Beyond White Walls: Creating a Nordic-Inspired Workspace in the Garden
Published: 26 April 2026
Reading Time: 2 minutes 20 seconds
Garden2Office specialise in bespoke garden rooms built with a Swedish insulated panel system, and this office and store project is a good example of how interior finish choices can completely change the mood of a room. Instead of the more common plastered and decorated or white melamine look, the office uses plywood as the main visual material.
It gives the space a warmer, calmer character and a clear Nordic influence that sits well with the Scandinavian principles often associated with the garden room lifestyle.
A Real Alternative to White Interiors
Plywood-lined rooms are not unusual in garden room design, but this one reads differently because the material is used so consistently across all surfaces. Garden2Office's clients chose plywood for the ceiling, walls, and floor, which is still uncommon in garden offices. Rather than a basic hardwood ply with a pinkish tone, or paler birch plywood, they opted for maple-veneered plywood, which in the photos and video shows a mellow colour and subtle grain.
Rather than treating plywood as a budget compromise, this project uses it as the design language. The result is a workspace with texture and depth, and a very different atmosphere to the plain white finish seen in many garden offices.
High Slot Window Detail
The glazing layout supports that interior styling well. Doors and external frames are Anthracite Grey against black tongue and groove cladding, while the internal frame faces are white, which keeps the room light and pairs well with the colouring of the plywood.
A smart feature is the wide high-level slot window on the left-hand wall. In the photos it frames a flowering tree and brings extra top light into the room. A desk beneath this window would make practical sense, with useful natural working light.
A Practical Side Store
To the right-hand side of the office, there is a discreet store room. This area is also plywood-lined, but with a less refined finish than the main room, which makes sense for a practical space likely to take shelving, hooks, and heavier day-to-day use. It is a pragmatic split between a polished office interior and a robust utility zone.
Swedish Design Principles in Everyday Use
The wider point is that Garden2Office tailor interior finishes around each client's preferences, not just the base specification. As our Garden2Office project archive shows, they regularly adapt the internal palette to suit different aesthetic styles and ways of using the room. For buyers drawn to the Swedish principle of lagom, not too much and not too little, plywood is a stylish alternative to standard white interiors.
It would be interesting to see how the owners furnish the room over time. This palette could sit comfortably with minimalist Scandinavian styling or warmer, more traditional timber furniture.
Learn More
Garden2Office design and build bespoke garden rooms using a Swedish insulated panel system, with options across exterior materials, glazing, and interior finishes. To explore more examples of their work, visit www.garden2office.co.uk, call 0800 612 4371, or email info@garden2office.co.uk.
