If you have a beautiful Victorian style orangery or conservatory, you will know how valuable these rooms flooded with natural light are. This is never truer than during the winter months, when the days are short, and we have less chance to experience daylight, which is essential to our health and mental wellbeing.
The last thing you want to do is shut up this space for the winter, so here are some tips to make sure it is a cosy and comfortable place to spend time all year round!
-
Install window dressings
Garden rooms and other structures with large glazed areas are prone to heat loss. To help minimise this, consider investing in some curtains or blinds to help them retain heat. Even if you do not plan to sit there after dark, the extra insulation will help to keep the rest of the house feeling warmer, lowering your energy bills and CO2 footprint.
Avoid dark dense fabrics, and choose light or neutral colours that will look attractive when tied back in the summer. Alternatively, venetian blinds may be a good idea if you find the full glare of the sun too much, because they allow you to easily control the light levels.
-
Add layers of internal lighting
If you currently just have overhead lighting, consider softening the effect with some lamps and festoon lighting, to create a gentler ambience. Choose dimmable lamps, so you can turn them up to focus on a task such as reading or sewing. As we approach the Christmas season, it’s the perfect time to get creative with fairy lights!
-
Invest in soft furnishings
Your conservatory or orangery probably has a stone tiled floor, or a wooden floor. While these look stunning, they can feel cold and unwelcoming in winter. A deep pile rug can help to create a cosier and more convivial atmosphere, and will also have an insulating effect.
Choose a rug that helps to unify the room, and is large enough to anchor the furniture, rather than float around in the middle of the floor. As a general rule, a rug should touch or go just underneath the items of furniture.
If the décor in the room is quite muted and plain, you could use the rug to introduce some design and colour. This will also have the effect of warming up the space and making it a welcoming place to be. If patterns are not your thing or there is already a busy design scheme going on, consider adding interest with the shape or the texture of the rug instead.
-
Layer up the furniture
You probably chose the furniture with lazy summer afternoons enjoying the view of the garden in mind! While it is too disruptive to consider changing it for the winter, you could add some cosy throws and cushions in rich, warm colours to create that perfect hygge mood!
-
Add plants and flowers
Your orangery or conservatory is naturally a place where you feel more connected to the outdoors, and this doesn’t have to stop in winter. Plants, flowers, or arrangements of dried leaves and twigs will add life and colour to your room over the colder months.