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A look at key conservatory trends

Although conservatories have been a regular feature in homes for many years now, it was actually the Victorians who invented the conservatory. The reason for this was because it was a way to showcase their love of display. Nowadays, people often extend their homes by building a conservatory not only to create more space, but to also add value to their property. Moneywise recently said that conservatories can “be a quick, cheap way to boost your home’s appeal, and generally you don’t need planning permission to build.”

The typical British trend for conservatories is to use glass to create a light and airy feel. Over recent years however, conservatories have evolved to become very sophisticated and intricate, allowing for a higher degree of ‘character’ to be infused into the home.

Two big trends in conservatory development have been in innovative design and modern lighting. In terms of the architectural design, home-owners are far more conscious of their conservatory being functional and providing extra space; but they still they want it to be aesthetically pleasing and enhance the character of the rest of the home. The materials most commonly used to build a conservatory are glass and aluminium. These materials allow for lots of creativity and enable the implementation of attractive design elements such as bi-fold doors, canopies and glass curtains. In terms of style, all of these features can be designed to make your conservatory look more contemporary or traditional.

When it comes to lighting, we tend to sway more towards natural light (as opposed to artificial light) to maximise and emphasise the amount of space the conservatory provides. Research has shown that our moods and productivity levels are elevated when we’re in natural light, which is why people often remark that they like to spend time in their conservatory to relax! If you are looking for a contemporary conservatory designed specifically to maximise the intake of natural light, this can be created with the use of laminated glass roof rafters, for example.

There is also another conservatory trend hot on the heels of the traditional conservatory, and that is the orangery. In terms of the build, an orangery is more like a conventional house extension, allowing for the same intake of natural light while keeping the space more private. Although orangeries are more contemporary in terms of innovative design, they can actually create a more traditional look, reminiscent of Victorian and Edwardian styles. Orangeries are typically inset with glazed panels or full-length doors and have glazed roofs for a more hardy and substantial structure. They can also be designed with brick columns interspersed with windows.

Whatever type of conservatory you would like to opt for, it will be a significant financial investment – but one that will pay dividends in terms of the overall value of your home. The cost will always vary depending on the construction materials, whether you want it designed completely bespoke and the extent of the building work involved. It’s highly recommended that you use a specialist conservatory company with a team of experts, as they will be able to recommend something which is a perfect match for your requirements.


(Photo by Tatinauk)