Conservatories have long been a popular way for families to enjoy their garden without having to be outside. It is a great room for collecting the sun on cooler days, so you can still enjoy it without needing to wrap up. Modern conservatories have come a long way since the wood and glass versions of years ago, they are now a lot stronger and can conserve heat much better. If you want to give your conservatory a new look, then here are a few ideas to help you.
What Theme Do You Want?
A conservatory is a room unto itself in many ways because it is a mixture of the outside and the inside. Some people prefer to use outdoor ideas and furniture to make it part of the garden rather than a room in the home. Before you give your conservatory a new look, you need to decide what you want it to be. Are you looking for it to be an extension of the living area or more of an outside space? You can also treat it as a separate room in the home and give the conservatory its own identity.
Furniture Ideas
Traditionally, people have tended to use outdoor furniture in their conservatories. Rattan and wicker, for example, have been particularly popular, but there are now newer versions that could be a good idea. These new designs make rattan more comfortable as well as functional, so you can enjoy more time in there without getting uncomfortable. However, if you want to use your conservatory as an extension of your living area, then think about adding a sofa instead with lots of cushions to soften the look even further. You could add wooden furniture to this, or perhaps metal, but try to avoid glass as this might reflect the sun.
Adding Color
Adding color to your conservatory can change the feel and look of the space depending on what you want to achieve. To mix the space into your existing living area, you might want to mimic the colors, so they flow easily together. You could also go for a more vivid and bold color scheme because you will still be getting plenty of light coming in from the windows. For those conservatories that have been built against an outside wall, you can leave the brickwork as it is, or you can think about painting it. The natural look is popular but painting the wall can change the room into a more inside space.
Blinds and Curtains
Although you have a conservatory to bring light into the house, there can be times when you want to cover the windows. On particularly hot days, shading the windows can prevent too much heat from building up, and it’s a great way to add some privacy, especially at night. Blinds are the most common choice for many people, as there are many types which can be custom fitted to make them unobtrusive. However, to make the space homelier, you could add thin curtains that will shade and give privacy, while not being too overpowering in the room. If you have double doors to the outside, then full-length curtains can be a good way to keep access even when the curtains are closed rather than having a blind.
Updating the Flooring
Given the function of many conservatories, the best flooring to have is one that can be easily cleaned and is hard wearing. That means the best options are tiles or a wood floor, as carpet will need regular cleaning with children and animals coming through all the time. You can extend the same type of flooring you use in your living space to add continuity, or you can go for something completely different if you want the space to have its own identity. In the cooler weather, this type of flooring can become cold, so you will probably want to add some rugs. These can be cleaned easily, and they will keep your feet warm.
Heating Your Conservatory
Although you will love using your conservatory in the summer, many don’t use these spaces in the winter because they get too cold and damp. However, you are missing out on an opportunity to enjoy your garden all year round without having to go outside. There are many heating options you can use in the conservatory. For example, you can extend your house heating, or have dedicated heaters that you can turn off. With conservatories now being energy efficient, you won’t lose any heat by adding them to your house system, and it can be a good idea if there is no wall or doors between the two spaces. You can have a wood burning stove, but you need to follow the regulations and have a flue pipe fitted to prevent a dangerous situation.
Accessories
Sometimes the little details can make a house into a home, and the same applies to a conservatory. If you want to make this space more like the inside of the house, then think about adding indoor furniture or ornaments. If you are looking for a more mixed feel between the garden and the house, then adding plants can be a great idea. Some like the bamboo palm love the light and can also filter out indoor air pollutants. Adding some shelves to the conservatory can also give you many options and also make the space functional rather than simply a sitting area. Some people like to do their hobbies like painting and reading in their conservatory, so adding these can also give the space another dimension. Another good way to use this additional space is to add clever storage such as boxes under the furniture, or a trunk that can be used as a table.
Your conservatory has a lot of potential because it mixes the best parts of your home together to create one adaptable space. With clever use of storage and color, you can ensure that this space reaches its full potential.
Mia Guerra
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