How to make your conservatory more usable
Many people have had conservatories added to their home, but found they aren’t using it as much as they thought. Sound familiar?
You may have originally chosen a conservatory because you liked the look of them, you wanted to increase your living space or you wished for an additional space to entertain family and friends. But, what if you’re just not using it as much as you thought?
A conservatory can be an expensive addition to a house, and although they can add value (and so should be seen as an investment), why pay for it if it’s going to sit unused?
First, you should consider why you’re not using it. What is it about that room that is making you avoid it? It might be that it’s freezing cold in winter and boiling in summer. It might be that it had a leak that you fixed but now the paint around the structure is peeling. It might just be that the space hasn’t been updated in a long time and you’re feeling a bit ‘meh’ about it.
Once you’ve determined the reasons why you’re not using it, fixing this problem will be a lot easier. You need to get excited about this space again and change it up. This can be done through redecorating, getting some new furniture or completely change what this space is being used for!
If it was an extra living room, would it work as a dining room? If you don’t want to sit in there, can it become a playroom for the kids? There are always tons of options when it comes to a conservatory.
Below, you can find a list of dos and don’ts when it comes to making your conservatory more usable and worthwhile.
Do:
Insulate it
No one wants to sit in a freezing cold conservatory. By ensuring that it’s insulated properly, it won’t lose too much heat in winter and could become a nice cosy place to snuggle up and watch a film while being able to see the stars outside. A cold conservatory can also make your house lose heat faster, so you could be wasting both energy and money by leaving your conservatory insufficiently insulated.
Use blinds or curtains
As I’ve already mentioned, the temperature in a conservatory can fluctuate in summer and winter. As well as properly insulating it, you can use blinds and curtains to keep the temperature constant. Blinds will block out the sunlight in summer to prevent temperatures from soaring to those of the Sahara Desert, while thermal curtains could keep additional heat in in winter. Just check out my advice on how to measure your blinds to ensure they’ll fit.
Install central heating
Using underfloor heating or radiators will ensure this room is properly heated. Alternatively, a small electric heater could do the trick as well. Choosing the right radiators is important, so consider how much heat your chosen style lets out, and how it will look. Either way, don’t rely on heat from your home being used to warm up the conservatory too.
Have it cleaned regularly
You have your car cleaned every now and then, and probably the windows and gutters in your home, right? Don’t neglect your conservatory! If you can see moss growing on the roof, it’s time to treat the glass to a nice clean. This will make the space brighter but also a nicer environment to sit in.
Make it look beautiful!
You wouldn’t want to sit in a bare living room that only contains a sofa and a coffee table, so why is your conservatory any different? This space should be a relaxing place to be while surrounded by colours and objects that you love. Treat it like any other part of your home by adorning it with artwork, throws, cushions and other home accessories.
Don’t:
Design it too small
Many homeowners who have conservatories often wish they made them bigger. Sometimes, a small room can be harder to style than a larger one as your furniture layout options are limited.
Plus, there are multiple doorways to think about. You’ll have the door coming into the conservatory from the house and a door leaving the conservatory into the garden. If you design it too small, you won’t be left with much space for a sofa and coffee table.
Neglect it
When your conservatory has any faults, you won’t enjoy spending time in there so keep on top of the maintenance. Have the glass and roof cleaned, ensure the gutters are cleared out, dust the blinds and hoover regularly. These things will generally make it a much nicer space that you can use again and again, and be proud of.
Ways to use your conservatory
Now you know how to make your conservatory a more cosy and inviting place to be, you may want to think about some of the ways in which you can use the space. Below, you can find my top 5 ideas that can help you to get more out of a conservatory.
1. A Dining Room
Conservatories make great dining room spaces, particularly formal dining rooms. Many of us now have large open plan living spaces but it can be nice to sit down for a meal in a cosier place, particularly when you’re hosting dinner parties.
2. A Formal Living Room
Conservatories are also often used as more formal living spaces. You might have a living room that’s part of the kitchen, but sometimes, having a closed off living space can feel more intimate and cosy.
3. A Garden Room
If your conservatory heats up in summer, almost so much you can’t sit comfortably in it, then this space could work as a greenhouse or garden room. Cuttings from the garden can live in here until they’re mature enough to be planted or you can simply use it as a gorgeous green space and keep tons of plants in there, including things like tomatoes!
4. A Games Room
While conservatories are generally seen as more formal living areas, who says this has to be the case? The room could become a kids’ playroom, a place to keep all their toys and consoles so they can have this space to play. It could even become an adults’ playroom, complete with snooker table, dartboard, home bar and more.
5. Reading Room
I love reading, and I just love finding that perfect place to curl up with a good book. But this isn’t always as easy as you might think. You’ve got to have the right lighting, a comfy place to sit for hours on end and a place that is enjoyable to be in.
