Last updated on December 14th, 2020 at 02:51 pm

Generally, the conservatory ranks right up there with the ‘spare room’ as the room in the house that most of us just don’t know what to do with. Instead of looking at it as a catch-all for your clutter, why not spend a little bit of time making the most of the opportunities that a conservatory brings?

Houses with conservatories are highly sought after in the real estate market for a reason; they can potentially be one of the most comfortable, peaceful and beautiful rooms in the house. All they need is the right outlook and a little work.

The natural light pouring in through the patio doors, the feeling of ‘openness’ you get from being inside and yet almost feeling as though you’re outside, and the simple fact that you’ve got an extra room in your house should all surely be cause for celebration? But if you’re not sure what to do with this space, then it can feel like a burden.

Fear not, we’re here to help you figure out exactly what kind of space you want to create.

Function

Your options here are really only as limited as your imagination (and your budget). First of all, think what use would be most…well… useful for the room. Have you always wanted a music and games room, a ‘man cave’ where you can retire into your own little world after a hard day at the office? Or are there days where you or someone in your family works from home and could use some dedicated office space? If you have kids, the conservatory would also make a wonderful play room (assuming it was fully safety proofed of course). The most common conservatory uses are generally ‘extra’ dining space or simple sitting rooms where you can sit in the natural sunlight and enjoy a good book on a warm day.

Style

This refers to not only the colour scheme of the room, but the furniture that goes with it. If you’re using furniture that you already own to furnish your conservatory then make sure your colour scheme matches that furniture, it is (after all) far easier (and cheaper) to give a room a lick of paint then buy a new sofa, especially considering how little painting will actually need to be done.

In terms of the colour scheme try to keep it light and airy. As the room will naturally attract a lot of light, it would be a waste of that natural illumination to cover the room in dark reds and browns unless the conservatory in question has big enough floors and high enough ceilings to accommodate them.

Blues and whites are always a good bet in most situations, and stripes are always a popular option. Don’t be afraid to adhere to your own, unique style though. One final thing you might need to consider when selecting furniture is that some fabrics tend to fade over time when they are exposed to excessive sunlight. So do your research before you start shifting furniture around.

Flooring

As most conservatories are built at the rear of the home leading out into the garden, it wouldn’t make sense to carpet the whole floor. Indeed, using carpeting at all would probably be a bad idea (though that’s not to say it couldn’t work). Instead, you’re probably better off opting for wooden flooring, which is easier to clean if dirt and muck is trodden in from the garden. You could brighten up the floor somewhat by laying down a colourful rug that fits in with your already established colour scheme.

Heating

Whilst you will enjoy plenty of natural sunlight in the Spring and Summer, which will give your conservatory a perpetually pleasant, warm ‘snug’ feeling, it will get incredibly cold in the Winter if you’re not prepared.

Simple panel heaters will more than likely not provide you with enough warmth, but a radiator should really help so make sure there is one installed in your conservatory. Alternatively you could consider rigging an underfloor heating solution.

Lighting

As you will be getting a great deal of natural lighting during the day, lighting is less important in a conservatory than it is elsewhere. That doesn’t mean however, that it should be completely written out of the equation. Many homeowners opt for ‘chandelier’ style lighting rigs that sit at the centre of the room and to match this main light with a series of lamps placed at the corners of the room. But don’t be afraid to play around with uplights, downlights, sconces and lighting feature walls. Fairy lights could also look really gorgeous in the evenings.

Blinds and Curtains

One of the major reasons people shy away from having a conservatory installed is the perceived lack of privacy. Whilst it is true that a conservatory is largely exposed, by installing curtains or blinds you can maintain an element of privacy in Sumer and keep the warmth in during the Winter. Wooden slatted blinds are popular as they tend to match the flooring, but if you want to go really ornate then why not consider going with some thin curtains? It’s unconventional sure, but the results could be quite interesting.

Hopefully, we’ve been able to convince you that your conservatory is an opportunity just waiting to be exploited and this season is the perfect time to get your conservatory ready for the Summer!