Conservatories can be such a valuable addition to your home, giving you great extra space and a lovely area that helps to connect the indoors and the outdoors. However, sometimes people struggle to make them feel like home and can find them to feel a bit disjointed from the rest of their home. So, we’re here with some tips on how to change that by styling your property, to help you make sure you can make the most of the space and let it become something you regularly use!
Focus On Insulation
One of the biggest barriers for people when they don’t use their conservatory is usually the heat issue. Conservatories are notorious for being too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, as they have much more glass and less insulation than a standard room would. There may be periods in Spring and Autumn when it’s comfortable to use, however you’re missing out on half the year! So, the best thing you can do to counteract this is to focus on insulation.
Get yourself conservatory roof insulation and you’ll notice a significant difference. This adds a layer to the inside of the roof of your conservatory which is then covered, and if you have a glass roof currently, then a tint will be applied so that the insulation isn’t visible from above. This helps to prevent overheating in the summer and retains heat in the winter, helping to save you money overall and make the space much more comfortable. If you know that your windows are also not very well insulated, considering getting them replaced or at least resealed will also really help to make the space usable all year.
Give The Space A Purpose
Every room in our home usually has quite an obvious purpose, from the kitchen for cooking to the dining room for eating, bedroom for sleeping and bathroom for washing, so one common reason that people don’t feel like their conservatory is part of their home is because it doesn’t have a purpose. So, being quite thoughtful with the furniture you’re adding to the space can really help with this. For us, there’s nothing better than sitting in your conservatory curled up with a book or watching TV on a Sunday, enjoying a coffee.
So, getting a cosy sofa or corner chair depending on how big the space is, then a cute coffee table and perhaps a little book shelf for your favourites will naturally draw you in. Maybe you also have some of your family’s favourite board games in there and then the conservatory can become the go-to for when you’re playing games. There’s so much you can do with this space, from a music room to a family room or playroom to home office, so get creative, but just make sure you’re giving it a clear purpose to help you utilise it.
Add House Plants
A wonderful thing about conservatories is that it helps you to bring the outdoors in, so why not help to encourage that with some lovely houseplants for conservatories? They can help to boost your mood, bring freshness and greenery to the space, clarify the air and generally they just look really lovely. You do need to be slightly careful in the plants you choose because of the temperature fluctuations throughout the year, but it isn’t much different to general houseplants really.
If you’re experienced in looking after houseplants then you’ll be fine, however if you want something a bit more low maintenance, then choosing things like snake plants, Swiss cheese plants, money trees or Yucca’s, as these all can cope with lots of sun and less sun, as well as in warmer or cooler temperatures. In the summer, water every 2-3 days, then in the winter, every 1-2 weeks. In the summer, you should also mist the leaves to encourage humidity.
Modernise Your Lighting
Another good way to really make your conservatory feel like home is to modernise your lighting. Without mood lighting it’s hard for a room to feel cosy, so focusing on this can make you drawn to your conservatory, especially in the evenings. With your main light feature, perhaps choose something that refracts the light and also go for a warmer yellow bulb. Then, also get a lamp for a nice feature in one corner, or perhaps a few different hanging lights from the ceiling. If they’re your thing, then fairy lights will also look stunning.
Home Fragrance
Home fragrance adds something special to every room, especially in your conservatory if you want it to feel more like home! Get yourself a reed diffuser, a couple of candles and maybe a plug in air freshener and the room will come to life. If you struggle at all with damp in the conservatory (maybe look at water damage restoration in this case), this can also help with the smell. You can spend as much or as little as you want on this with great options in so many shops, but it can really transform how the space feels. We like to choose a different fragrance for each of your main rooms, so that you instantly feel at ease when you enter it and it almost provides some familiarity.
Don’t Underestimate Soft Furnishings
Soft furnishings are absolutely key to making your home feel cosy, so make sure that you put some time and effort into choosing them. Choose a rug, throws and cushions that are really comfy and fit in with the theme of the room. We quite like having a mostly neutral palette in a conservatory, then using the soft furnishings to bring some texture and colour into the space. You could also have a version for the summer that is slightly more lightweight, then one for the winter when you want it to feel super warm and cosy.
Install Window Blinds
Last but not least, you should look to install window blinds. These are a great way to help you control the light entering the space in the summer months, then also they provide an extra layer of insulation in the winter. It also makes the space much more usable in the evenings or when it’s dark, as you get that extra privacy that may be holding you back from using the space if your house is quite overlooked. This is an investment, however it can save you a lot of money over time. Faux wood venetian blinds are a great choice for the conservatory, as they’re really resistant and provide good insulation in the space.
