House owners often have grand plans when they are considering adding a conservatory as an extension onto their house. However, if you are not careful, the conservatory can end up as junk room where the children’s toys are stored, or where wet washing is put out to dry on rainy days or as a store room for children’s bikes and other bulky items.
To make the most of a conservatory, it needs to have a distinct function.
If your conservatory is an extension of your kitchen, then it could be the ideal place to put the dining table and chairs and maybe a sideboard or Welsh dresser for storing the “posh” dinner service and the delicate glassware.
On the other hand, if your conservatory is flooded with sunlight most of the year, then it could be the perfect place for a garden room. Furnish it with comfortable armchairs and sofas and a glass-topped coffee table for comfortable reading and quiet relaxation. Use house plants to help “bring your garden into your home” and it will make the room feel even bigger than it actually is.
If you have young children, then instead of using your conservatory as a dining room coming off your kitchen, you may find it more practical to turn it into a playroom where your toddlers can play while you can easily keep an eye on them from the kitchen.
You could use the conservatory as an office or a place to work in when you are working at home. The peace and quiet and the view overlooking the greenery in your garden may just be the inspiration you need to get to grips with writing that report or marking those exercise books!