Conservatory Decoration Thoughts & Advice
The interior of a conservatory can be difficult to design and decorate, because of the prominence of windows on the roof & sides. This creates a feeling of openness and light, but presents both thermal & aesthetic challenges.
- Furnishing a conservatory is a wonderful opportunity to showcase and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, without leaving the comfort of your home. The right plants thrive in the abundant natural light provided by the many windows. Attractive, comfortable furniture, natural materials, and bright and inviting colour schemes create an atmosphere of casual relaxation.
- Keep your conservatory design & interior furnishings consistent with the décor & style of your home. Conservatories are often added to homes years later, so they don't always follow the same architectural design: to keep it consistent with the rest of the home, keep one of the design elements the same. Use a similar colour scheme, type of furniture or fabric choice as is found in an adjoining room, so it will not seem like an after- thought.
Use of Colour
When it comes to selecting a colour scheme for your conservatory, the choice is yours - but do remember that the exterior views will become your 'wallpaper' and indoor plants your 'accessories', so choose colours that blend well.
Colour has the power to significantly affect mood. Colour will not only affect the look of a room or space, but it will also affect people’s feelings in subconscious ways.
- BEIGE for a neutral mood, overwhelmingly the most popular colour for blinds in conservatories, enabling you to accessorise with all sorts of other colours. You are unlikely to become bored of it as the whole appearance can be changed by the introduction of new accent colours in furnishings
- PURPLE for a peaceful mood, a cool colour but associated with sadness
- GREEN for a calming, soothing influence, a promoter of rest & relaxation
- BLUE a cool colour that calms the nervous system, but avoid dark blues which can be depressing
- ORANGE for an energetic mood, naturally warm, promoting activity
- YELLOW for a cheerful mood, uplifting, but too much can be overwhelming
- RED for excitement, stimulates body & mind. Great as a accent to compliment neutral flooring, walls & blinds
- BLACK for a mysterious mood. Adds style & sophistication when used sparingly, for example as webbing on blinds, cushions or tie backs
- WHITE for an uplifting mood, lightens the mood & enlarges the look of a space, but pure white not recommended for blinds, as it produces glare
- GRAY for a serious mood, but impressive when decorating with black & white accents, & a single bold colour to lift the scheme
Themed Conservatory Styling
The Victorian look
The conservatory was inspired by the Victorian era, & used to grow exotic tropical plants in orangery type rooms; such as Amdega conservatories which still look remarkably similar in design to 130 years ago. You may decide to take a Victorian period approach, because the room's function is to nurture plants and entertain guests, & place a variety of exotic plants on the floor.
Rustic planters on window cills, tables & the floor can achieve a Victorian look through highly decorative patterns and dark colours. Plain neutral colour roller blinds or Pinoleum is most appropriate to keep the glare & heat at bay, and use Oriental-patterned area rugs to warm the room.
The Garden Inspired Conservatory
A garden-inspired conservatory will add a space that is natural and fresh by bringing the outdoors in. White-painted furniture is a traditional garden theme, but blues, yellows and greens also are excellent for this décor. Chandeliers, lamps, and birdcages will add a charming elegance to a garden-style conservatory.
Use leather or oak furniture and comfortable plush sofas, to turn your sunroom into a cosy environment for family and friends. Pinoleum roof or side blinds, or contemporary wood venetians, available in many wood colours, add warmth in winter, or linen & cotton look fabric rollers will be equally in keeping if you want a simple & unobtrusive look to blinds.
Contemporary Conservatory
A contemporary sunroom ambience can be achieved through simplicity. Rather than incorporating floral patterns or ornate decoration, go with clean lines, pure colours and a limited palette. White is both modern and airy for a conservatory interior but beware the high amount of glare produced. While filling the room with glass and metal is a very urban, this contemporary look is a complete contrast to the traditional purpose of the room.
If the rest of your house is decorated in a modern style, keep the same feel in your conservatory, but use a contrasting, attention-getting colour like deep plum as a feature wall to quieten the glare from the sun. Sleek & neutral colour leather furniture combined with large mirrors to reflect light around the conservatory add a stunning visual effect. Plain, simple, clean roller blinds are best; pleated or pinoleum are too old fashioned for this look, & roman blinds too cumbersome to operate when there are lots of them & the soft curtain type fabrics are also prone to fading in harsh sunlight.
The Warm Mediterranean Sunroom
A warm terracotta tile floor is a crucial to an Mediterranean-inspired conservatory interior. Add simple blinds, blue enamelware or ceramic pottery accents, and rustic wooden or metal furniture for an indoor-outdoor Mediterranean conservatory feel. Soft warm colours such as dusty red or orange terracotta are great for walls or accents, while natural fabrics like jute, hemp and cotton add authenticity.
Metal candleholders and wall art further enhance the rustic feel, while soft pillows in warm colours welcome those entering the room. Pleated blinds come in hundreds of neutral & warm colours, but it is best not to overdo the colours in the blinds, but save them for the accessories in the room.