There’s plenty to be enjoyed outdoors as the seasons change. Spring brings with it a boost of light and freshness that leads us to the heady, bright days of summer. Autumn follows with a welcome hint of crispness, in the air and beneath our boots. Winter creeps in with its dark afternoons and cosy nights. Each season is unique and uniquely enjoyed – with its own influence on how we spend our time indoors. If you’re a lucky garden owner looking to appreciate the shifts in seasons, there’s no substitution for the enjoyment a conservatory or orangery could bring. We explore the ins and outs of choosing a conservatory or an orangery for your home.
Conservatories and orangeries
These two builds share a distinctive structure largely built with glass. The main distinguishing factor is that conservatories are constructed of around 80% more glass than orangeries. For a deep dive into how the two differ, from aesthetic appearance to construction costs, don’t miss our dedicated Conservatory Vs. Orangery article. What both structures share is the unique combination of enhancing your indoor space and creating a connecting point with the outdoors. Discover some of the main benefits of opting for one of these for your extension.
Natural light
There’s no substitute for the health and well-being benefits of natural light. It can improve your levels of vitamin D, encourage more healthy sleeping patterns, boost your mood – even go so far as warding off depression. Conservatories and orangeries both have the benefit of flooding your chosen space with light, offering you a bright, uplifting place in your home whatever you may choose to use it for.
Indoor-outdoor flow
Conservatories and orangeries limit the sense of distance, as well as the literal barrier between your home and the outdoor world. Recent interior design trends indicate a movement towards including more natural materials inside. One impact of the pandemic was that our need for time spent outdoors became clear and encouraged a more balanced way of life. If you’d like to enhance your connection to nature and witness the seasons shift, a conservatory or orangery could be a winning choice for you.
Garden-centric design
Calling all keen gardeners! Whatever your current green fingered skill levels are, you can take pride in your work and watch as the shape of your garden changes with the seasons from the comfort of your conservatory or orangery. For beautiful plants and insightful gardening tips, get inspired by Muddy Trowel.
Conservatory and orangery insulation
Naturally, when you consider adding a structure primarily made of glass onto your home, there will be some questions about the integrity of the insulation. To make sure you’re not left sweltering in the sun or shivering in the winter, look out for the following factors.
The G Factor
Choosing the right glass is vital for building your conservatory or orangery. One lesser-known consideration is the G factor of your windows. It’s not a widely discussed topic but it could make all the difference to your day-to-day enjoyment of your conservatory or orangery, particularly in the summer months. The G factor measures how much solar heat is allowed into a space through an object or surface. In the specific instance of windows that means how much heat – or ‘solar gain’ – is a result of the ability your glass has to reflect solar rays.
Throughout the colder months of the year, your property might benefit from high solar gain. Whereas, when warmer months roll around you might find the retention of heat excessive. To combat this, it’s worth investing in high quality blinds that tailor to your needs as well as the changing seasons.
Insulation
To ensure that your conservatory or orangery is properly insulated so that you can comfortably enjoy it in even the chilliest months, we’d recommend investing in glazed windows and aluminium frames. To find out more about both of these elements and contrast them with other options, read our article on how much it costs to build a conservatory. For more information, try our Quick Quote Calculator and see what building a conservatory or an orangery on your property could cost you.
Design ideas for conservatories and orangeries
Our Science of a Happy Home Report found that one of the factors that contributes to your home bringing you contentment is being a mirror to yourself and reflecting your personal taste. That being said, it can be tricky to know exactly where to begin and finding the balance between style and comfort can be a challenge. To get you started on your perfect conservatory or orangery to enjoy each season, explore just a few ideas for how to personalise your space.
Keep it simple
One approach to decorating your conservatory or orangery is to keep it minimal. This means choosing neutral, calming tones and soft textures for furnishings so that the outside world remains the primary focus and you’re not distracted by your interiors when you could be soaking up the view outside for a moment of true tranquility. If you’re looking for a place to start, don’t miss DUSK’s mohair-effect throws, The Cotswold Company’s textured cushions and Grain’s natural wood furniture.
Go natural
If you’ve invested in a conservatory or an orangery to help you appreciate your garden through the seasons, why not invite some of those beautiful green and earthy tones inside to emphasise the connection with nature. Opt for natural materials like rattan for chairs and furniture, explore Lick Paint’s fantastic array of greens from forest to sage tones, and choose natural stone floor tiles.
If you’re convinced a conservatory or orangery is for you, book a free architectural advice call with one of our in-house experts to explore your ideas further.
