How to Choose the Right Conservatory Style for Your Home

Conservatories offer a way for people to increase the space in their property without building a full extension. Easy to fit and available in numerous styles, choosing an appropriate conservatory for your home requires careful consideration and plenty of research.

Conservatories for Small Homes

As a way to improve space you’d think all conservatories would be suited to smaller homes. However, those with small gardens may need to give more thought to the style and shape of their conservatory than anticipated.

Square or rectangular conservatories are perfect for homes with alcoves or protrusions caused by earlier extensions or changes to the layout of the property, as they fit seamlessly with the shape of the home to create a more even appearance. Adding a domed roof to a conservatory is ideal for those with small gardens as they enhance internal space without dominating the garden.

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The benefits of classic conservatories include an unrivalled diversity of designs with various shapes and decorative finishes available. There’s plenty of variation in the material the conservatory is constructed from and the number of windows and doors you can have fitted. As these are usually built by connecting multiple panels of equal dimension you are effectively able to design your own layout, making the most of the limited space you have.

Conservatories for Period Properties

Alongside the spatial restrictions placed on conservatories by our properties, the style of dwelling also affects which conservatory will be best suited. Period properties often pride themselves on containing original features which means modern conservatory designs using uPVC may look out of place.

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Instead, tiled roof extensions are a great option providing you match the bricks and materials to those already in use to create a seamless link from the original parts of your home. Alternatively, an orangery offers a happy compromise between tradition and modernity; providing an authentic period feature with all the benefits of modern manufacturing. If you’re unsure of the difference between a conservatory and an orangery, you may find this blog post useful: Orangery vs. Conservatory: What is the difference?

Conservatories for Modern Homes

Modern houses benefit from being able to incorporate virtually any style of conservatory but glass extensions are always a popular favourite. These allow plenty of natural light to flood your property and see large single panes of glass used as the main basis for the extension.

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Supporting frames are usually made from brick, contrasting the modern uPVC and aluminium materials that make up the structure of the conservatory; giving plenty of versatility to the design.  Other benefits include seamless integration of your garden and living space as well as the advantages of double glazing.

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Tiled Roof Extensions – A Simple Compromise

All households need extra space from time to time. Conservatories are always a popular choice but we’re pleased to announce that we’ve added a new option to the Everest conservatory line – tiled roof extensions.

These are a hybrid between traditional extensions and conservatories; a large glass area combined with solid frames and a tiled roof to provide a permanent extension which offers the best of both worlds.

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The large glazed area lets plenty of natural light into the room whilst giving a virtually uninterrupted view of your garden – just like a conservatory. The tiled roof removes the need for ceiling blinds to keep out the sun and provides greater flexibility when it comes to choosing light fittings.

As all our roofs are custom made, you know you’ll get something which fits perfectly and boasts unparalleled quality. If you want an extra injection of natural light then we can always fit skylights to your tiled roof and all our extensions will comply with the latest building regulations so you don’t need to worry about security or practicality.

All the Benefits, None of the Fuss

A great choice of materials in our new range of tiled roof extensions means you get all the benefits of a high quality extension without the fuss. Tiles can be matched to your existing roof, whilst framework is available in both uPVC and Aluminium. We’ll even match fascias and guttering so that everything looks like it’s been there all along.

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Aesthetics aren’t the only benefit of our tiled roof extensions, though. As you’d expect, energy conservation is high on our list of priorities and this new product offers exceptional thermal properties thanks to its A-rated (uPVC) or B-rated windows.

Both uPVC and Aluminium Windows are covered by our usual lifetime guarantee against condensation and fog in the sealed unit, while the extensions themselves benefit from a 10 year guarantee. We’ll even manufacture the roof off-site so that you don’t suffer unnecessary disruption.

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Conservatory Decor: Furnishing Your Conservatory

One of the most popular additions to any home, a conservatory provides vital space which can be used for virtually any purpose. More than just a practical space, the large glass panels used in the construction of this extension mean they are an important style feature too – so how should you go about furnishing them?

Embrace nature

Most proud owners of a conservatory have one chief aim when decorating this room: bringing the outside in. While this is a great way to enhance one of the best features of your new room you should strive to achieve balance in your design. This means continuing interior design themes from other areas of your home as well as incorporating elements of the great outdoors.

If you’re not a big plant lover or don’t want the extra effort of caring for potted flowers indoors then invest in floral printed fabrics for your soft furnishings instead. These are just as effective and make a quirky and kitsch design element.

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Choose your conservatory furniture

The furniture you choose for your conservatory will depend on what you intend to use the room for. Those who want a social space may want to consider individual seats arranged in a circular pattern.

This is ideal for those with traditional, rustic tastes and makes the best use of space in dome shaped conservatories.

Those with more modern preferences or rectangular conservatories should consider contrasting large sofas or futons for a more contemporary twist.

Protect your furnishings

Whilst furniture is important, it is soft furnishings which add homely touches to rooms in your home. With a conservatory, always match your choice of material to the purpose of the room – opting for resilient fabrics which will not discolour or damage easily.

Remember that exposure to sunlight can bleach materials such as leather so you’ll need to take protective measures. This can be achieved by fitting blinds to the ceiling and windows and by using throws to cover your seating.

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Make the most of the space

Designed to increase the amount of space in your home, conservatories should not be cluttered or overfilled.

Make the best use of space in your conservatory by choosing conservatory furniture which works with the size and shape of the extension. This doesn’t have to be anything bulky – even a simple table can look effective whilst giving you a vital place to store loose items.

Look for other innovative storage solutions – such as wooden chests and sofa beds – which increase the functionality of the room and give you the benefit of uninterrupted floor space too.

You should also make use of the natural light at your disposal to create the illusion of more room. Keep windows and doors as clear as possible and opt for light coloured pieces of furniture (pictured), which will not dominate the space or absorb too much light.

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