Adding a conservatory or orangery to your property is a great way to increase its value, boost your useful living space, and make your home more versatile. Available in a huge variety of styles and sizes, both orangeries and conservatories can make great additions to properties of all types.
If you live in a bungalow rather than a traditional house, adding an orangery or conservatory can be just as beneficial. However, there may be some added considerations you need to take into account before you decide what style of extension will suit you. To help you decide if a conservatory or orangery is the right choice for your home, we’re taking a look at how these versatile spaces can enhance the humble bungalow.
Permitted development
Before you start looking at different designs for conservatories and orangeries, you need to work out how much of your garden you can build on. As @PlanningPortal says, ‘Adding a conservatory to your house is considered to be permitted development, not needing an application for planning permission.’ The same goes for orangeries. However, you’ll need to double check that your bungalow hasn’t previously been extended, and that your building plans fall within permitted development limits, before you start work.
Energy efficiency
As the majority of bungalows in the UK were built in the second half of the 20th century, most are fairly energy efficient. As long as you buy your orangery or conservatory from a good quality supplier, your new extension should match, or even outstrip, the efficiency of the rest of your property. If you are concerned about heat loss, an orangery may be your best option. These generally contain more bricks and mortar than conservatories and so can be better at conserving the heat.
Usability
Again, as long as you buy your orangery or conservatory from a reputable company, heating and cooling the space should be easy. This means that your new extension will be usable throughout the year. Before you decide on a final design, think about how you want to use the space. Will your new extension act as a dining room, an office, or a social space? Do you need to fit large pieces of furniture into the room? And how will you access the space from the rest of your property?
If you want to use your extension to create a kitchen diner in your bungalow, or to extend your living space, an orangery may be the best option. These can easily be used to elongate rooms, bring light into a space and make your home more versatile. Alternatively, if you want to add a home office, a relaxed social space or a playroom, either option will suit your bungalow perfectly.
Both orangeries and conservatories offer homeowners a wide choice of benefits. Find out more about the options available by talking to a member of our expert team.