Five conservatory style ideas you can steal..

We wrote about the power of the conservatory a little earlier this year, the impact it can have on the value of your home and how to ensure the impact is positive. So now it’s time to take another look at your conservatory and create a space you want to spend time in all year round.

Here are some of the best conservatory styles we have seen in our travels around south Manchester.

1. Style it like a souk

What do we mean by this? We mean you should fill it with colour and interest with a degree of wild abandon you wouldn’t use elsewhere in your home. Start with the colour scheme, taking inspiration from the rich and earthy colours of north Africa. Paint the wall or walls in a rich terracotta, throw down a kilim rug and source blinds in a complementary colour.

The classic colour pairing of rich, vibrant blue and creamy ivory with the earthy tones of terracotta hold a timeless appeal, so choose a sink-into sofa with creamy cushions and add throws and cushions in these rich contrasting shades. 

For lighting, track down a Moroccan-style central lamp, or table lamps, in bronzed lace-cut metal to cast a warm light. Finally, add fairy lights in warm white, stretched across the ceiling in a pyramid shape, to enhance that feeling of the endless north African night skies.

2. Get industrious

If your conservatory is attached to the rear wall of your home, there’s an opportunity to strip back the plaster to reveal the original brick, which is the first step to the classic Industrial style found in many of Manchester’s converted warehouses. To complete the look, a polished concrete floor is called for, though going this far isn’t in everybody’s budget. You can replicate the style however, and make it a little warmer, by choosing a concrete effect vinyl floor covering and fit it yourself. Alternatively opt for a laminate or vinyl floor in a golden oak or dark wood, in a nod to the original flooring of the warehouses. Industrial style calls for a very limited colour palette, shades of grey with accents of white. Choose dark grey sofas and add soft grey throws, with a single contrasting colour for cushions and accessories, a deep red or burnt orange. A rug in a paler shade of grey,mMetal shelving with minimal accessories – books or framed photos in black and white will finish the look to perfection.

3. Head to the Med

We can but dream of Mediterranean summers here in Manchester, but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t bring a little of the sun, colour and scent of the Med to our conservatories. White painted walls, wooden shelves painted sea blue, and terracotta pots filled with geraniums for bold splashes of colour are your starting point here. Floor tiles, porcelain or vinyl, in a happy Moorish pattern, will add the vibes, and comfy sofas in terracotta, blush or ochre tones will finish the look.Throw in a rug and cushions in deep blue and your work is done.

4. Stay traditional

Conservatories were first invented to do just that – conserve. They were created to provide a place to overwinter plants from overseas that weren’t up to the British winter. Over time, they became a place for the humans of the house to also gather, surrounded by greenery in the darkest months. Rekindle this history in your own conservatory by filling every space with health-giving houseplants – and a lemon tree or two. Keep the decor simple with lots of white and warm neutrals, and natural materials. Wooden shelving, a jute rug, sofas and chairs in soft tones of oat milk or wheat, wooden side tables and the vivid green of your plants is all you need.

Have fun with your plant choices. You definitely want some tall and luscious palms, such as the Kentia palm, with its spiky, sculptural shape. Consider the classic Monstera (or Swiss Cheese Plant) and the Snake Plant, with its variegated leaves and hard-to-kill nature. All of these create easy height and texture and are easy to care for. Find trailing plants to set on your shelves, collate a collection of cactus and add an aloe or two. 

Plants are known for their air purifying properties, and are proven to reduce stress and anxiety in the action of caring for them. Add a desk to your conservatory and working from home will take on a whole new feel.

5. Go colonial

Rattan and wicker is big right now, and has been for some while, which means that adding a touch of Indian style to your home is very easy. A dark wood-effect floor, white walls and windows draped with fine crepe fabric to cast a soft shade, rattan sofas and chairs and a coffee table form the bones of the style. Add an Indian-style rug for warm colour and pop hurricane lamps on your side tables. Overhead, choose a light fitting with a fan, where the slow movement of the blades cools the air in summer. You can spray water onto your drapes in summer too, and the evaporation will cool the room.

Again, plants are a must-have, tall leafy beauties that add vivid colour and texture. 

If you have gone to the effort of making your conservatory fit for purpose all year round, taking it to the next level with some adventurous styling is surely the next step.

Eddie – Friday 23rd August 2024. (Image used from Blair Road, Whalley Range).