The conservatory is, for many of us, that room in the home that we don’t really know what to do with. It’s nice to sit and read in when the sun is shining and it works as a decent gateway to the garden but for many of us it simply ends ups as one of those rooms where we just ‘put stuff’.
When we first move into a home with a conservatory or have a conservatory freshly built, we are doe-eyed with optimism about what we’re going to do with it.
Maybe it’ll be a home gym? Or maybe it’ll be the perfect hobby room? Those rooms still exist somewhere in amongst all that clutter. You just might need to put a little bit of work in.
So, without further ado, here are our top decluttering tips.
Remove the damp
One of the first things you should do is to check your conservatory for any signs of damp. Damp tends to accumulate in the corners of a room and can completely destroy your furniture if left unchecked.
If you spot any damp or mould, find the source of the problem and take care of it before going any further and consider investing in a dehumidifier to clear any lasting condensation.
Settle on a function
The worst thing you can do is to to start throwing stuff away or putting it on eBay before you settle on a final function for your conservatory. You might end up getting rid of something that could have really held the room together.
Throw away your idols
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and if your conservatory is cluttered then that means a lot of that clutter is undoubtedly made up of things that you consider to be trash.
Pick through every rogue item and assess whether or not it’s worth selling or holds any material or sentimental worth. If it’s worth selling, put it into one pile and if it’s fit only for the tip (or perhaps the charity shop) then put it into another.
Put your stamp on it
With all the ‘stuff’ moved out of the way, there should be plenty of room to put a little of your own personal touch on the space with some interesting and personal design ideas.
There’s so much wisdom in the concept that a room only becomes a room when you’ve made it your own. That’s true of a conservatory too.
Dressing the windows
For many, the greatest concern with a conservatory is that it offers little in the way of privacy.
Tear down those nasty old blinds or net curtains that are probably older than you are and replace them with something that helps to facilitate a cool, calm environment, and makes the most of those gorgeous fitted windows.
Birch roller blinds are always a classy choice here but don’t neglect the more modern designs as they might also offer added insulation. And temperature regulation is one of the most highly coveted aspects of any conservatory.
Soften the edges
The reason we are all drawn to conservatories is that they are, by design, flush with natural light. Make the most of this light by accentuating the light with soft, dimmed lighting and keep the colours warm and minimal.
Nothing should be a distraction from the natural light, everything should be an accentuation and that includes furniture and furnishings. Speaking of furnishings – the softer the better. Trust us.
The best thing about decluttering your conservatory is that you’ll be left with a blank canvas and a highly functional room in your home that could even add value to it if you’re clever enough with space.
So, this weekend, why not set a few hours aside and see what you can make of your conservatory. You might just end up with the best room in the house!