Top Tips for Getting the Maximum Use Out of Your Conservatory
Most people buy conservatories to increase the floorspace in their home without having to move house or install a costly loft or basement extension. However, to be truly cost-effective you need to be able to use it all year round, which isn’t always that straightforward given that conservatories are more exposed to the vagaries of the British climate.
Here The Bespoke Shutter Company, who specialise in supplying and installing conservatory shutters in Essex, London and Hertfordshire, identify the methods in which you can make this extra room a place where everyone wants to spend some time – in the winter as well as in the summer.
Opt for Lightweight Furniture
Don’t clutter your conservatory up too much by installing a large sofas or comfortable armchairs. Although this can be tempting if you want to use your conservatory primarily as somewhere to relax, this will stop air from circulating inside which is a particular problem in the summer months.
Choose lightweight furniture which you can move around easily – simple wooden chairs with upholstered seat covers or built-in benches should give you the comfort you are looking for while keeping the temperature at a tolerable level. If you are worried about keeping warm in the winter, a few rugs and throws should keep everything snug and cosy.
Avoid Messy Plants
The trouble with many plants which you grow indoors is that they can shed their foliage very easily. Do you really want to spend lots of time sweeping up leaves? Cacti and succulents are a good option as they will survive all year round with very little maintenance or watering.
Low-maintenance varieties of palm tree, such as the sago or the blue hesper, will give your conservatory a stylish look. Other plants, such as olive, lemon or orange trees, are hardy enough survive a winter inside without any additional heating – or much pruning – unless you live in a particularly cold climate. Remember, plants can help to improve indoor air quality, whether the windows are open or closed.
Give it a Purpose
One way of guaranteeing that you will use your conservatory is to earmark if for a specific purpose. Built-in bookshelves mean you can use it as a dedicated reading room or library, while many people use their conservatories as dining rooms. Most kitchens are at the rear of houses so it should be simple enough to take food (and plates and glasses) in and out of a conservatory.
Install Shutters
The installation of shutters helps to regulate the temperature within a conservatory. They can keep out direct sunlight during the summer but air can still circulate freely if you adjust the angle of the panels or louvers.
In winter they will stop your conservatory from becoming too cold. They are extremely effective insulators as they stop the process of conduction, which allows warm air to escape outside, and convection, which is when cold air enters from outside. This means your conservatory should be neither too warm nor too cold – and so you won’t need to spend money on any electrical heating aids, such as fans or heaters.
Shutters have other advantages too. They are much easier to clean than curtains or fabrics, requiring only the occasional wipe-down with a damp cloth, and will give you plenty of security and privacy against nosy neighbours or would-be thieves. They won’t fade and they will protect anything inside your conservatory from the glare of the sun as well.
Shutters also have plenty of kerb appeal, which means they make your home much more desirable to would-be purchasers should you ever decide to sell it.
Conservatory Shutters from The Bespoke Shutter CompanyIf you are interested in purchasing conservatory shutters in Essex, Hertfordshire or London, then The Bespoke Shutter Company are the people to call. We can supply and install made-to-measure plantation shutters to fit your conservatory’s walls, ceiling and roof to give you maximum protection from the elements.
We can also fit waterproof shutters in your kitchen or bathroom, and offer tier-on-tier, full-length and café-style options for other rooms in the house. If you would like to know more about our products, you can reach us by following this link and filling in the online form or by calling us on 020 3131 3155.
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