Is The Conservatory A Thing Of The Past?

If you could step back in time to a decade or so ago, you’d hear a lot of buzz around the enchanted conservatory. Giving people an extra room in their homes for a fraction of the cost of an extension, while bringing plenty of natural sunlight, they were a hugely popular way of adding square footage to a property.

In fact, it doesn’t really seem so long ago that the conservatory was in its halcyon days, but five to ten years later, what has become of the conservatory now? There’s no denying that they are still popular, but they’re really not as prevalent as they once were. 

Those with conservatories often give mixed reviews. For some, it’s the best room in their home, a place the whole family comes together and relaxes, while others find they rarely use it, leaving it largely redundant. With all this said, it seems the future for the conservatory could be changing. So is the conservatory a thing of the past, or is the conservatory of 2016 just different to what is used to be? 

Conservatories In 2016

The new wave of the ‘2016 conservatory’ really is a lot more that a five by five, damp room stuck on the back of a house. These days they’re much more!

Current trends include: New wave / Bi-folding doors.

They’re becoming gradually popular as more and more people want to add an extra dimension to their conservatories. Many people are going for these as they take up less space than standard doors while looking great. Plus, they don’t need a supporting wall. They’re also great because they comprise mostly of glass, they’ll insulate your home and reflect heat back in.

The Orangery

As the conservatory depletes in popularity, the Orangery is massively on the rise. An orangery is very similar to a conservatory in that it is essentially a room (or a dedicated building), found traditionally on the grounds of fashionable homes from the 17th to the 19th centuries. They’re where orange and other fruit trees were protected during the winter, also similar to a greenhouse. 

So how is it different? Well, orangeries offer a slightly different take on traditional conservatories with an orangery, there’s a feeling of grandeur that comes from the interior height of the orangery. Today’s orangeries, are generally buildings with glazed sides and brick or wood supports. They also use, typically, a lot less glass than modern conservatory styles. The traditional orangery is the ultimate in home improvements, and the only place to get it.

The Décor

Another large difference is the décor of conservatories these days. While they used to be typically decked in outdoor style furniture like rattan sofas, conservatory furniture these days is a lot more modern and up-to- date. People have started dressing their conservatories like would any other room in their homes.

Large, plush sofas, cosy rugs and decorative lighting arrangements have meant that the conservatory is moving away from the ‘garden theme’ style, and integrating more into the rest of the home. 

New Build Property

The most expensive, modern houses that are being built these days often feature large conservatories to the back of the build, as opposed to them being a later add on. These conservatories often come with dramatic flairs and wow factor finishes. Featured such as large glass panelling and even two story conservatories can be found now, allowing people to let floods of extra light into their homes. These are a thousand mile away from the conservatories of the 90’s!

Why Has The Conservatory Changed?

Conservatories basically got their bad wrap because of functionality issues. Many people found them too hot in the summer months, and way to cold and dank in the winter – resulting in them being seldom used. This has led to developments in the way they are built, the way the look and the way they feel. They are now much more integrated into a home, often having solid brick external walls as opposed to glass or uPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) structured.

Modern conservatories are now fully insulated and have intelligent roofing systems with enables them to be kept cool in the warmer weather and retain their warmth during the winter. This is most likely what has saved the conservatory in recent years.

Should You Get a Conservatory?

If you’ve been put off getting a conservatory by friends, family or colleagues who have one that they don’t use, you might want to reconsider. The modern style conservatories of 2016 couldn’t be further from the old style conservatories that can be found up and down the country. 

There is so much more you can now do with this extra add on to your home to make it a real feature. It can also add value to your property. Peer-to-peer lending company, Zopa, who had taken out home improvement loans through their platform what changes they made and how much profit they thought they had got on what they spent on the work. 

They found that a new conservatory can add more than double the return of a new bathroom with a return on investment of potentially 108 per cent. Unlike an extension, you won’t need planning permission either – as long no more than half the area of the land of your original house is covered.

However, while a conservatory does provide an extra room in your house, it also means that you’ll have to give up some garden space, which is an important thing to consider. It’s a big decision to make, but you probably won’t regret it – especially if you use it regularly and it adds value to your property!

If you do decide to add a conservatory to your home, or if you already have one, and you need some tips on how you should decorate, please take a look at our other articles. From indoor house plants, to beach themed interior design ideas, you’ll find all you need here!