Open-Plan Studio Annexes
Updated: 17 January 2026
Rather than dividing the floor plan with partition walls, some garden annexe buyers choose to define different areas of their annexe using furniture, keeping partition walls only for the bathroom. This open-plan studio apartment approach can be particularly effective if you want to maximise manoeuvrability, making a small garden annexe feel much larger than it would if divided into separate rooms. Open-plan layouts offer a flexible living arrangement, ideal for those who want to create a sense of spaciousness and flow within a compact footprint.
The projects we are sharing below have been completed by a range of companies, showcasing how skilled designers can balance the available garden space with the family’s specific requirements. These projects range from compact en-suite bedrooms to more spacious open-plan layouts with enough room to define cooking, living, and sleeping areas.
These annexes are a mix of permanent residences, built with Full Householder Planning Consent and Building Control sign-off, as well as mobile homes designed under the Caravan Act with Lawful Development Certificates confirming their legal status.
If you’re considering a more defined layout, take a look at our collection of one-bedroom garden annexe examples. And for those in need of additional bedrooms, you can explore the two, three, and four-bedroom annexe projects we’ve featured.
We have sorted the open-plan garden annexe articles by footprint size, from smallest to largest, to help you easily explore the options.
This 19.84 sqm small granny annexe, designed by Ark Design Build, demonstrates how functional living spaces can be created in compact gardens. Measuring 3.2m by 6.2m, this contemporary annexe was built for a family in Esher to provide private accommodation for the client’s mother during extended stays. The annexe features a light-filled main room with a mono-pitched roofline, large roof window, and sliding doors. It includes a fully equipped en-suite shower room and a small kitchenette, making it a self-contained space. Ark Design Build managed every aspect of the project, including planning, Building Control approval, and connections to mains services, ensuring a seamless build.
This 20.65 sqm en-suite garden bedroom, designed by Executive Garden Rooms, offers a low-maintenance, self-contained living space ideal for hosting guests. Measuring 5.9m by 3.5m, the bespoke design includes a double bedroom with a living area and a well-equipped shower room. The annexe is clad in Cedral fibre cement boards, chosen for their durability and low maintenance, in a soft green-grey paired with anthracite grey uPVC frames. Executive Garden Rooms handled all groundworks and connections to the mains, ensuring the project met Building Regulations as part of their turnkey service.
This 21.6 sqm en-suite garden bedroom, designed by Executive Garden Rooms, offers a stylish and comfortable guest suite for a family in Dorset. Built on a 6m x 3.6m footprint, the garden room provides a spacious bedroom with room for a double bed, storage, and a sofa bed for visiting grandchildren. The wrap-around glazing, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors, allows plenty of natural light while offering garden views. A modern shower room completes the space. As part of their turnkey service, Executive Garden Rooms managed everything from planning and building control approvals to final utility connections, ensuring the annexe is fully compliant and comfortable year-round.
This 21.76 sqm en-suite garden bedroom, designed by Annexe Spaces, offers a practical solution for homeowners who need extra space but face restrictions on traditional home extensions. Built after the client’s house extension plans were rejected, the compact annexe features a crisp, brilliant white Silicon K-Render finish on three sides, paired with dark grey doors, windows, and composite decking. The main room includes space for a bed and seating, while the fully tiled shower room is equipped with a spacious shower and modern amenities. With oak-effect laminate flooring, plastered walls, and LED lighting, the annexe delivers a high-quality, new-build feel.
This 24 sqm one-person granny annexe by Executive Garden Rooms is a compact, self-contained home designed for independent living. Commissioned for the client's father, the annexe features a multifunctional living area that doubles as a bedroom, a kitchen with a combi-oven and space for a washing machine, and a well-specified shower room. Equipped with ample power sockets, Cat6 cabling for reliable internet, and LED downlights, the annexe is practical and comfortable. The roof is finished with a sedum blanket, adding thermal insulation and blending the building into its garden surroundings. Executive Garden Rooms managed the entire project, including planning permission, building control, and all necessary groundworks.
This 25.8 sqm self-contained bedroom annexe, designed by Executive Garden Rooms, provides a spacious and fully equipped living space within the garden. Built on a 6m x 4.3m footprint, this turnkey project includes a large open-plan room with space for a double bed, storage, and seating, plus a modern kitchenette and en-suite shower room. Executive Garden Rooms handled the entire process, from design and securing Planning Permission to final decoration and mains service connections. The high-spec interior includes LED downlights, an electric wall heater, and a Cat6 data point, ensuring year-round comfort and convenience for guests.
This 30 sqm family garden annexe, designed by Ark Design Build, offers a versatile and light-filled space suitable for the whole family. Featuring a spacious main room with a modern kitchen, shower room, utility room, and storage, the annexe is fully self-contained. The pitched roof design not only complements the surrounding garden but also incorporates skylights that flood the interior with natural light. Built in compliance with Permitted Development regulations, the annexe blends style with practicality. High-spec finishes, including herringbone flooring and exposed timber beams, add character. Externally, the annexe is clad in Western Red Cedar with dark grey aluminium doors and brass fittings. Ark Design Build managed every aspect of the project, from design to final utility connections, ensuring it met Building Regulation standards for sleeping accommodation.
This self-contained holiday let annexe, designed by Miniature Manors, showcases how with the right permissions, a garden building can be designed to provide a regular income stream. Replacing an old garage, the 30 sqm annexe includes a large living space with a double bed, seating area, and French doors that open onto a decked terrace. A well-equipped kitchen and modern shower room complete the layout. With its contemporary exterior detailing and bright, plastered interior, the annexe offers a stylish retreat for paying guests. Miniature Manors handled planning and building control approvals, ensuring the annexe met all regulations.
This 30 sqm five-sided garden annexe, designed by Executive Garden Rooms, maximises space in an irregularly shaped garden. Built as a one-person home, the open-plan layout features zones for cooking, dining, living, and sleeping, with a half-height wall providing privacy for the bedroom area. The annexe includes a modern kitchen and spacious shower room, along with a pressurised water system for consistent water pressure. Finished with a contemporary off-white render and grey aluminium doors and windows, the annexe blends style with practicality. Executive Garden Rooms handled planning permission, building control, and all groundworks as part of their turnkey service.
This 35.1 sqm garden room, designed by Executive Garden Rooms, offers a versatile living space tailored to suit the needs of the whole family. Measuring 7.8m by 4.5m, the room includes a well-specified shower room and kitchenette, making it ideal for guests. A key design feature is the half-height wall, which zones the space into distinct areas for relaxation, work, and entertainment, without compromising the open-plan feel. The room also features discreet fitted furniture, adding to its functionality. Executive Garden Rooms handled every aspect of the project, from planning to final utility connections, ensuring the building met with all planning and Building Control requirements, including within a Conservation Area.
This 37.5 sqm garden annexe by Ark Design Build showcases how a modern, high-spec studio apartment can be seamlessly integrated into a garden setting. Centrally positioned within the garden, the annexe benefits from garden views on both sides and features two sets of bi-fold doors, allowing plenty of natural light. The open-plan space includes cleverly designed fitted furniture that defines living, dining, and sleeping areas, with a compact yet functional kitchen and shower room. Key features include integral blinds, external downlights, and space for a future wood burner, making this a stylish and practical self-contained apartment.
This 37.9 sqm garden annexe, designed by Swift Unlimited, combines the functionality of a home office with the flexibility of being able to use it as guest accommodation. Measuring 8.15m by 4.65m, the building features extensive glazing, including large powder-coated aluminium sliding doors that create a striking corner of glass, seamlessly connecting the interior with the garden. Fully complying with Building Regulations, the room doubles as a comfortable guest bedroom when needed. The annexe building has an overall height of 2.9m, meeting the client’s vision for a taller, light-filled space.
This 38.28 sqm open-plan garden annexe, designed by Miniature Manors, offers a contemporary living space seamlessly connected to its rural Surrey surroundings. Measuring 8.7m by 4.4m, the annexe features a striking exterior with black and oak Millboard cladding, which lends it a modern, barn-like appearance. Inside, the open-plan layout includes a bespoke Shaker-style kitchen with a picture window framing garden views and a spacious shower room. Two sets of bi-fold doors in a corner configuration connect the living area to the garden, enhancing the indoor-outdoor flow. Miniature Manors managed the entire project, from planning approval to final connections, delivering a move-in-ready home.
This 40sqm garden annexe, designed by Timeless Garden Rooms, is a versatile retreat built with teenage independence in mind. Featuring a spacious main room, kitchenette, shower room, and even a sleeping deck, this annexe serves as both a private hangout and guest accommodation. The asymmetrical roofline adds character while complying with planning requirements. With weatherboard cladding and Western Red Cedar shingles, the annexe blends seamlessly into the garden, enhanced by three sets of French doors connecting the indoors to the outdoors. Timeless Garden Rooms provided a full turnkey service, managing everything from design to Building Control sign-off.
This 46.2 sqm accessible open-plan garden annexe, designed by A Room in the Garden, offers independent living with a unique character. Measuring 6.6m by 7m, the one-bedroom annexe features a spacious open-plan layout with only one wall separating the kitchen from the fully accessible shower room. A large stained glass window, a nod to the client’s previous home, adds a personal touch. The shower room includes an extra-large cubicle with a bench seat for accessibility. Externally, the annexe is clad in low-maintenance black corrugated metal, complemented by black uPVC doors and windows. A Room in the Garden handled the full project, including all utility connections, ensuring a hassle-free build.
This 6m x 8.5m L-shaped garden annexe by Annexe Spaces is a cleverly designed home tailored for accessible living. Built for a young man, the annexe combines style and practicality across an open-plan layout that flows onto a level decked terrace. A wheelchair-friendly shower room is discreetly positioned in the corner of the L-shape, while the main living area includes a curtained sleeping zone and space for a home gym. Dark grey composite decking, low-threshold doors, and smart zoning make this compact annexe feel open and connected to the garden. Annexe Spaces handled the entire project, including mains connections and interior fit-out.