ZomePod vs ZomeOffice vs ZomeStudio: Which Backyard Space Fits You?
You Don’t Need More House. You May Just Need One Space That’s Truly Separate.
Image courtesy of Zomes.
By Brannon Elms Home Eden September 29th, 2026
Inside the unusual backyard rooms designed to give work, creativity, peace-or whatever matters to you-a place of its own.
There’s a strange thing that happens when your home starts doing too many jobs.
The dining table becomes a desk.
The spare bedroom becomes an office.
The kitchen becomes the place you answer emails between making dinner.
Your painting supplies get packed away every time somebody needs the room.
The exercise mat gets rolled back into the cupboard.
And even when the laptop finally closes, work is still sitting there… a few feet away.
At first, it can seem like a simple space problem.
“I just need another room.”
But for many homeowners, that isn’t quite the problem.
Because another desk doesn’t necessarily stop the interruptions.
Rearranging the spare bedroom doesn’t create a real boundary between working and living.
And carving another corner out of the house still leaves different parts of your life competing for the same environment.
Sometimes, what you’re really missing isn’t more square footage.
It’s separation.
And that distinction has led some homeowners to look beyond the four walls of their house altogether.
*Disclaimer: Home Eden may earn a commission if you purchase a product through links provided on this page. This does not affect the price you pay.
What If Something Important in Your Life Had a Place of Its Own?
Imagine finishing breakfast in the morning.
Instead of carrying your coffee upstairs, clearing yesterday’s laundry off the chair and opening your laptop in the same room where you slept…
You step outside.
Walk across the garden.
Open a door.
And enter a space that exists specifically for what you’re about to do.
Your desk is already set up.
Your monitors stay where you left them.
The door closes behind you.
The house is still only seconds away.
But you’re no longer quite in it.
For a remote professional, that could mean a dedicated workspace away from the normal flow of family life.
For an artist, it could mean leaving canvases, tools and materials exactly where they belong instead of repeatedly packing everything away.
For someone who values quiet, it could simply mean having somewhere to read, write, meditate or think without another room simultaneously asking to be something else.
And at the end of the day?
You leave.
You cross the garden.
And you come home.
It’s a tiny commute.
But psychologically, it can represent something much bigger:
A boundary you can physically step across.
That’s Why Backyard Rooms Are Becoming Interesting
Of course, the idea of creating another space on your property isn’t new.
Homeowners have been converting garages, upgrading sheds, building additions and installing backyard offices for years.
And depending on your property, budget and intended use, any of those could be the better choice.
A spare bedroom may cost almost nothing to repurpose.
A conventional shed may be considerably cheaper.
A full addition may integrate more naturally with the house.
An ADU (accessory dwelling unit) can offer capabilities that a simple backyard room cannot.
But for someone who specifically wants a dedicated environment without turning their main home into a construction project, there is another category worth considering:
The detached backyard room.
And one particularly unusual version has been attracting attention because it looks almost nothing like the rectangular backyard office you might expect.
They’re called Zomes.
So… What Exactly Is a Zome?
At first glance, it looks somewhere between a modern architectural pavilion, a dome and something you might expect to find much further in the future.
But the idea behind it is fairly straightforward.
A Zome is a prefabricated, panelized backyard structure that forms a polar zonahedron design that come together to create its distinctive non-rectangular form.
Rather than trying to disguise itself as a miniature version of your house, the architecture deliberately feels different.
And that may be part of the appeal.
Because if the entire reason for creating this space is to separate one activity from everything happening inside your home…
Should it necessarily feel like just another room in the house?
For some homeowners, probably not.
Zomes currently offers three different sizes designed around very different amounts of space:
ZomePod — 120 sq. ft.
ZomeOffice — 170 sq. ft.
ZomeStudio — 300 sq. ft.
And while they share the same recognizable architectural language, choosing between them isn’t simply a matter of deciding how much money you want to spend.
The more useful question is:
What deserves a place of its own and how much space does it actually need?
The ZomePod: When You Don’t Need Another Room for Everyone. You Need One for Yourself.
Image courtesy of Zomes.
120 sq. ft. | Starting around $19,950
The smallest of the three is the ZomePod.
And its size arguably makes the most sense when you stop thinking about it as a miniature house. Instead, think of it as personal-scale space.
A writing desk.
A comfortable chair.
Books.
A meditation area.
A compact creative setup.
A private office.
A place to read.
A place to think.
A place where you can leave something important set up instead of continually folding it back into the rest of the house. That distinction matters.
Because sometimes the dream isn’t:
“I wish my house was 500 square feet bigger.”
It’s:
“I wish I had one small place that was actually mine.”
That’s where the ZomePod becomes interesting.
Its 120-square-foot footprint naturally limits what you can ask it to do-which is worth being honest about.
If you want multiple workstations, extensive storage, large equipment, substantial guest accommodation or a room that several people can comfortably use together, moving up in size is likely to make more sense.
But if the intended activity is inherently personal?
The smaller footprint can be part of the point.
You aren't creating another general-purpose room for the household to slowly reclaim.
You're creating a deliberate destination.
A few steps from home. But separate from it.
I need somewhere for me → Explore ZomePod
The ZomeOffice: The 20-Second Commute
Image courtesy of Zomes.
170 sq. ft. | Starting around $22,950
For someone working remotely on a regular basis, the middle model may be the most immediately understandable.
Because working from home solved one problem extraordinarily well:
the commute.
But for some people, it created another. There is no longer a journey separating one role from the other.
The bedroom can become the workplace.
The kitchen can become the break room.
Household interruptions enter the working day.
And the working day can quietly leak back into the evening.
The ZomeOffice approaches that problem in an interesting way.
It lets you remain at home… without necessarily working inside your home.
At 170 square feet, it provides more breathing room than the Pod for a serious desk setup, office furniture, storage or a small secondary zone-depending, of course, on your particular layout and equipment.
But the more interesting feature isn't necessarily the additional 50 square feet.
It’s the door.
Because closing a door inside the spare bedroom and closing the door of a building that physically sits outside your home are not quite the same experience.
One says:
“I'm working in another room.”
The other can create a much clearer ritual:
“I'm going to work.”
And when you cross the garden in the opposite direction later:
“I'm home.”
No traffic.
No train.
No hour-long journey.
Just enough distance to create a boundary.
For someone whose biggest frustration with remote work isn't the work itself, but the feeling that work and home have gradually become the same place and that may be the more meaningful benefit.
I need somewhere for my work → Explore ZomeOffice
The ZomeStudio: When the Idea Needs Room to Grow
Image courtesy of Zomes.
300 sq. ft. | Starting around $29,950
Then there’s the ZomeStudio.
At 300 square feet, this is a noticeably different proposition.
Rather than asking:
“How little space do I need?”
the Studio makes more sense for someone asking:
“What might I eventually want this space to become?”
Perhaps today it’s an art studio. But you need room for large work surfaces, materials and storage.
Perhaps it’s a music space with equipment that you don't want to dismantle every evening.
Perhaps two people need to work there.
Perhaps you want a larger creative room.
Perhaps your priority is a flexible family or guest space, subject to whatever local requirements apply to your intended use.
Or you simply don't want to spend five figures creating a detached room only to discover two years later that you've already outgrown it.
That's the fundamental trade-off.
The Pod gives you compactness.
The Office gives you a more dedicated everyday workspace.
The Studio gives you flexibility.
Not because 300 square feet automatically makes it suitable for every imaginable use-it doesn't. But because more floor area gives you more freedom to create distinct zones and adapt the interior as your needs change.
So the decision between the three isn't really:
Small. Medium. Large.
It's closer to:
Personal. Dedicated. Expansive.
And before deciding which one sounds right, there’s a more important question to answer. Because a Zome can look extraordinary in photographs. It can give an important part of your life somewhere to belong.
And one of these three sizes may seem almost tailor-made for what you've been imagining.
But that still doesn't mean you should buy one.
One customer Sean took it upon himself to use his Zome as part of an AirBnB scheme which he says on Zomes website:
"We AirBnB our Zome non stop. People love it. There is something special about round spaces. It just feels better.”
-Sean B.
-Santa Cruz, CA
So, before spending 20,000–30,000+ on any backyard structure, there are several things you should understand about what you're actually getting and the costs, installation requirements and trade-offs that don't fit quite as neatly into the starting price.
And that’s where the decision gets much more interesting…
I need somewhere with room for more → Explore ZomeStudio
What Does a Zome Actually Cost Once It’s in Your Backyard?
This may be the most important part of the entire comparison.
Because the starting prices are easy to understand:
ZomePod — around $19,950
ZomeOffice — around $22,950
ZomeStudio — around $29,950
But the number that ultimately matters isn't necessarily the price of the structure.
It’s the cost of the finished space you can actually use.
And those aren't always the same thing.
Depending on your property, location, intended use and configuration, your complete project may also involve things like:
-
Site preparation
-
A suitable foundation
-
Delivery-related costs
-
Assembly or installation labor
-
Electrical work
-
Internet/data connection
-
Heating and cooling
-
Interior furnishings
-
Local permits or engineering requirements
-
Plumbing, if your intended use requires it
In regards to one of those factors, the heating and cooling aspect was praised by this customer on the Zomes website claiming:
"The insulation in the Zome is fantastic; it’s cozy in the winter and cool in the summer."
-Holly A.
-Asheville, NC
So, not every project will require every item on that list.
And the cost of those items can vary significantly from one property to another.
That makes it difficult and potentially misleading to take a starting price and pretend it represents a universal “all-in” number.
Despite this, no matter what the final cost may turn out to be the good news is Zomes does offer a viable option with financing through RenoFi where some customers are paying as low as $172/month!
So before falling in love with a particular model, there's a better question to ask:
What would it take to make this Zome work on my property, for the way I actually intend to use it?
That question can save you from one of the biggest mistakes people make with backyard structures:
Buying the building before fully understanding the project.
And Yes… You May Need a Permit
This is another area where it pays to be careful.
You may see backyard structures advertised online with language suggesting that smaller buildings are “permit-free.”
But there isn't one universal rule that applies to every property in the United States.
Requirements can vary according to factors such as your jurisdiction, the size and placement of the structure, setbacks, foundation, utilities and importantly what you intend to do inside it.
A simple accessory structure may be treated differently from a space intended for sleeping or other uses. This is further clarified in the Zomes FAQ section on their website along with a downloadable Permitting Guide for more information.
So the responsible approach is simple:
Check the requirements that apply to your property before purchasing.
That isn't particularly exciting marketing advice.
But on a five-figure project, boring questions asked early can prevent very expensive problems later.
And the same principle applies to the site itself.
Is the ground suitable?
Does it need preparation?
What foundation will be required?
Can the components reach the intended location?
How will electricity get there?
Do you need heating or cooling for your climate?
If you're planning a more complex use, are additional services required?
These questions don't make Zomes less appealing.
They help determine whether one is actually appropriate for you.
As regards towards assembly time they can vary by model and depend on team size and experience and after the foundations have been completed:
- ZomeStudio: 4 people, 7-10 days
- ZomeOffice & ZomePod: 3-4 people, 5-7 days
One customer review on the Zomes website said:
"I can't believe how quickly it went up. Install crew was friendly and professional. So far, so good.”
-Molly D.
-Austin, TX
What Makes a Zome Different From Just Buying a Shed?
Image courtesy of Zomes.
This is probably one of the fairest questions you could ask.
Because if your only objective is:
“I need somewhere outside to store things.”
a conventional shed could make considerably more financial sense.
And even if you want somewhere to work, there are plenty of conventional rectangular backyard offices on the market.
So why consider a Zome?
Part of the answer is construction.
Zomes uses a panelized structural system assembled into its distinctive geometric form, creating an insulated enclosed space rather than simply approaching the project as a basic garden outbuilding.
But arguably the more obvious difference is one you don't need an engineering degree to notice.
It doesn't feel like a shed.
And for the right buyer, that's important.
Remember what we're actually trying to create here.
Not simply more enclosed square footage.
A place associated with a particular part of your life.
A workspace.
A studio.
A retreat.
A room for something that previously had nowhere permanent to belong. The unusual geometry creates a clear visual distinction between this environment and the house you just left.
That doesn't automatically make it better than a rectangular room. Also, there's no reason to pretend unusual geometry magically makes somebody more creative, productive or relaxed.
But if architecture and the feeling of the environment matter to you, Zomes offers something visibly different from the conventional backyard-office formula.
For some people, that's valuable.
For others?
It won't be.
Who Probably Shouldn’t Buy a Zome?
This might sound like a strange section in an article about Zomes.
But at these prices, “Is this wrong for me?” is just as important as “Which one should I choose?”
A Zome may not make sense if:
You already have an unused room that genuinely solves the problem.
If a spare bedroom gives you the privacy, comfort and separation you need, using it may be considerably cheaper.
Price is your overriding priority.
There are less expensive ways to create an enclosed backyard space.
You primarily need storage. The architectural design and finished-space characteristics of a Zome may be unnecessary for what is essentially a storage problem.
You specifically want a conventional rectangular interior. The geometry is one of the defining characteristics of a Zome. If you dislike it, trying to convince yourself otherwise defeats the point.
Your intended use requires capabilities the structure doesn't provide as configured.
Sleeping, rental, plumbing and other more complex uses can introduce additional requirements that need to be investigated before purchase.
You haven't checked whether the project is feasible on your property. Site conditions and local requirements should be understood before committing significant money.
And perhaps most importantly:
You don't have a clear reason for wanting the space.
A beautiful backyard building that rarely gets used is still an expensive backyard building.
The strongest reason to create one isn't:
“It would look cool in my yard.”
It's:
“There is something I do often enough, and care about enough, that giving it a permanent space would meaningfully improve the way I live.”
If you can't identify what that is yet, it may be worth waiting.
So Which Zome Actually Fits You?
Once you strip away the photographs, architecture and novelty, the decision becomes surprisingly practical.
Don't start with:
“Which one can I afford?”
Start with:
“What will actually happen inside this room?”
Then work outward.
Choose the ZomePod if…
You primarily want a personal space for one person.
Your setup is relatively compact.
And you value having somewhere private more than having large amounts of floor area.
Think:
-
Writing
-
Reading
-
Meditation
-
Focused solo work
-
Compact creative work
-
A personal retreat
-
A simple desk setup
The Pod is particularly interesting when the activity itself doesn't require much room.
You're not paying for space simply because more sounds better.
You're creating just enough space for something important to have a permanent home.
Image courtesy of Zomes.
Choose the ZomeOffice if…
Your primary objective is creating a serious, everyday workspace away from the main house.
You want room for a more substantial desk setup, office furniture, storage or a secondary seating/work area depending on your configuration.
And most importantly, you want to preserve the convenience of working from home while creating a clearer physical distinction between:
work
and
home.
For the remote professional whose existing arrangement technically works but never really feels separate, the Office may represent the most natural middle ground.
Image courtesy of Zomes.
Choose the ZomeStudio if…
Your plans require more movement, more equipment, more people or more flexibility.
Perhaps the room needs to accommodate larger creative projects.
Perhaps you're concerned about outgrowing a smaller structure.
Perhaps its purpose may evolve over time.
Or you're deliberately creating something broader than a personal office.
The additional square footage gives you more options.
But don't buy the Studio simply because it's the biggest.
If everything you intend to do comfortably fits inside the Office or Pod, those smaller models may be the more rational choice.
Image courtesy of Zomes.
The Simplest Way to Think About All Three
Forget the model names for a moment.
Think:
ZomePod
“I need somewhere for me.”
ZomeOffice
“I need somewhere for my work.”
ZomeStudio
“I need somewhere with room for more.”
That's not a rigid rule.
Each structure can support multiple uses.
But it's a useful starting point because it puts the decision back where it belongs:
your life first, square footage second.
Maybe You Don’t Need More House After All
It's easy to assume that when your home starts feeling too small, the answer is to make the house bigger.
Sometimes it is...
But sometimes the frustration isn't really coming from the number of square feet you own.
It's coming from asking the same square feet to do too many things.
The bedroom has to accommodate sleep and work.
The dining room has to accommodate dinner and Zoom meetings.
The spare room has to accommodate guests and storage and your hobbies.
The house isn't necessarily too small. Different parts of your life simply have nowhere else to go. That's what makes the idea behind a detached backyard room compelling.
You don't necessarily have to move further away.
You don't necessarily need a longer commute.
And you don't necessarily have to make the activity disappear back into a cupboard every evening.
You give it a door.
A destination.
A place where things can stay exactly where you left them.
And when you're finished?
You step outside.
Walk a few seconds across the garden.
And leave that part of your day behind you.
Give Something Important in Your Life a Place of Its Own
Zomes won't make sense for every property.
They won't fit every budget.
And they certainly aren't the only way to create additional space at home.
But if you've reached the point where work, creativity, peace-or something else you genuinely care about has outgrown the space you've been giving it, they're an unusual option worth investigating.
The next step isn't necessarily buying one.
It's simply figuring out whether the idea works for your property, your plans and your budget.
And if it does, which of the three actually fits the life you're trying to create.
ZomePod
For personal-scale space.
ZomeOffice
For dedicated work/home separation.
ZomeStudio
For larger, more flexible ambitions.
*Before purchasing, confirm current product specifications, total project requirements, site suitability and applicable local permitting/zoning requirements for your intended use.