Does your conservatory add value to your property – or your lifestyle?
Conservatories can increase the value of your property, without doubt, but this very much depends on their build quality. A ramshackle old lean-to, no matter how prettily decorated, will come across as more of a liability than a benefit to viewers not seeking a project. A sturdily constructed, carefully maintained and smartly furnished space will however attract a buyer’s interest and imagination. Usable, attractive space adds monetary value, that’s quite a simple equation. What’s more interesting perhaps is whether your conservatory adds any value to your lifestyle – and whether potential buyers believe it will add value to their lifestyle.
A recent piece of research showed that millions of homeowners admit to never using their conservatories, and the reasons why come as no surprise to us.
More than a third of conservatory owners surveyed said they don’t use the room at all. Over half of these said it’s because the room isn’t energy efficient, with 45% saying it’s an uncomfortable temperature during the whole year – too cold in winter and too warm in summer. And more than 10% confessed that they use their conservatory as a dumping ground or giant storage cupboard, not the purpose for which it was originally intended.
How to make your conservatory work for you all year round
If you have a conservatory you don’t use, it’s probably down to the comfort levels it offers summer or winter – or indeed discomfort levels.
To really take advantage of this, let’s face it, valuable space in your home, you may first need to make a financial investment.
Insulation
If you have a roof on your home it will no doubt have been insulated to prevent expensive heat escaping and unpleasant chill falling. Heat rises, cold falls. When your roof is insulated you block the heat from escaping, and prevent the outside chill from descending through your home – especially important during these times of drastically high fuel bills.
Your conservatory roof needs the same protection. Just replacing the panels in your roof with insulated panels will make an immense difference, very quickly. It’s not just glass or plastic conservatory roofs that need replacing, even tiled roofs (if fitted some time ago) won’t have any insulation. The cost will of course vary depending on how far you are prepared to go, so shop around to get a price you can live with. The return on investment will be immediate – a space you suddenly find yourself using (though you may need to declutter first, if you’re one of the 10% using it as a giant cupboard!) and, if you are planning on selling your home in the near or distant future, can reassure potential buyers it’s a great space with lifestyle benefits.
Blinds
Conservatories are marvellous for letting in the light. That’s grand in spring and autumn, or those cold blue sky winter days, but not so grand in summer, when it’s baking hot and the conservatory acts like a giant radiator on the rear of your home. Blinds will make a big difference, blocking the heat from fully penetrating the space. Again, they’re an investment, but as well as providing shade in summer, and an extra degree of insulation in winter, they are an attractive addition to lift the aesthetics.
Decor
Yes, as with every room in your home, if it looks good it will make you feel good.
Nobody wants to spend time in a dull or ugly room. Our surroundings affect our mood. If there’s a room you’re avoiding, it’s likely because it triggers a low mood, or sense of discomfort. Make sure your conservatory is a place you actively want to spend time.
First – decide what purpose your conservatory has. Is it a second sitting room? Is it a teen space? Is it a home office, or a dining room, or a sewing room or a painting studio or a playroom? Consider what would really enhance your lifestyle, and make it happen.
Use shopping platforms such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace to find the furniture you need – you’ll be amazed by how many homeowners are selling premium pieces for very accessible prices – but people who are downsizing, or revamping their homes, often just want rid quickly, so price competitively.
Furniture chosen, it’s time to accessorise, and now’s the time to remember the original purpose of a conservatory. Conservatories were first built in the 1700s by, yes, you guessed it, the wealthy owners of stately homes and country manors, as a place to overwinter – conserve – tender plants brought from overseas, such as citrus plants. It makes sense therefore that we build plants into our decor scheme,
Plants bring rich colour and life to any room, but particularly to the conservatory. Tropical plants love a conservatory and will thrive in summer and survive in winter (as long as it’s insulated and kept above freezing!). These are often the most easy to care for too, such as the Sansevieria (snake plant) or Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss cheese plant). Quirky Plants has some great suggestions for tabletop or floor plants that will add colour and texture to your space. Just set an alarm to remind yourself to water them!
Is this the summer to take charge of your conservatory? We say yes.
Eddie 21st June 2024. (Image used from JP & Brimelow Estate Agent marketing team).
