In centuries past, conservatories were primarily used by aristocrats as areas where to grow citrus fruits – protecting them from the elements while providing them with enough sunlight to grow. In the modern era, conservatories are used for a variety of purposes. Some homeowners like to use their conservatory as a home office, while others are happy to have a place separate from the house for the children to play.
In recent years, using your conservatory as a dining room has become a popular trend. After all, what’s nicer than enjoying the scenery of your garden during a delicious meal while being safely protected behind glass walls? Here are some top tips for transforming your conservatory into the perfect dining room.
Carefully consider your lighting
The main reason why dining in a conservatory is so pleasurable is that there’s an abundance of natural light. However, you should still carefully consider your conservatory lighting as it gets dark in the evenings, particularly during the winter in Britain. To create a luxurious ambiance, you may wish to consider installing a chandelier, or small candleholders fitted with electric lights, along the inner perimeter of the room. The former will act as a focal point for the room but will also dispel light evenly throughout the conservatory, and the latter can create a magical atmosphere which can be perfect for dinner parties. Fairy lights are a great alternative, too.
Furniture matters
In order to enjoy pleasant meals with the family, traditional wicker furniture with a classic wooden dining table is a great selection. This is particularly pleasant on the eye if the rest of your property has a rustic ambiance. For those who wish to have sophisticated dinner parties, metal furniture is a good choice, particularly when combined with a clear glass dining table and modern upholstery.
Writing for Morale Garden Furniture, Usman Ali recommends using rattan furniture for conservatories:
“Most rattan, wicker and resin items can be dyed and shaped so can be used in a wide variety of contexts. Materials like teak and iron are also options, but may look and feel too ‘heavy’ for an indoor setting and will come at a higher price.”
Insulation
As wonderful as it is to enjoy a splendid roast meal while watching the winter snow fall from the safety of your conservatory, insulation is something to be taken seriously. Although advanced glass technology (such as triple glazing) is good for preventing heat from leaving your conservatory, it will never be as warm as a regular brick room during the winter. Installing high quality insulation boards is one option, while underfloor heating is the most effective but also costly option.
Flooring
The flooring of your conservatory can not only affect the room’s aesthetic appeal, but it’s also important from a functional perspective. If you regularly host dinner parties, your conservatory floor will experience a lot of traffic, so it’s wise to choose a material which is durable and also liquid resistant – ceramic tiles are a good example. Stone tiles look marvelous but require more maintenance which can be difficult if you regularly have social events in your conservatory.
For a cost effective option, laminate flooring can replicate a number of natural styles and is easy to clean. For more information about conservatory flooring, check out our previous blog post on the subject.
We’re here to help
If you’re looking to build a conservatory (or refurbish an existing conservatory) specifically to use as a dining room, don’t hesitate to get in contact today. We’re happy to recommend a conservatory that will act as the perfect portal between the exterior and interior of your home, allowing your guests to eat in peace while enjoying the sights of your garden. Please check out our conservatories gallery for more inspiration.