How do I decorate my conservatory?

First, ask yourself what you would like to use your conservatory for. Would you like it to be a space for relaxation and contemplation, or productivity? Is it a gateway to the garden or an integral part of your home? Once you’ve an idea of where you’re headed, you can get started.

Next, think about the constituent parts of the ordinary room: flooring, including rugs and mats; furniture; blinds or curtains; art for the walls or the surfaces and entertainments like televisions, board games or musical instruments — all this, plus lighting, heating, storage, utilities and the rest.

That’s quite the list — but don’t be too intimidated. Decorating a conservatory can be as simple as walking around the space with pen and paper and an open mind, writing ideas or making out a rough floor-plan as you go. 

If you get stuck at any point, remember — yours isn’t the only conservatory in the world! Why not call on friends and family to see how they’ve kitted out their space, or leaf through some interior design magazines, furniture catalogs, or online image boards like Pinterest?

We’re a conservatory and glazing company, not an interior design firm. With that said, our team would be happy to give suggestions. For a chat about your options, you can always contact one of our experts.

How can I make my conservatory more homely?

Some people find their conservatories to be chilly in winter and scorching hot in summer, reducing their enjoyment and comfort.

What’s more, the same things that make conservatories so sought-after – brightness, airiness, sleek design and wall-to-wall glazing – can work against them. If you live in an richly decorated home with deep colours, art on the walls and busy, higgledy-piggledy furnishing for instance, a modestly decorated and bright conservatory might feel sterile, empty or plain. 

However, there’s nearly always a solution. Firstly, while older or poorly fitted conservatories can be draughty or baking hot in the midday sun, our well-installed modern conservatories are made of high-standard glass with superior insulative properties. This helps to retain heat in winter and keep the worst of the heat out in summer. For an even better-insulated and more homely extension, look into our tile-roofed conservatories, which some customers feel are more sturdy. 

In terms of interior design, soft furnishings like curtains, armchairs and rugs can provide a welcome counterbalance to the aesthetic “hardness” of a conservatory. They soak up reverberating sound, provide an inviting seating area and help to fill the space. 

Another useful “softening” design feature is houseplants. After all, the conservatory arose out of 17th-century orangeries, which were packed full of then-precious citrus plants. There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that indoor plants have a gently positive effect on physical and mental wellbeing, as well as looking good, breaking up hard lines and providing splashes of natural colour.

Your plants will thank you too — most houseplants love the heat and light that a conservatory provides.