Off Grid & Alternative Living

Backyard Studio Kits in Australia: Why a Yurt Beats a Box

A studio should be somewhere you want to be. Here's the case for going round.

By Ryan Smith, Founder, Denmark WAUpdated 8 min read

An ORON with green walls and a sand coloured roof on a raised platform among tall gums
An ORON with green walls and a sand roof on a raised platform among tall gums.
  • From $14,3505m ORON, ex GST
  • 3.15m to 3.9mCentre height, 5m to 8m
  • 2 to 3 daysTypical yurt assembly
  • Full heightOpening window included

Most backyard studio kits are a box. Four walls, a flat or skillion roof, a door and a window. They do the job. But if you're going to spend your working day, your practice or your creative time out there, the feel of the room matters more than people think.

That's where a yurt earns its place.

What makes a good backyard studio?

After a lot of client builds, we reckon it comes down to five things:

  1. Daylight. You want to work without the lights on.
  2. Head room. Low ceilings feel cramped fast, especially in a small footprint.
  3. Comfort through the seasons. If it's freezing in July or baking in January, you won't use it.
  4. A simple build. Every week spent waiting on trades is a week you're not using it.
  5. A room you like being in. The one people underrate.

ORON was designed to tick all five.

How does a yurt compare with a box-style studio kit?

ORON figures as listed Oct 2026. Box-style column is a general description, not a specific product.
ORON yurtTypical box-style kit
ShapeRound, no corners, open planRectangular
CeilingRises to a central dome: 3.15m in a 5m, up to 3.9m in an 8mUsually flat or skillion
Daylight10mm acrylic dome skylight plus a floor-to-ceiling window as standardDepends on the window package
Insulation10mm wool felt standard, with cold and hot climate upgradesVaries by kit
Interior finishNatural hemp-cotton liner in 9 tones, exposed timber frameUsually lined panels
BuildPlatform, then 2 to 3 days to assemble the yurt with a few helpersVaries by kit

The skylight is the thing people don't expect. With a 10mm acrylic dome right overhead, the light inside is soft and even all day. Add a curved glass bay window facing the garden and the walls almost disappear.

Inside Tanya Green's empty 8m ORON: the acrylic dome skylight at the centre of the pine rafters, with lattice walls and windows all round
Light from above. The dome skylight and rafters in Tanya's 8m ORON, Perth Hills.

Which ORON size suits a backyard studio?

Suggestions only. ORON prices as listed Oct 2026.
UseSize we'd usually suggestFloor areaPrice, ex GST
Home office for one or two5m20 sqm$14,350
Art, craft or music room5m or 6m20 to 30 sqm$14,350 to $16,490
Home gym6m30 sqm$16,490
Office plus a guest bed6m or 7m30 to 40 sqm$16,490 to $18,980
Yoga, wellness or small classes7m or 8m40 to 50 sqm$18,980 to $20,980

The ORON size guide goes deeper on each size.

What can you use an ORON studio for?

Work

Home office

Out of the house, away from the washing, with a door you can close. Daylight from above means the lights can often stay off.

Create

Art or craft studio

Soft, even light from above, which is what painters and makers are always chasing.

Play

Jam room

A separate space for the band or the drum kit, down the back where it bothers fewer people.

Move

Yoga or wellness

Open floor, no corners and a lot of light. Tanya Green runs yoga out of her 8m ORON.

Train

Home gym

Enough height to swing a kettlebell without worrying about the ceiling.

Retreat

Kids or guest space

A teenager's hangout or a spot for visitors who'd like some privacy.

How hard is an ORON studio to build?

Easier than most people think, as long as the platform is right.

The platform. It needs to be level, solid and the same diameter as the yurt, and raised enough to keep the cover waterproof. Most clients build a timber deck from our plans. It takes basic carpentry skills and usually 2 to 3 days.

The yurt. A first build usually takes 2 to 3 days with 2 to 4 people for smaller sizes, using basic tools and a ladder or scaffold. Lifting the cover is the hardest part, so line up a few strong friends for that day. You get our decking plans, video instructions and project guidance.

Not keen to do it yourself? Full deck-and-yurt builds are available in Perth and around Australia through a network of builders we connect people with.

Will an ORON studio be comfortable all year?

That's what the insulation is for. Every ORON has 10mm high density wool felt between the hemp-cotton liner and the 850gsm cover. For cold winters, add a second layer of wool felt for $750. For hot summers, add a reflective air-cell layer for $750. A tinted skylight is an option too, at no extra cost.

Opening glass windows let you get a breeze through on warm days. In winter, our clients in cold parts of the country run a single small heater and stay comfortable. We've written a full guide to heating a yurt if you want the detail.

What does a real ORON studio look like?

Tanya Green's 8m ORON yoga studio in the Perth Hills is a good one to look at. Our team built the deck and the yurt for her, start to finish, in 5 days.

What an incredible space, so much light and warmth.

Tanya Green, 8m ORON yoga studio, Perth Hills

Read the full story of Tanya's studio.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a yurt as a home office?

Yes. A 5m ORON gives you 20 sqm with a 3.15m centre height, a dome skylight and a full-height opening window, which makes a bright, quiet office away from the house.

How much does a yurt backyard studio cost?

ORON starts at $14,350 ex GST for a 5m and $16,490 for a 6m (as listed Oct 2026). Allow extra for GST, your platform, delivery from the port and your fit-out.

Do I need a builder?

Not for the yurt itself. Most clients assemble ORON in 2 to 3 days with friends, using our decking plans, video instructions and project guidance. The platform needs basic carpentry skills. If you'd rather not build it, full deck-and-yurt builds are available in Perth and around Australia through a network of builders we connect people with.

Is a yurt studio warm in winter?

ORON has 10mm wool felt insulation as standard, and you can add a second layer for cold climates for $750. Plenty of clients in cold areas stay comfortable with a single small heater.

Can I see an ORON in person?

Yes. We have display models in South-West WA, and some clients around Australia are happy to show theirs.

Plan your backyard studio

Have a look at ORON sizes and options, or call our team and we'll work out what suits your block and how you'll use it.

Explore ORON Call our team 0489 269 088

Ryan Smith

Founder, Yurt in the Dirt · Denmark, Western Australia

A few years back we set up a yurt on a friend's farm and called it home. Since then our team has spent years living in, building and refining yurts across Australia and New Zealand. ORON is what came out of all that.

Questions? Call our team on 0489 269 088 or email hello@yurtinthedirt.com.au.