Making The Most Of Your Conservatory
This page will talk you through making the most of your conservatory by using heating and lighting options that are available to your.
Heating Your Conservatory
Many
conservatories are a nice room to be used during the summer, however as they are
not thought through properly the conservatory is often too cold to use during
the winter.Just
by spending a few extra hours planning the conservatory when you have it built,
you can turn the room into a space which you can use any time of the year by
spending a little bit of extra cash on heating.
You have a few options for heating your conservatory, however the most popular choices are to either go for underfloor heating or a radiator.Both systems can either run off their own system so that the conservatory temperature can be controlled separately to the rest of the house or on the same system as the rest of the house.Either way you will want to ensure that the conservatory heating has its own thermostat and temperature control as it will be different to the rest of the house.
We will now look at the advantages of each of the options for heating your conservatory to help you decide which of the options the best is for you.
Radiators - Suitable if you have any low walls or solid walls in the conservatory which the radiators can be mounted on to.These can even be set into a fake low wall with a radiator cover on the front so as to save taking up valuable space in the room.To make the radiators look a little more attractive you could have radiator covers installed in front of them so that they arent as visible and also makes them a little bit safer.
Under floor heating - It isnt always an option to have radiators fitted to the walls in your conservatory, or you may not want to have them in there.Floor grilles combined with under floor heating are probably your best option in this case.This system uses a trench which runs around the conservatory with a couple of pipes and heating elements in it.Once the system is in place, hot water flows through the pipes which heats the elements, which then heats the conservatory.Cast iron floor grilles are then placed on the top of the trench allowing you to walk around the conservatory and also creating a decorative feature.
Adding a good set of conservatory blinds and conservatory furniture to the room can not only keep the heat out in the summer, but also help keep the heat in during the colder months.
You have a few options for heating your conservatory, however the most popular choices are to either go for underfloor heating or a radiator.Both systems can either run off their own system so that the conservatory temperature can be controlled separately to the rest of the house or on the same system as the rest of the house.Either way you will want to ensure that the conservatory heating has its own thermostat and temperature control as it will be different to the rest of the house.
We will now look at the advantages of each of the options for heating your conservatory to help you decide which of the options the best is for you.
Radiators - Suitable if you have any low walls or solid walls in the conservatory which the radiators can be mounted on to.These can even be set into a fake low wall with a radiator cover on the front so as to save taking up valuable space in the room.To make the radiators look a little more attractive you could have radiator covers installed in front of them so that they arent as visible and also makes them a little bit safer.
Under floor heating - It isnt always an option to have radiators fitted to the walls in your conservatory, or you may not want to have them in there.Floor grilles combined with under floor heating are probably your best option in this case.This system uses a trench which runs around the conservatory with a couple of pipes and heating elements in it.Once the system is in place, hot water flows through the pipes which heats the elements, which then heats the conservatory.Cast iron floor grilles are then placed on the top of the trench allowing you to walk around the conservatory and also creating a decorative feature.
Adding a good set of conservatory blinds and conservatory furniture to the room can not only keep the heat out in the summer, but also help keep the heat in during the colder months.
Conservatory Lighting Options
Given
that conservatories and orangeries is basically an extension of your house, it seems wrong that
most conservatories are only used for a few months of the year before becoming
unusable.By
ensuring your conservatory is a well built and designed example, you can create
a space which can be used all year round.You
could use the conservatory to extend your existing living room or kitchen, or
alternatively have it as a standalone room with its own purpose.
What you are planning to use the conservatory for and which way the conservatory faces will dictate the type of conservatory furniture that you use in the room.For example, if you want to use the conservatory as a dining room then you will want to buy a good table and chair set to put in there, however if you decide that you want to use it as a flower room then you will need some rattan furniture which will be the best option.
The atmosphere is not just effected by the furniture that you put in the conservatory.The conservatory lighting will totally alter the mood and atmosphere within the space.
The obvious way of controlling light is to use conservatory blinds during the day.These can be on either the roof, sides of the conservatory or possibly both.Investing in some quality blinds will not only allow you to control the light within the room during the day time, but it will also help to control the heat by keeping the room cool in the summer and keeping the heat in during the winter.
Thats covered the best way of how you can control the light in your conservatory during the peak of summer, so now we will look at the ways you can provide lighting during the night and winter.
Chandelier - Something that only the larger conservatories can pull off, but something which also creates an amazing focal point in your conservatory that will be sure to wow your guests and make a great talking point.While chandelier's will provide a great lighting option, most people choose to also use wall lighting with them so that they have a choice of conservatory lighting.
Wall Lighting - This is the most common type of lighting for a conservatory.Wall lights can either run all from the same switch or all from inidividual switches and an average conservatory may need 4 or 5 lights around the outside of the room.
Floor Lighting - Not all conservatories are able to have wall lighting in them, if this is the case in your conservatory then floor standing lighting is probably the best option for you to go for.Most floor standing lights are suitable, but you must make sure that you get one that will fit the design and style of your conservatory.
Table Lighting - Obviously this only works if you have a table in the conservatory, and is best complimented with another form of lighting as well, but it can create a very romantic or alternatively relaxed atmosphere.
A lot of people plan their conservatory and think about the blinds to keep the light out, but do not think about lighting the conservatory when it is dark.Much like every other room you will need to make sure the room has sufficient lighting so that the room can be used all year around.
What you are planning to use the conservatory for and which way the conservatory faces will dictate the type of conservatory furniture that you use in the room.For example, if you want to use the conservatory as a dining room then you will want to buy a good table and chair set to put in there, however if you decide that you want to use it as a flower room then you will need some rattan furniture which will be the best option.
The atmosphere is not just effected by the furniture that you put in the conservatory.The conservatory lighting will totally alter the mood and atmosphere within the space.
The obvious way of controlling light is to use conservatory blinds during the day.These can be on either the roof, sides of the conservatory or possibly both.Investing in some quality blinds will not only allow you to control the light within the room during the day time, but it will also help to control the heat by keeping the room cool in the summer and keeping the heat in during the winter.
Thats covered the best way of how you can control the light in your conservatory during the peak of summer, so now we will look at the ways you can provide lighting during the night and winter.
Chandelier - Something that only the larger conservatories can pull off, but something which also creates an amazing focal point in your conservatory that will be sure to wow your guests and make a great talking point.While chandelier's will provide a great lighting option, most people choose to also use wall lighting with them so that they have a choice of conservatory lighting.
Wall Lighting - This is the most common type of lighting for a conservatory.Wall lights can either run all from the same switch or all from inidividual switches and an average conservatory may need 4 or 5 lights around the outside of the room.
Floor Lighting - Not all conservatories are able to have wall lighting in them, if this is the case in your conservatory then floor standing lighting is probably the best option for you to go for.Most floor standing lights are suitable, but you must make sure that you get one that will fit the design and style of your conservatory.
Table Lighting - Obviously this only works if you have a table in the conservatory, and is best complimented with another form of lighting as well, but it can create a very romantic or alternatively relaxed atmosphere.
A lot of people plan their conservatory and think about the blinds to keep the light out, but do not think about lighting the conservatory when it is dark.Much like every other room you will need to make sure the room has sufficient lighting so that the room can be used all year around.
