How to Set Up Your Perfect Home Office in Your Backyard

In today's rapidly evolving work environment, creating a dedicated workspace at home has become a necessity for many professionals. One innovative solution that combines comfort, functionality, and privacy is setting up a backyard office. Not only does a backyard office provide a distinct workspace, but it also promotes a healthier work-life balance by separating your professional and personal spaces. This guide will walk you through how to set up your perfect home office in your backyard.

Why Choose a Backyard Office for Your Home Office Setup?

Before we dive into the setup process, let's explore why a backyard office could be the ideal choice for your home workspace.

Enhanced Productivity

A backyard office provides a quiet, distraction-free environment, helping you to stay focused and productive. Being physically detached from your home’s daily activities, you can fully dedicate your attention to your work.

Work-Life Balance

Having your workspace a few steps away from your main living area makes it easier to "leave" work at the end of the day. This clear boundary helps prevent work from spilling over into your personal time, promoting a healthier work-life balance.

Customization

One of the biggest advantages of a backyard office is the ability to design and customize it to your liking. From a spacious desk for your design work to a cozy reading nook for when you need a break, your backyard office can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

Now that we've covered the benefits, let's move on to the steps involved in creating your ideal backyard office.

Step 1: Assess Your Needs

The first step in setting up your backyard office is to assess your work needs. Do you need a large desk for drafting or design work? Or maybe a comfortable seating area for client meetings? How about storage for files and supplies? By identifying your specific needs, you can create a functional workspace that suits your work style and requirements.

Step 2: Select the Right Backyard Office Model

Once you've identified your needs, the next step is to select the right backyard office model. At Freestyle Spaces, we offer a range of versatile office models designed with functionality, durability, and aesthetic appeal in mind. Whether you need a compact space for focused work or a larger office to accommodate multiple workstations, we have a model to suit your needs.

Step 3: Design the Interior

Designing the interior of your backyard office is where you can let your creativity shine. Consider factors like ergonomics, storage, lighting, and personal style when planning your interior design. For example, invest in an adjustable chair and desk to promote good posture, and add shelving or cabinets for storage. Incorporate plenty of natural light to create an uplifting workspace and add personal touches to make the space feel inviting.

Step 4: Set Up Your Tech

Your backyard office needs to support all your tech requirements. This means setting up a reliable internet connection – consider hardwiring your office for the internet or investing in a strong Wi-Fi extender. Also, plan for adequate power outlets to accommodate all your devices and consider options for good-quality lighting, especially if you plan to work in the evenings.

Step 5: Consider Comfort

Comfort is crucial in a workspace. Ensure your backyard office is well-insulated for year-round comfort. Incorporate elements like a small fridge for refreshments or a coffee maker for those mid-afternoon pick-me-ups. You might even want a comfortable armchair for reading or brainstorming sessions.

Step 6: Install and Enjoy!

With all the planning and preparation complete, the final step is installation. At Freestyle Spaces, we strive to make this process as quick and painless as possible, minimizing disruption to you and your neighbors. Once installed, your backyard office is ready for you to move in and start enjoying the benefits of your new workspace.

Setting up your perfect home office in your backyard is an exciting process that can significantly enhance your work-from-home experience. Interested in exploring our backyard office options? Visit our Backyard Offices page to learn more or contact us directly at 604 442 6401. We can't wait to help you create your dream workspace.

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Freestyle Spaces Vista Deck Model – As featured on Tiny House Blog

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6 Tiny Home Communities that will Inspire you to get your Own

A new wave of modern minimalism has sent many packing from the traditional two-story bungalow to the suave and sleek tiny home. These miniaturized domiciles have all the necessary amenities of large homes at a fraction of the cost, and people are starting to take notice. Thinking about making the change yourself? Take a look at some of these wonderful tiny home communities.

Park Delta Bay – Isleton, CA

A stone’s throw from the bay area, this tiny home community has a novel way of getting around local zoning regulations. The tiny homes here are all mounted on trailers, making them some of the world’s most attractive RVs. Looking to join in the fun? A number of companies specialize in manufacturing these chic campers and have model homes that you can check out.

LuxTiny Community

Many tiny home communities have a strong focus on sustainability, like Arizona’s LuxTiny Community. Overlooking Phoenix from the majestic White Mountains, this community covers only 6 acres in order to minimize its environmental impact. Once finished the community will be focused on communal resources, including solar panels, gardens, and chickens.

Gracious Tiny House Park – Okeechobee, FL

A lot of tiny home communities spring up from former RV sites. This is the case for Gracious Tiny House Park, which was opened for RV’s in the eighties. Afraid downsizing means leaving luxury behind? This community makes it clear that that isn’t the case, with a gorgeous pool and clubhouse along with waterfront sites for many of the tiny homes there.

Acony Bell Tiny Home Village – Mills River, NC

Springing from the humble beginning of a couple of pals who just couldn’t get enough of the outdoors, Acony bell Tiny Home Village offers the best that the Appalachian wilderness has to offer. Beautiful gardens and trails to spend the days on, and roaring bonfires to pass the nights. Sites are available for both long and short term tenants, making this a great way to dip your toes into the tiny home pool.

Escalante Village – Durango, CO

Magnificent views of the Animas River greet the residents of Escalante Village in Colorado every morning. This tiny home community features many of the staples of tiny home villages, community gardens and wonderful views. Tiny home communities aren’t just for those looking to get off the grid, this one is walking distance from many great stores and restaurants. It shows that tiny housers don’t have to give up the amenities that town life has accustomed them too.

Vintage Grace – Yantis, TX

This picturesque community just east of Dallas offers a refreshing taste of the outdoors. Spread out over 25 acres of beautiful forest this community has four serene ponds to help you take it all in.  Not willing to commit to buying? Tiny home sites are available for lease here, so you can get a piece of the action.

Whether you’re looking to reconnect to the outdoors or disconnect from the hustle and bustle of city life, tiny homes have a lot to offer. These wonderful communities have really paved the way for those interested in becoming tiny homeowners themselves.

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How Young Canadians and Retiring Parents are Saving Money Living in Tiny Homes

Many young Canadians feel that home ownership is a relic of a bygone era. Modern first-time home buyers see the massive colonial and Victorian homes that former generations have aspired to and can’t imagine themselves ever living that way. This new era of economically and environmentally savvy homeowners have come up with a better way – the tiny home.

Today we find ourselves in a world of ever-increasing housing prices, a stark contrast to the stagnating wages of our time. Sure, these rising prices greatly benefit those who bought homes years ago. At the same time, these financial conditions leave new buyers out in the cold. Young Canadians who have grown up believing that owning a big home is the end goal of ‘being an adult’ find themselves pressured to go into massive debt just to be able to purchase their first home.

Alternatively, tiny homes are a way to avoid taking on such debt so early in life. The much more moderately priced tiny homes give Canadian families the means to a much smaller mortgage, or even to buy a home outright. Without the burden of a hefty mortgage payment each month, families can spend their money where they would like to instead of where they have to. For some Canadians, these smaller homes have helped them recover 30 to 40 percent of their household income – a welcome respite to any family. This extra disposable income can also have amazing benefits for a young family, allowing the parents to give their children the best possible start in life.

Canadians under-40 understand that there’s more to their housing choices than money. Tiny homes represent a shift towards a more environmentally friendly way of life. With the threat of climate change and depleting non-renewable resources hanging over their heads, many have chosen a more sustainable way of life. Solar power is a staple of this new housing philosophy. These new homeowners don’t want to find themselves depending on an electrical grid which is, in many cases, supplied by coal-burning power plants. Comparatively, in tiny homes, repurposed and recycled building materials are common in their construction. The inventive ways these small homes reuse materials is astonishing, from counter tops furnished with recycled glass to walls of stacked tires packed with earth. The simple and sustainable way of life that comes with tiny home living seems more appealing to Canadians everyday.

It’s not just the young Canadian family that find themselves attracted to this new way of life. Many retired parents also find that they have more space than they need now that their children have found homes of their own. Moving into a tiny home gives them an environment that is better suited to their current needs. It also allows them to reclaim the money they’ve invested into their previous home, giving them the opportunity to pursue hobbies and leisure activities during their golden years.

This new tiny home movement has found its niche with Canadians young and old.  With more and more Canadians shifting towards greater economic and environmental sustainability, who knows how big the tiny home wave will grow.

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Creating Customized Living Spaces In A Tiny Home Comes Down To You

Living large in a tiny home and customizing it according to your wants is what it’s all about. The exact type of tiny home you have ultimately comes down to you and your preferences. As one of the more unique living arrangements out there, there are no rules when it comes to what you need to have in there – outside of federal or provincial regulation. There’s no cookie-cutter tiny home floor plan you need to abide by. If you want to go with a previously selected template, there’s plenty out there but you always have the opportunity to customize.

In this day and age, being able to customize and/or renovate a property is important to homeowners. It gives them a chance to build in equipment, rooms, and facilities that a home may not already naturally have. The days of formulaic suburban homes are out and trendy customizations are in. As a tiny home builder, we actively encourage our customers to select changes to personalize their tiny home to themselves. There’s no shortage of semi-detached, single-family homes, condos, and townhouses out there that all look and feel the same. Especially in cities like Vancouver and Toronto, where they’re trying to build as quickly as possible, there’s a lot of duplication happening across units far and wide.

Instead of walking the same line as everybody else, create a version of a home on your own terms. Thankfully, with a tiny home, it’s usually a lot less expensive than it would be if you had to do the same in a larger building. In a tiny home, you get to design a home distinct to you. Contrast the colours and aesthetics you want, mixing in simple, modern contemporary elements that reflect what you want. No tiny home should just be a box you live in. We want more! Take the opportunity to really give some thought to what design elements resonate with you.

Outside of the tiny home community, there may be a lot of misunderstandings and a lack of support from family towards you moving into a tiny home. Although the acceptance of tiny homes has come a long way in the last decade, there’s still a category of people who don’t understand how someone could live in such a tiny space. To these people though, we would like to refer them to the thousands of Canadians already living in these spaces. They’ve helped families save up enough money to eventually get into a semi-detached or fully detached property. They’ve given shelter to the homeless and the low-income. They’ve also provided affordable housing to a number of individuals who wouldn’t be able to otherwise afford it.

Tiny homes aren’t cookie-cutter homes and they’re not meant for cookie-cutter people. No home looks identical to the one built next or before. In a tiny home, you could very well design something that no one else has. Choose where you want your ample storage space, decide what you want to hang on the wall and where, identify where you need your electrical outlets, and make your statement! For anyone working with a template, don’t hesitate to make suggestions, requests, or recommendations.

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Tiny Homes can be Used for Camping and Hunting Anywhere in Canada

If you love to go camping, hunting, have a multi-acre property with a lot of forest on it, are looking at possibly building a trailer community, or simply have a knack for being off the grid, have you ever thought about purchasing a tiny home – here’s why it’s something to think about.

Tiny homes are normally associated with minimalist living and those who want to downgrade their living quarters to something small, affordable, and in line with their interests. In the last decade, they’ve also been used by conservationists, workers in remote regions, and everyday Canadians who want to live away from everything. For them, it’s their home. If you’re interested in using tiny homes for camping or hunting, it’s a very affordable setup.

It’s amazing what you can fill into a tiny home and how it can be customized to suit your every need. See a kitchen, sleeping quarters, a fully-equipped shower and bathroom, a fridge, windows, and all sorts of options. There are already conservation parks in Canada and the United States installing tiny homes to provide more unique housing options for camping enthusiasts.

Tine homes have also been purchased and used off-grid as a sort of camping hideout, similar to a cabin or trailer. Unlike a trailer or cabin however, a tiny home is far more inexpensive and customizable, incorporating the details you want rather than providing you with a pre-made design.

Some of the more basic tiny homes can be incredibly affordable to build while others can easily add up to $100,000 or more. Ultimately, the cost does rely on what you want and need in your tiny home. For campers and/or hunters, usually, it’s quite bare so that certainly helps to bring down costs. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a very comfortable place to live though.

Some are sold on wheels while others are on skids. There are also standard models of various sizes which can be selected, if you want to minimize the customizations required or should you be ordering more than one.

If you have a large multi-acre property, maybe you want to install a tiny home a few acres into the forest. Some have done exactly this to attract paid visitors or family and friends, slowly building out small camping sites which one can rent out in the warmer months.

Also, if glamping is your thing, know a tiny home provides all the comforts of home. Throw in a little style and some luxurious accessories, it can be a great way to live in ease while exploring the outdoors for those who may not be interested in going full-on off-the-grid camping with it.

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Why Canadian Cities need to Update Standards of Living to Accommodate Tiny Home Trends

Although we hear so much about the high home prices of Canadian major cities like Toronto, everywhere from Vancouver, BC to Charlottetown, PEI is struggling with high home prices and a significant lack of affordable housing. Despite the fact that tiny home-based minimalist living could be one possible solution to high home prices in major Canadian cities, it’s being shut out by some.

For a single-family home in Toronto or Vancouver, you’re looking at a value of $1.5 million. Canadians save, save, and save for the down-payment for their first home. For those fortunate enough to remain at home rent-free living with family, they may make enough moving money around their student debts to get there. In the meantime, for new immigrant families, minimum-wage workers, the disabled, the vulnerable, and those who do not have the luxury of financial support from family, they’ll likely never get there.

Tiny homes, ranging anywhere from 200 sq. ft. to two or three times that size, may be the answer. Even so, there are specific rules in major cities in tiny homes, micro-suites, and laneway homes that could prevent people from having access to minimalist living. Vancouver residents interested in purchasing a tiny home within city limits are currently being denied by local government who questions whether these small suites are “livable”. Don’t get us wrong – some smaller units certainly can be questioned as to whether they are livable or not. In reality though, tiny homes – that is, those built to be tiny homes – are dream houses for some. Canadians anywhere should be allowed access to tiny home-based minimalist living.

Though tiny homes may not be a full solution to high home prices, they may make for a partial solution. Tiny homes can accommodate so much in a design – including a full-height fridge, oven, cooktop, kitchen sink, dishwasher, washer, dryer, three-piece bathroom, a multi-functional living room, a bedroom, and a dining space. When designed correctly, tiny homes, laneway homes, and micro-suites are as livable as anywhere else in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, Moncton, St. John’s, Charlottetown, or Halifax.

Home affordability remains a growing concern in each of the aforementioned cities and yet, there’s little support in government for laneway housing or tiny homes. As long as these cities refuse to allow permits for these homes, this denies a partial solution that’s worth exploring.

Tiny home neighbourhoods could potentially house everyone from young families to aging seniors, low-income individuals, and those seeking to embody minimalist living ideals. In Seattle, tiny homes are being used to combat homelessness, providing shelter to some of the city’s most vulnerable and they’re very much facing the same bureaucratic struggle we continue in Canada. Beyond the amazing amount of good tiny homes can do for Canada’s most vulnerable, we are also not accommodating the demographic of people who wish to forego the materials, the space, and the “luxuries” they’ve been told they should want.

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Is Tiny Home-Based Minimalist Living the Solution to High Home Prices across Canada’s Biggest Cities

Although we hear so much about the high home prices of Canadian major cities like Toronto, everywhere from Vancouver, BC to Charlottetown, PEI is struggling with high home prices and a significant lack of affordable housing. Despite the fact that tiny home-based minimalist living could be one possible solution to high home prices in major Canadian cities, it’s being shut out by some.

For a single-family home in Toronto or Vancouver, you’re looking at a value of $1.5 million. Canadians save, save, and save for the down-payment for their first home. For those fortunate enough to remain at home rent-free living with family, they may make enough moving money around their student debts to get there. In the meantime, for new immigrant families, minimum-wage workers, the disabled, the vulnerable, and those who do not have the luxury of financial support from family, they’ll likely never get there.

Tiny homes, ranging anywhere from 200 sq. ft. to two or three times that size, may be the answer. Even so, there are specific rules in major cities in tiny homes, micro-suites, and laneway homes that could prevent people from having access to minimalist living. Vancouver residents interested in purchasing a tiny home within city limits are currently being denied by local government who questions whether these small suites are “livable”. Don’t get us wrong – some smaller units certainly can be questioned as to whether they are livable or not. In reality though, tiny homes – that is, those built to be tiny homes – are dream houses for some. Canadians anywhere should be allowed access to tiny home-based minimalist living.

Though tiny homes may not be a full solution to high home prices, they may make for a partial solution. Tiny homes can accommodate so much in a design – including a full-height fridge, oven, cooktop, kitchen sink, dishwasher, washer, dryer, three-piece bathroom, a multi-functional living room, a bedroom, and a dining space. When designed correctly, tiny homes, laneway homes, and micro-suites are as livable as anywhere else in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, Moncton, St. John’s, Charlottetown, or Halifax.

Home affordability remains a growing concern in each of the aforementioned cities and yet, there’s little support in government for laneway housing or tiny homes. As long as these cities refuse to allow permits for these homes, this denies a partial solution that’s worth exploring.

Tiny home neighbourhoods could potentially house everyone from young families to aging seniors, low-income individuals, and those seeking to embody minimalist living ideals. In Seattle, tiny homes are being used to combat homelessness, providing shelter to some of the city’s most vulnerable and they’re very much facing the same bureaucratic struggle we continue in Canada. Beyond the amazing amount of good tiny homes can do for Canada’s most vulnerable, we are also not accommodating the demographic of people who wish to forego the materials, the space, and the “luxuries” they’ve been told they should want.

Any Canadian who wants a tiny home should be allowed to have and build one. That’s what we believe. If you’re interested in owning a tiny home in North America, contact a representative at Freestyle Spaces today.

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4 Reasons Canadians are Choosing Tiny Home Living

Tiny home living is being chosen by more Canadians, including those seeking to outsmart the recent rise in interest rates, those avoiding the record-setting expensive rents, and anyone wanting to do without the difficulty of having to pass the new mortgage stress test. The affordable, trendy tiny home movement might be your solution to home ownership woes. As a growing phenomenon in Canadian real estate, tiny home living is a simpler way to do things and arguably, can provide a more fulfilling life in the long run. We all need a place to call home. These are 4 of the major reasons why Canadians are choosing to set themselves up with a tiny home.

No mortgage

Tiny homes are significantly more affordable than a regular home or condo. The down payment for a single family detached home in the city is oftentimes more than the entire value of a tiny home. If you don’t want your name attached to a mortgage for decades, a tiny home is a simpler way to live without having to spend all that time paying down debt and interest. The logical and financial choice, a tiny home is a great way to avoid what was previously thought to be a necessary component of life. Enjoy a sense of freedom you wouldn’t have otherwise!

Lower living expenses

Another reason why more Canadians are jumping on board with tiny home living is because of the ways in which it lowers their monthly expenses, ensuring they can save more for the future. Regarding expenses, tiny homes require less energy to heat, are easier to clean, and require less investment to oversee in upkeep and maintenance. The financial savings you retain living in a tiny home in Canada means you can put that towards retirement, paying down credit card debt, your own hobbies or artistic pursuits, or investing in professional development or education.

More freedom

A tiny home provides you with more mobility. Any time, you can get up and go if you have a way to transport. If you’re an environmentally conscious Canadian seeking to lower their carbon footprint or potentially go live off the grid, a large variety of tiny home models are capable of relocation. You can move between properties rather easily. The mobility and freedom this provides ensures you don’t need to concern yourself with being tied down to a specific city, province, state, or even country. Needless to say, a tiny home is very mobile.

A more straightforward, simple way of living

A tiny home is oftentimes a space under 400 square feet in total. To some, that’s very limiting however to others, it’s just right in providing liberation, enrichment, and a simpler way to live. Reject the materialism of the age and save your money. Instead of focusing on keeping up with your neighbours or participating in the rat race that occupies so much of our lives, a tiny home shows you what matters in life – family, friends, a good time, and connecting with the elements around you. A tiny home might be your answer to healthier living, ridding yourself of large wardrobes, unnecessary appliances, and space-consuming electronics. 

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