Following the festive season, filled with family gatherings, parties and celebrations with a lot of people, many homeowners are left to wonder what they can do with their conservatory, particularly if it needs repairs or is designed to be an icebox in winter and a sauna in summer.

In many tragic cases, the conservatory that was the home of many happy memories over Christmas and the New Year ends up becoming a forgotten makeshift storage space, particularly during spring cleaning, until the summer arrives and it can be used as a place to bask in the beauty of your garden.

We can play our part to help you make the most of your conservatory throughout the year, both through making vital repairs to fix weather damage and suggesting potential upgrades to make your conservatory work best for you, whilst remaining within permitted development guidelines.

 

What Do You Need To Make Your Conservatory Work All Year Round?

The start of the year up until spring is a perfect time to take stock, get in touch with the experts and see what you can do to make your conservatory perfectly usable outside of the most picturesque and most social times of the year. 

Here are just a few places to start:

  • Consider a solid roof installation.
  • Repair any broken seals, weak glass or cracks in the frame.
  • Install effective conservatory insulation.
  • Set up a heating system or install an electric underfloor heating system.
  • Fit UV protective film to the windows, especially if you have a glazed roof.

 

What Are The Most Common Uses For Conservatories All Year Round?

Once your conservatory is comfortable all year round, the next step is to decide on how you are going to use it. Thankfully, there are rather a lot of options available. 

Here are some of the most common conversion choices that we see homeowners decide upon, but in many cases, you can make your conservatory multipurpose with the help of clever storage solutions.

Dining Room

The brightness and shape of a typical conservatory make it perfect for fitting a dining room table and chairs, and having a bright, airy space to entertain.

Many conservatories are constructed close to kitchens, meaning that they can sometimes even be more convenient than a traditional dining room setup.

Indoor Garden

Given how rough a typical winter can be in your garden, filled with rain, snow, strong winds and bitter chills, it makes a lot of sense to bring the outside in and create a verdant wonderland in your conservatory.

Whether you opt for plants that harmonise with your outdoor flowerbeds or stick to succulents and houseplants that are easy to grow and maintain, an indoor garden allows you to enjoy the benefits for your mental health.

Home Gym

The archetypal use case for any extension, a home gym can be as simple as a set of dumbbells and an exercise mat, or it can involve a complete weight bench.

The best aspect of a lot of home gym equipment is that it is often designed to be moved or folded away, so you do not necessarily need to commit to having it in the open all the time if you do not want to.

Home Office

Similarly, the quiet, semi-isolated nature of a conservatory makes it almost perfect for a home office.

However, to ensure that the glare from the sun does not affect your work, invest in a solid roof or roof blinds, as well as thick curtains and comfortable lights to keep you focused.

 

Are There Any Unusual Ways To Use Your Conservatory Before Summer?

As well as the obvious roles conservatories often play in the house, here are some more specific or relatively unusual ways in which they are used by homeowners.

Games Room

Whether you hook up a large screen and a collection of games consoles, or have a table and chairs ready for a fun night or boardgaming, a games room is a perfect way to invite friends and family over during the cold winter months.

Art Studio/Craft Room

A conservatory space in full view of the garden is a perfect room for fitting an art studio, particularly if you have plans to paint the great outdoors views in front of you.

Yoga Studio

Much like a home gym, the space is ideal for yoga, meditation and relaxation, especially if you fit some speakers and ensure there is some space to light incense or candles.

Reading Room

Natural light makes for the perfect reading light to avoid eye strain, so buy a comfortable reclining chair and fit a bookshelf outside of direct sunlight in order to have a perfect place to relax during languid winter and spring days.

Home Cinema

Fit a large screen, hook up a Blu-Ray player or use a streaming service, invest in a set of thick blackout curtains and watch films with your favourite people in the comfort of your own home.