Affordable Green Conservatory Ideas and Designs

Three Season room with views of the golf course. Boardwalk Builders, Rehoboth Beach, DE www.boardwalkbuilders.com Sue Fortier
This is an example of a medium sized traditional conservatory in Other with ceramic flooring, no fireplace and a standard ceiling.

A Room with a View

Kustom Home Design

Gorgeous sunroom addition with painted brick piers, large full view windows with transoms, chandelier, wall sconces, eclectic seating and potted plants creates the perfect setting to rest, relax and enjoy the view. The bright, open, airy sunroom space with traditional details and classic style blends seamlessly with the charm and character of the existing home. Designed and photographed by Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design

Sunroom

Garrety Glass / Betterliving Sunrooms

Inspiration for a medium sized traditional conservatory in Philadelphia with a standard ceiling.

Sunrooms

Morgan Exteriors

This is an example of a medium sized traditional conservatory in Manchester with light hardwood flooring.

Walker Residence

NV Design

Photo of a medium sized nautical conservatory in Miami with no fireplace, a standard ceiling and beige floors.

Drab to Fab Decorating

My clients wanted a happy beach feel to lounge with guests. Our color scheme was blue, green and cream. We had the ceiling painted green, and the wood work painted a light cream color. We added the geometric blue area rug to anchor the space. We purchased various nautical pillows and throws to add a pop of color. We added an oversized ceiling fan as well as repainted the old oak TV chest a distressed sour apple color. The clients sit out there almost every night now!

The Ginger Home Screenroom

The Ginger Home

Photo: Tracey Jazmin
Photo of a medium sized eclectic conservatory in Edmonton with concrete flooring, a wood burning stove, a brick fireplace surround, a standard ceiling and grey floors.

Sun Rooms

Palm Beach Enclosures

Inspiration for a medium sized traditional conservatory in Nashville with a standard ceiling.

Westchester Sunroom

Mass Architect, LLC

Sunroom addition with covered patio below
Photo of a medium sized contemporary conservatory in Providence with light hardwood flooring, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a standard ceiling and beige floors.

Screened Porch

J. Timothy Hance, Architect, P.A.

Rick Smoak Photography
This is an example of a medium sized traditional conservatory in Charlotte with slate flooring, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a standard ceiling.

Pergola With Folding Door Systems In Reston, VA

Dream Outdoor Solutions

Photo of a medium sized world-inspired conservatory in DC Metro with a brick fireplace surround and grey floors.

Sun Room

RLH Studio

Architect: Cook Architectural Design Studio General Contractor: Erotas Building Corp Photo Credit: Susan Gilmore Photography
This is an example of a medium sized traditional conservatory in Minneapolis with dark hardwood flooring, no fireplace, a standard ceiling, black floors and feature lighting.

Andersen Windows & Doors

Millard Lumber Inc.

Medium sized traditional conservatory in Omaha with medium hardwood flooring and no fireplace.

Fripp Island

Live Oak Builders

Captured Moments Photography
Inspiration for a medium sized coastal conservatory in Charleston with ceramic flooring, no fireplace and a standard ceiling.

Lean-To Conservatory, Somerset

David Salisbury

Our clients located in Somerset were looking for a lean-to conservatory filled with natural light. Our designer at David Salisbury created this simple but effective design which perfectly fits the bill. It has two skylights and top hung windows to for ventilation which is all important in this kind of extension. Our clients are DIY lovers and they took a very keen interest in all aspects of the project especially with the on site - construction. The conservatory was finished in Pebble White and has brass window and door furniture. The final design blends well with the style of the house and provides our clients with a new room filled with plenty of natural light and warmth. They instantly fell in love with their new room finding it a delightful addition to the house and an extra space that is used all year round.

Transitional Home in Atlanta

Laurie McRae Interiors

This is an example of a medium sized traditional conservatory in Atlanta with brick flooring, no fireplace and a standard ceiling.

Myrtle Island Home

Low Tide Designs

This is an example of a medium sized rustic conservatory in Atlanta with concrete flooring, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Kaye Porch

Tim Disalvo & Co.

The Kaye Porch blends out and indoor scenery beautifully. The broad view of the yard offers a contemporary sense of transparency with the open window paneling. Call Tim Disalvo and Company for home beautification options.

Medford Lakes Log Home

User

Design ideas for a medium sized classic conservatory in Philadelphia with slate flooring, a standard ceiling and grey floors.

Rénovation d'une maison en meulière

ADC l'atelier d'à côté

Salle à manger pergola
Photo of a medium sized contemporary conservatory in Paris with medium hardwood flooring, no fireplace and a glass ceiling.

Affordable Green Conservatory Ideas and Designs

A conservatory, garden room or orangery is a decidedly British and Irish home extension: a room that allows us to enjoy our outdoor space without having to brave the unpredictable weather. Originally a type of glass house or greenhouse where plants could be grown in sheltered conditions, the modern conservatory now offers flexible entertainment space. Your conservatory can serve as an additional living area, a garden room, a spacious dining room or an open-plan kitchen; all flooded with the extra light that a glass extension will give you.

What conservatory style should I choose?

A lean to conservatory is the most straight-forward garden room structure with a slanted roof that appears to lean on the original house wall. If you’re looking for a small conservatory then the simple rectangular design of lean to conservatories makes them ideal for bungalows and properties with small gardens. The Victorian conservatory is the most common style, with an elegant shape which features a rounded end wall. An Edwardian conservatory is built similarly, but with a rectangular shape that is perhaps more space-efficient. L or P-shaped conservatories combine the styles of both Victorian and Edwardian garden rooms, and offer a versatile space that can be split into separate areas. Contemporary garden rooms with large glass walls are fantastic additions to modern homes or extensions and can create stunning exteriors. However, designs like these do use a lot of space and could require special planning permission. If you don’t have space for a large, contemporary garden room and you aren’t a fan of the uPVC conservatory, orangeries or sunrooms may appeal more; the structure is sympathetically designed to appear consistent with the style of the house.

What is an orangery?

They are both glass-walled and -roofed structures, but what is the difference between a conservatory and an orangery? The traditional orangery has a longer history ‐ it became popular in the 17th Century when homeowners wanted a place to grow citrus plants (e.g. orange trees, hence ‘orangery’) and so built structures, either stand alone or incorporated into their homes, with glass walls and roofs, similar to greenhouses. The conservatory is actually believed to have developed from the orangery after the fashion for growing citrus plants died down. However, homeowners still wanted a place to grow other tropical, herb or shrub plants that would allow sun and warmth into the house in summer and allow the plants to survive in winter. Today, the real difference is in the construction. Orangeries are considered traditional extensions with masonry walls and more standard Victorian structures, whereas modern conservatories can be more varied and made of a range of materials, including timber, uPVC or aluminium.

What type of conservatory furniture do I need?

Chances are your conservatory furniture will see a high amount of direct sunlight. Keep this in mind when choosing pieces, since some fabrics and materials can quickly fade or become uncomfortably hot. Outdoor furniture will generally stand up well to the heat and light exposure of sunrooms and orangeries, but don’t be afraid to mix and match with indoor pieces as well. Wicker, seagrass and rattan furniture items are good options, while you might want to steer away from metal and leather pieces which will get hot in the sunlight. Installing conservatory blinds or shades that can be drawn when the room isn't in use is a smart way to prolong the life of your sunroom furniture when the space is not in use.

United Kingdom

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