Space is extremely valuable in a home, and many people wish they had more of it that they can use all year round.
In many homes, however, conservatories are one room that is left somewhat neglected outside of late spring, summer and the early warmth of autumn, which might be in part due to required repairs or flawed initial design.
However, because conservatories are a type of extension, the temptation is always there to utilise the space outside of entertaining, such as by installing a home office or home gym.
Here are the positives, the negatives and what you can do to accentuate the former and get rid of the latter.
Pro: A Lot Of Natural Light
Natural light has been connected to improved mental well-being and physical health for a very long time, and most modern office buildings are designed to maximise the amount of light that enters the space.
Given that a classic conservatory is designed to let in as much light as possible, it seems like a perfect option. Buying the right desk and placing it facing the window works very well to get the most light and a motivating view of the garden.
Con: Risk of Glare
One problem with daylight-focused design in offices is the potential for harsh glare to appear on a monitor or laptop screen, something that would be made far worse with a primarily glazed conservatory.
Whilst the best solution to this is fitting a solid roof for reasons that will become clear later, an alternative option is to fit curtains and roof blinds that can help protect your eyes and make the room more comfortable to work in.
Pro: A Quiet Space
If you live in a busy house with a lot of activity during the day, it can be difficult to find a quiet room to focus on your work, relax and unwind, but a conservatory naturally can provide that peaceful space.
Because it is outside of the exterior walls of your house, it is far more isolated from the house than any other room, making it perfect for video meetings and telephone conversations.
Con: Distracting Cold And Warmth
Older conservatories have historically been somewhat difficult to enjoy outside of a couple of sweet spots in late spring, early summer and the middle of autumn, where the weather is bright but not too hot.
In the height of summer, some conservatories have been historically unbearably warm, and during winter they can be particularly cold and unwelcoming. Both can cause problems when you want to use the space to focus on work.
Thankfully there are a lot of different options. The best choice is to replace the glazing with a solid roof, which will block out a lot of the glare issues and overwhelming heat if properly installed.
Outside of this, thick curtains and blinds can provide makeshift insulation, fitting an air conditioning system can fix the temperature problem, and double glazing or UV-coated glass can help considerably with heat issues.