Conservatories are a great way to help increase the size of your living area and bring a lot of much needed sunlight directly inside. Although designed to be used throughout the year, summer is when a conservatory really comes into its own.
By helping to bridge the gap between your home and the outside world, they provide excellent shelter from the sun when it’s beating down too much, without completely blocking it out. While you may normally see them as an occasional room, they are incredibly versatile. They can function as a barbecue hosting area, relaxing family room or even an additional bedroom with some small but effective changes.
The team at Konservatory have put together six tips showing you how to get more out of your conservatory this summer.
Perfect for family barbecues
Rather than using your conservatory as a place of tranquillity and reflection, open its doors and extend your garden and patio area indoors. This is particularly effective when hosting one of the many family barbecues you are likely to during the fine British weather, on those odd days when the sun shows its face. It’s a great way to provide your guests with more seating options. Some like to sit or stand in the sun and benefit from its rays and that fresh air but others prefer to stay in a shaded area. And if anyone needs a break from the noise and exuberance, they’ll have a relaxing and comfortable spot to take some quiet time.
A space for the whole family to relax
A more traditional use of a conservatory is as a place where your family can get together and relax. To give it more eclecticism, you could forgo having the same style of chairs for everyone and, instead, choose one or two statement pieces of furniture such as those found in our guide to conservatory chairs.
Seating can be chosen with specific functions in mind, such as a casual dining space, sociable area or quiet reading spot. As well as providing enough seating options when you have several people using the conservatory at the same time, this also helps the room to feel more like a multi-purpose area.
Less is more
The adage has never been truer when it comes to making the most of your conservatory. While you may be tempted to invest in that large sofa, you need to consider the space you will be losing. Less furniture and clutter is better and more space to make the most of the light and airy spot is the ideal. Plan the area properly to ensure you get the most use out of those crucial inches.
Colourful flora
As your conservatory was undoubtedly designed as a way for you to enjoy the natural world around you, regardless of the weather, you could take things one step further. Rather than it just being the bridge between the divide, why not use it to extend the border between the inside and outside? Given the number of windows and sunlight the average conservatory has, they are ideal for growing and maintaining plants that love being exposed to the sun but not the elements.
An additional bedroom
Often, when conservatories are considered, all the benefits that are discussed revolve around using them in waking hours. However, any space in a home that’s adequately heated, insulated and ventilated could be used as a sleeping area, and what better way to sleep under the stars than to be indoors in the warm at the same time!
Considerations would have to be given to the space you have available, of course, but with a space-saving futon, the room could have a bed at night-time and an additional seating option during the day. During the summer months, you don’t have the same heating issues you would at colder parts of the year but with a little insulation (rug, curtains) and heating in winter, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Summer dining room
Why just leave it for barbecues to enjoy eating in your conservatory? In summer you can use the additional space and the fact it’s a bridge to the outside world as a delightful dining area, giving dinner guests the wow factor too. All you need to do is move the table from your current spot into the conservatory, or if you have the space, invest in a new one.
It’s nice to spend time as a family, or with friends, sitting with full view of the garden, taking in those flowers in bloom while enjoying a meal and drink on a long light summer’s evening – that sounds idyllic!
