Conservatory Ideas and Designs
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.
Whether you want inspiration for planning a conservatory renovation or are building a designer conservatory from scratch, Houzz has 45,907 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Westbury Garden Rooms and Hampton Conservatories Ltd. Look through conservatory photos in different colours and styles and when you find a conservatory design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful conservatory ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
This is an example of a classic conservatory in London with no fireplace, a glass ceiling and multi-coloured floors.
Maximise light coming into the house with a solid extension combined with glass pitch roof and French doors. - tunbridge_wells_interiors
Luke White
Design ideas for a medium sized traditional conservatory in London.
doors from clement windows - traditional wide throw hinges on fixed side panels - ez_mills
Traditional design with a modern twist, this ingenious layout links a light filled multi-functional basement room with an upper conservatory. Folding doors to the lower rooms open onto sunken courtyards.
Inspiration for a classic conservatory in London.
love the green & country feel of this garden room - webuser_808938245
This is an example of a large contemporary conservatory in Edinburgh with light hardwood flooring and a glass ceiling.
Large pains of glass - heat modulated? - anandajanewright
Breakfast in style in this glamorous first floor conservatory. Floor standing speakers provide superb audio quality. Blinds lower and raise at the touch of a button, and can be integrated to activate when the overhanging light is switched on.
homas Alexander
Like this flooring - dark brow, but washed, so a bit grey - rhpaul23
Popular Filters to Try:
Oak Garden Room we designed & built on a stone building within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Glassex 2008 'Silver Award for Innovative Design
lovely oak framed room - derekandkaren6
Design ideas for a conservatory in London.
Glass room - preethi_r79
Classic conservatory in Other.
new house front porch - vanessa7172
Inspiration for a classic conservatory in Other.
The cupboard at the end, possibility for larder wall? - cate6614
This project involved the design of a replacement conservatory for a Grade II Listed Manor house near Falmouth, Cornwall. The original Manor House was built in the early 1900s and featured a dated conservatory that had fallen into degradation.
The brief from our clients was to create a contemporary conservatory to replace the existing outdated structure, which would fit the design of the extensive interior refurbishments that had recently taken place at the Manor House. From here, our architects designed a structural glass conservatory to sit in the footprint of the previous, outdated structure.
Architects at The Bazeley Partnership worked closely with conservation officers on this project to create a sympathetic replacement design for the historically significant home.
Photography by Collingwood Photography
unobstructed views of the garden - bhavyarajagopalnaidu
Inspiration for a classic conservatory in London.
Fab garden room/comservatory - marie_barry
Beccy lane posimage
This is an example of an eclectic conservatory in Manchester with dark hardwood flooring, a skylight and brown floors.
Luke White
This is an example of a medium sized traditional conservatory in London.
Deliver on the details
This whitewashed courtyard has a Mediterranean feel that’s sure to lure visitors outdoors. A wide built-in bench feels extra luxe, lending itself to a lie-down in the sun. The planting palette is beautifully restrained, with repeated olive trees and agapanthus providing symmetry and rhythm. - francetetreault
Traditional conservatory in Kent with a glass ceiling and multi-coloured floors.
light, bench, eclectic furniture - f_clarkedrayson
A formal dining room has been designed in this orangery. Pushing out onto the garden is gives the feeling of bringing the outside in. Created a bright large open space.
Windows, chandelier and ceiling window - deborahesperi
Inspiration for a traditional conservatory in London with a glass ceiling and beige floors.
Conservatory replacement - ledgebaby
Oak Garden Room we designed & built on a stone building within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Glassex 2008 'Silver Award for Innovative Design