You may have had grand plans for that conservatory to begin with, but the chances are that it has become something of a dumping ground, or a space you really should be putting to better use. Giving families extra room to live, breathe and play, and often adding value, your conservatory could make a world of difference to your home. How are you going to make it work for you?
Garden room
One of the most common uses for a conservatory is as a garden room – an extension of your garden that allows you to enjoy the flora and fauna whatever the weather. Traditionally glass, conservatories provide a window into wildlife and, when filled with your favourite plants, can create a really wonderful habitat for all sorts of special species. Enjoy your little slice of paradise with a cup of tea, or cultivate new blooms in your indoor greenhouse – the choice is yours.
Lounge
Of course, you could fill your conservatory with home comforts as an extension of your lounge, or as a classier, ‘grown-up’ living space to escape to every once in a while. With its own views across your gorgeous garden, this is the perfect space to cosy up with a good book, or watch a few of your favourite films and television series. The inclusion of plantation shutters will enable you to control the flow of natural light into your lounge, creating the kind of ambience you’re craving. What’s more, these shutters will help to keep your new lounge warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and maintain some privacy if your garden is overlooked at all.
Breakfast/dining room or kitchen extension
The kitchen and dining area is often the hub of any home, bringing every member of the family together to enjoy meals and conversations as one. How often have you wished to have even a little more space to savour those moments? An open-plan conservatory can work as an extension of your kitchen or create a new dining room entirely, while keeping this key corner of your home as light, bright and inviting as possible.
Utility or laundry
Utility rooms are really useful to have, keeping your washing machine and tumble dryer, dirty laundry and additional storage solutions in one place away from bustling family life. If you’re not in any need of additional living space, consider converting your conservatory into a laundry room. This will keep your home running smoothing without introducing any additional clutter (and smelly socks) elsewhere.
Playroom or games room
The playroom is another increasingly popular use for conservatories. A conservatory provides a great space for toys to reside without being too far away when you need to keep an eye on little ones. What’s more, it could be decorated with bright, bold colours and patterns without disrupting any other colour schemes you may have going on. Similarly, you could transform your conservatory into a teenagers’ or adults’ games room with a pool table or air hockey, or cosy couches for console gaming. Those plantation shutters will create the right kind of environment here.
Home office or study
Recent events may have led to you working from home or inspired you to create an office or study space. If you’re using all of your bedrooms and cubbies, consider converting your conservatory. After all, what could be more inspiring than a room with a view across the garden? As we have discussed previously, it’s important to position your desk properly, getting as much natural light as possible. This shouldn’t be an issue in a conservatory!
Gym or workout room
If you’ve ever wished that you could work out more at home but lack the space to store or use equipment, now might be a good time to convert your conservatory. Conservatories lend themselves to gyms and workout spaces really easily, providing plenty of room for an exercise bike, treadmill or yoga setup. This transformation will hopefully inspire you to get to grips with a new exercise regime, without encroaching on the rest of your family home.
Craft room or home studio
So many more of us are investing our time in arts and crafts, turning our hobbies into tiny business empires we run from home. Your conservatory is the perfect place to work in, providing lots of light to see what you’re doing, and storage space away from family life. Similarly creative uses for a conservatory include a music room, home theatre and library.
The short answer is that a conservatory’s uses are as limited as your imagination. From a traditional garden room, kitchen, lounge or dining room extension, to a study, extra bedroom or playroom, a little creativity can go a long way. In fact, with careful planning and interior design, it’s perfectly possible to transform a conservatory into just about any room at all. How will you use yours?
Disclosure: This is a featured post.