Forget an extension or bigger house... get a 'garden room'! Why middle-class homeowners are splurging on bespoke cabins - featuring saunas and steam rooms - instead of upping sticks (and even stars like Amanda Holden are embracing the must-have!)

It's the age-old question when you're looking for more space: Do you relocate or do you add on an expensive extension to your home? Maybe a loft conversion?But now, it seems middle-class homeowners are reaching for a different conclusion entirely: a 'garden room'. These can cost as little as £4,000 for a whole extra area – and they can even increase the value of your property.An upgrade from a small standalone shed – and yet not quite as arduous and involved as an extension – these sleek, contained and often fully insulated builds are closer to a mini cabin, offering a spacious nook within the confines of your outside space.A-listers including the Beckhams, Amanda Holden and Lord Alan Sugar have all invested in the structures, at various price points.And now, mere mortals are catching the bug too – with the main appeal coming from the fact that no planning permission is needed to set them up.Some 60 per cent of homeowners would consider it an option over moving for extra space, Electric Radiators Direct found, while estate agents say it could be a low-cost investment for those hoping to sell in the future.One woman revealed how she avoided £20,000 in moving costs and a £500 monthly mortgage increase by investing in a garden room.Cheryl Crossley, 37, from Leeds, was pregnant and needed more space – so she chose to turn her home office into a nursery. Meanwhile, she invested in a new garden room office for just £13,500.'We had our house valued at around £335,000 and explored the cost to move, around £20,000, as well as the cost of a property with the extra space we needed, which was closer to £450,000,' she added. A-listers including the Beckhams, Amanda Holden and Lord Alan Sugar have all invested into the structures, at various price points'We got quotes for garden rooms as an alternative, and even at the top end (£25,000) it still made more financial sense to go down this route.'We will still move at some point, but the garden room has probably bought us another three to four years here, which is great.' Realtors said 'while the project may not deliver immediate profit, it would likely break even'.Property buying agent Robin Edwards, of Curetons, said: 'A well-built and insulated garden room can typically add between 5 per cent and 15 per cent to a property's overall value. Buyers increasingly see garden rooms as a genuine extension of the home.'Glossy social media videos show the various different functions people have been setting up garden rooms for, with options ranging in size.Some are snug 'cabins' sized around 10 x 8ft, whereas others can reach the 30 x 11ft range.The Beckhams have given sneak peeks into a creative glasshouse-inspired dining room in their garden In 2022, Amanda Holden revealed that she got a custom-room created 'for making bubbles and snuggles in the back garden even better'An upgrade from a small standalone shed these sleek, contained and often fully insulated builds are closer to a mini cabinHomeowners have used them as utility and laundry rooms, home offices, studios and 'second living rooms', as well as spaces for hosting.On the higher end, there have even been saunas and steam rooms installed inside.In 2022, Amanda Holden revealed that she got a custom-room created 'for making bubbles and snuggles in the back garden even better'.'Perfect for a sneaky afternoon disco nap too!' she shared.Elsewhere, the Beckhams have given sneak peeks into a creative glasshouse-inspired dining room in their garden, while Lord Alan Sugar and Duncan Bannatyne are among the famous faces who have invested in luxury options from bespoke business Crown Pavilions.Rooms can go for £48,000 and the website touts: 'We have been building the world's most desirable, residential-grade garden rooms in the UK for two decades.'Our delighted clients include royalty, celebrities, even a local baker requiring a garden workshop.'Every client approaches us for the same reasons: because they've heard that we are "the best money can buy" with a bespoke, five-star service to match.'