will be on a raised platform over 30cm in height like a veranda
- You live in a listed building. There may also be other guidelines in place if you live in a conservation area or national park
- You or someone else plans to live in the music studio shed
Let’s say you want to use your music studio shed as a business, for example, you want to hire it out for people to use. If this is the case, you may need to get planning permission. This is because there will be more traffic and people coming in and out of your garden, which may disturb other residents.
If in doubt, we recommend getting in touch with your local council’s planning department before you start building your music studio shed.
Find out more about planning permission and sheds
How to soundproof your music studio shed
No matter if your instrument of choice is a guitar, drum kit, violin, or your own voice, you want a music studio shed that keeps the noise in. Otherwise, you might get complaints from your neighbours and the local council.
While you can get specialist music studio sheds that are professionally soundproofed, you can effectively soundproof most sheds and cabins. Here’s what to bear in mind when building your brand-new studio:
- Install double-glazed windows and doors – these are better for keeping sound in
- Choose a shed with thicker walls – in our experience, anything that’s over 44mm is best
- Hanging thick curtains will muffle any sound
- Put in a carpet to absorb sound and vibrations or alternatively, thick rugs
- Adding upholstered furniture, like a fabric sofa will absorb sound, and give you somewhere to relax after a busy session!
- Hanging acoustic panels are a good solution if you are looking for a more professional way to soundproof your studio. If you’re looking for something on a budget, soundproofing foam works well too
The added bonus of soundproofing your music studio shed is that it will help keep it warm, making it a nicer place to practice when it’s cold and windy outside.
Remember that while it’s essential to soundproof your music studio shed and keep the noise in, you also want to keep it well-ventilated to avoid high levels of humidity and mould. This doesn’t just damage your shed, but any instruments you may have. Installing air vents and opening the windows and doors when you’re not playing music will help.
Find out more about soundproofing a shed
Sheds for music studios: Our Top Picks
While you can build a music studio shed from scratch, the most cost-effective option is a pre-built one. All the components are delivered to your door, meaning all you have to do is to assemble them.
If you’re dreaming of a music studio shed in your garden, here are our favourite pre-builds to consider:
1. Forest Xtend 3.0
While this shed is on the more compact side, its 97mm thick walls, interior and exterior cladding, and double glazing mean it’s soundproofed and ready to go! Plus, the battens on the inside make it super-easy to add mains electrics if you need them.
2. Palmako Grace with canopy
A music studio shed shouldn’t just function well; it should look stunning too! This beautiful cabin is double-glazed, well-insulated and fully weatherproofed, meaning it will look fantastic for years to come. The unique selling point of this shed though is the eye-catching canopy, which is a wonderful place to relax with a cool drink after a busy recording session.
3. Palmako Ines
A good music studio shed doesn’t have to cost the earth, and the Palmako Ines is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a high-quality shed on a budget. Durable and soundproofed, this cabin comes with gorgeous full-length double-glazed bi-fold doors, great for throwing open and watching the sun set!
4. Mercia Director
This shed is designed as an office space, but it also does double duty as a music studio shed too! The walls are a little thinner than the other options on this list, so you may want to look at some of the soundproofing options we suggested earlier. However, you get a lot of shed for a fantastic price, and the heavy-duty flooring will accommodate all of your musical gear.
5. Palmako Melanie
This is a corner log cabin, meaning it will fit neatly at the back of your garden. Small and expertly crafted, this music studio shed is ideal for soloists and duos looking for a beautiful and stylish place to practice.
6. Palmako Anna
With nearly 27 square feet of space, this luxury log cabin is the Abbey Road of music studios! This music studio shed can neatly be divided into three rooms, meaning you can have a music room as well as a gym, home office, or bar space! Plus, with 70mm thick walls, you can have a great rehearsal space that keeps the neighbours happy.
In summary: Hit the high notes with an amazing music studio shed
With about 36% of adults in the UK playing a musical instrument, a music studio shed is a wonderful addition to any garden space. It gives you the opportunity to get creative and have fun, without worrying about disturbing the peace.
What’s more, there are a fantastic range of pre-built music sheds available to suit every household, garden style, and budget.
Do you have a music studio shed, or are you planning to install one in your garden? Let us know in the comments.
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