A conservatory is often the most underused room in the house, too hot in summer and too cold in winter to be genuinely comfortable. With the right insulation, glazing and heating, though, a conservatory can become one of the most used rooms in the house rather than a glorified storage space. Here are four practical ways to get more from yours.
1. A year round dining or garden room
The most popular upgrade is turning a conservatory into a proper dining or garden room that works in every season. This usually means replacing a polycarbonate roof with an insulated tiled or glass roof, upgrading glazing to modern thermally efficient units, and adding a heat source, whether that is a radiator on the existing central heating system or underfloor heating. Once the temperature swings are under control, a conservatory dining space overlooking the garden is one of the nicest rooms in a North London house.
2. A home office
With more people working from home at least part of the week, a conservatory can make a good home office if you address glare, temperature control and connectivity. Blinds or solar control glazing reduce screen glare and overheating, while running a data cable or extending your wifi mesh out to the conservatory solves connectivity issues. Because a conservatory is usually attached to the rear of the house, it also gives useful separation from the main living space during the working day.
3. A playroom or family room
For families, a conservatory can work well as a playroom or informal family room, keeping toys and activity separate from more formal living areas. Durable, easy clean flooring and robust, moisture-tolerant furnishings suit this use well, and if the conservatory opens directly onto the garden it gives children easy access to outdoor play with a covered space to fall back on in poor weather.
4. A garden lounge or reading room
A quieter option is treating the conservatory as a relaxed lounge or reading space, furnished with comfortable seating rather than a dining table. This works particularly well where the conservatory faces a garden with mature planting, making the most of the view. Good curtains or blinds help with both privacy and controlling heat gain on sunny days.
- Upgrade a polycarbonate roof to a solid, insulated roof for year round comfort
- Add a heat source rather than relying on portable heaters
- Fit solar control or tinted glazing to reduce summer overheating
- Check that flooring is suitable for temperature and moisture variation
- Extend wifi or run a data point if you plan to use it as a workspace
- Consider blinds for both privacy and glare control
What to check before upgrading
If your conservatory was built more than a decade ago, it is worth checking the condition of the base, frame and existing glazing before investing in a roof upgrade. A conservatory replacement roof usually does not need planning permission provided it stays within the existing footprint and height, but always confirm this with your local authority, particularly if your property is in a conservation area.
If your conservatory is more style than substance right now, Hozea Construction can assess what upgrades would make the biggest difference for a free fixed-price quote. Call 07969 378509 to arrange a visit.
Common questions
- Do I need planning permission to upgrade my conservatory roof?
- In most cases, replacing a conservatory roof within the existing footprint does not need planning permission, as it counts as permitted development. It is still worth checking with your local council, especially if your property is listed or in a conservation area.
- Will an insulated roof make my conservatory too dark?
- Modern insulated conservatory roofs can include glazed panels or roof lanterns to retain natural light while improving thermal performance. A good installer will design the mix of solid and glazed sections around how much light the room currently gets and how it is used.
- Is it cheaper to upgrade a conservatory or build a small extension instead?
- Upgrading an existing conservatory is almost always cheaper than building a new extension, since the structure and base are already in place. If the conservatory is old, poorly built or in the wrong position, however, a small extension can sometimes offer better long-term value.