33 stylish conservatory ideas to bring the outside in
In the past, the word ‘conservatory’ has not always conjured up the most desirable images. Our minds are often transported to ill-advised and out-of-character additions to otherwise beautiful houses, or to the depths of morbid suburbia, where we dread being subjected to lukewarm gin and tonics and stale conversation. In all, the imagined conservatory is not a place whose reputation necessarily brims with generosity or good cheer.
So, conservatories have a bad reputation after years of misuse, but we’re here to bring them back into the spotlight. A conservatory or glasshouse offers a way to feel like you’re experiencing the outdoors – even when the weather isn’t up to scratch – and for making the most of any sunshine on a chill winter’s day. They can be highly atmospheric, too: just imagine sitting under the glass, warm and sheltered, perhaps with a glass of wine or even a single malt, while it rains heavily outside. It’s a deeply calming experience.
Why you should fall back in love with the conservatory
‘One of the most beautiful spaces I have ever been in is an extraordinary Victorian conservatory belonging to a client in Warwickshire,’ explains Guy Goodfellow. ‘It was a winter garden, which we filled with tall trees and enormous, colourful parasols.’ Guy is an architectural and interior designer and is well-versed in the language and nuance of English classicism. No stranger to projects in the country, he is the perfect sounding board for advice on making a conservatory as lovely as it ought to be. One of his all-time favourites has a starring role in the 1990 rom-com film Green Card, in which Andie MacDowell’s character’s rooftop apartment has a lush, palm-filled conservatory complete with a fountain and bamboo furniture.
‘And I designed an orangery in Sussex a few years ago,’ Guy continues. ‘It has a huge French chimneypiece with a dining table that extends to seat large numbers.’ Guy loves putting fireplaces in these structures: ‘It gives focus to a room.’ (And in case you are wondering, the main differences between a conservatory and orangery are the glass-to-frame ratio and the shape of the roof.)
‘For me, the joy of decorating a house is in creating different areas, each of which has its own atmosphere,’ Guy says. A conservatory should not be thought of as just another sitting room. ‘I think they make wonderful places to dine,’ he adds. ‘You don’t have to have rattan or whatever is perceived as conservatory furniture, but it shouldn’t be filled with duplicates from another room.’
Traditionally, these spaces were inhabited during the day rather than in the evening. All the glass can become ominously black at night, and there is increasing concern about light pollution caused by electric light beaming into the stratosphere. However, in the daytime, plenty of glass means plenty of sunlight, which was, of course, the original purpose of these rooms. If you wish to reduce the amount of light coming into a fully glazed conservatory, Guy advises caution. ‘Curtains would kill it, but you can use the lightest possible blinds. We use “Sang Sacre Tristan” linen by the Irish fabric house Alton-Brooke all the time – it has the most beautiful warp and weft.’
Conservatory and glasshouse specialists
- David Salisbury
- Malbrook
- Oakwrights
- Prime Oak
- Rhino Greenhouses
- Alitex
- Vale Garden Houses
- Westbury Garden Rooms
We’ve rounded up our favourite conservatory ideas from our archives, so you can be inspired to set up your very own room with a view.
Conservatory ideas for every kind of house from the House & Garden archive
Jasper Fry1/31The soaring steel-framed conservatory at this north London house was an addition made former owner Max Fordham, a pioneering environmental designer and engineer in the 1970s. He had removed the steps up to what would have been a portico entrance, instead creating a ground-floor entrance and adding the conservatory above, which is now mainly used for parties. Designer Rachel Aisling Walker has furnished the space with a 19th-century Swedish bockbord table, 18th-century occasional chairs and a 1960s solid elm bench, all sourced Sauce Ldn.
James Merrill © Ryland Peters & Small2/31The conservatory at the late, great Valentino’s London home has become an instantly recognisable, and widely admired, space. It also served as the breakfast room and was anchored by a table large enough for eight, surrounded by an exuberant display of Chinese blue and white porcelain, all gathered beneath a theatrical blue and white gingham canopy. ‘I don’t like boring objects,’ he told House & Garden for a story in the US edition in 1992. ‘I would never buy a china cup with little flowers. I like things that are amusing and strong.’
Helen Cathcart3/31At this grand country house in Sussex recently re-designed by Rebecca Wakefield, a pair of lean-tos flanking an awkwardly constructed rear extension were replaced by two new orangeries and a more aptly proportioned rear extension. The floor is lined with terracotta tiles commissioned from a local family business, Aldershaw Handmade Tiles, while the green armchair and sofa are by Pinch. Above the fireplace is a large artwork by Rosie Harbottle.
Sarah Griggs4/31This converted barn and dovecote in the Cotswolds already had a lovely garden room when the current owners moved in. Their chosen interior designers Violet & George have enhanced the light and airy feel of this space with lots of fresh greens and blues, and a contemporary botanical print on the armchair.
Mark Anthony Fox5/31When designer Anna Haines came on board to revitalise this Grade II-listed former rectory on the outskirts of Bath, she wanted to evoke a sense of peacefulness and light. At the rear of the 19th-century house, a conservatory was replaced with a metal Crittall-framed orangery, which was more in the spirit of the greenhouse built in the same spot in 1853. This space, which frames a view of a bountiful quince tree, now functions as a lovely, light-filled dining room.
Christopher Horwood6/31The leaf-green woodwork in the conservatory of this rambling former vicarage by Tamsin Saunders of Home and Found makes the garden feel like an extension of the house (a subject that Tamsin has written about here). The Plain English chairs were repainted in four different earthy tones and cushions made from a ‘mish mash’ of found fabrics – African stripes, vintage Indigo and Ikats to add interest and soften the space.
Paul Massey7/31The architect owners of this handsome 18th-century former weaver’s cottage in Wiltshire added a glass and steel kitchen extension to flood the area with light and connect the space to the outdoors. Its position against an exterior limestone wall combined with a timber-framed roof and the owner’s painstaking process of sourcing salvaged objects helps the structure blend in with the existing architecture.
James McDonald8/31The pretty garden room in this glorious riverside house in west London refreshed and revived by Kate Guinness features chairs from Matilda Goad and blinds in Claremont’s ‘Borgia Rojo’ fabric.
Dean Hearne9/31In their London rental house, sisters and designers Olympia and Ariadne Irving have used bold colour and pattern and eclectic finds to create a deeply personal home. The conservatory – a favourite spot for work and relaxation – is no exception. The banquette is covered in their mother Carolina Irving Textiles’ ‘Palermo’ fabric in China Blue and the checked cushions are from their Carolina Irving & Daughters x Atelier Raff collaboration. The rattan animal head on the wall is from Marrakech, surrounded by a vintage poster, a painting by Amelia Badenoch and a Zebra head from Anthropologie.
Mark Anthony Fox10/31This unique glazed living space is part of the Cambridgeshire home of filmmaker-turned-hemp-grower Steve Barron, which was cleverly designed to fit within the steel frame of a dilapidated cowshed on the farm. Though this is not strictly a conservatory, the floor-to-ceiling glazing lends the room a wonderful indoor-outdoor feel and floods the space with natural light all year round.
Helen Cathcart11/31One of the most striking features of this small mews house by the sea is the ‘vinery’ on the second floor – a beautiful glass extension already in existence when the project started, which houses the sitting room and gives an extraordinary sense of openness. Here, antique armchairs sourced from Kempton and covered in Guy Goodfellow Collection’s ‘Fez Weave’ face a bespoke sofa covered in Christopher Farr Cloth’s ‘Loom Weave’. The coffee table was an Ebay find, while the globe pendant from Hector Finch adds a contemporary edge.
Paul Massey12/31The original conservatory at this unusual gothic revival house in north London reimagined by Maddux Creative features characteristic pointed arch windows and a newly added quatrefoil-within-octagon frieze below the glass roof. These two motifs are standard gothic fare, and were inspired by those on the original chimneypieces and wooden doors. The Maison Gatti French café chairs were chosen to echo the London Mosaic floor tiles.
- this Georgian house</a>, which he has reconfigured and decorated in his layered signature style. A steel-framed conservatory by Serres d’Antan contains rattan ‘Wengler’ chairs from Sika-Design and a vintage linen table runner. A large Georgian cupboard from Alexander von Westenholz holds gardening equipment.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Paul Massey","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":415,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893d25eea7137eaf3728e3/master/w_320,c_limit/massey_hg_lordnorthst_28405x.jpg"},{"height":829,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893d25eea7137eaf3728e3/master/w_640,c_limit/massey_hg_lordnorthst_28405x.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":829,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893d25eea7137eaf3728e3/master/w_640,c_limit/massey_hg_lordnorthst_28405x.jpg"},{"height":1658,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893d25eea7137eaf3728e3/master/w_1280,c_limit/massey_hg_lordnorthst_28405x.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":1326,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893d25eea7137eaf3728e3/master/w_1024,c_limit/massey_hg_lordnorthst_28405x.jpg"},{"height":2653,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893d25eea7137eaf3728e3/master/w_2048,c_limit/massey_hg_lordnorthst_28405x.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":1658,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893d25eea7137eaf3728e3/master/w_1280,c_limit/massey_hg_lordnorthst_28405x.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":1658,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893d25eea7137eaf3728e3/master/w_1280,c_limit/massey_hg_lordnorthst_28405x.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
Paul Massey13/31The search for a London pied-à-terre brought Ben Pentreath’s clients unexpectedly to this Georgian house, which he has reconfigured and decorated in his layered signature style. A steel-framed conservatory by Serres d’Antan contains rattan ‘Wengler’ chairs from Sika-Design and a vintage linen table runner. A large Georgian cupboard from Alexander von Westenholz holds gardening equipment.
Paul Massey14/31Californian tech entrepreneur Rose Hulse has brought a fresh perspective to the renovation of a Georgian house in the West Country, combining sensitivity to its origins with her desire to create a colourful and comfortable home for her family. The bench in the conservatory was a gift from her husband’s mother and the cushions are from Katherine Fraser.
Paul Massey15/31Butter Wakefield designed the garden of this smart London townhouse, which features as close to a ‘conservatory’ as one can get with an extension. White gravel and lime chippings are flanked by paths of London brick, with a small terrace created from reclaimed cobblestones.
Simon Brown16/31Butter Wakefield bought her own London home in 1991. She described the original kitchen as ‘so poky, you could barely open the oven’. But she was able to see the potential when she saw the light pouring in across the west-facing garden, and added this elegant conservatory around 10 years ago. The green, black and white palette runs throughout the house but is most prominent in the conservatory and kitchen, where there is a cornucopia of lettuceware plates and monochrome fabrics. A smart green window seat is luxuriously heated by the radiator below and is the perfect spot from which to admire the garden.
17/31Inside the glass and timber extension of this Christopher-Howe-designed house in Bray, the floor is made from repurposed cheeseboards, which were found on a trip to the South of France. 1950s Italian bar stools contrast with the island, which was salvaged from a fishmonger’s.
Lucas Allen18/31The crazy paving at this townhouse in Bray was inspired by Gertrude Jekyll, and leads back to a wider outdoor dining area. Crittall windows ensure the extension is filled with light.
Paul Massey19/31In a London flat by Ebba Thott of Sigmar, double steel-framed doors leading to the decking were designed by Ebba to give access from the main corridor. The small garden has wooden decking and is large enough for an outdoor dining table.
Eva Nemeth20/31At the back of the garden designer Emily Erlam’s terraced Georgian house, limestone flagstones are used throughout the ground floor to link the open-plan kitchen living space with the dining terrace, where outdoor furniture from Belgium is set against a backdrop of shrubs.
Alister Thorpe21/31If adding a conservatory extension isn’t an option, consider a glazed room in the garden instead. Tantalising vistas draw you in all directions in this Chiltern Hills garden, where Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson have used walls, apertures and clever planting to transform a disjointed plot into a series of interconnected spaces. Here, the garden studio is framed by shades of yellows and greens.
- Castello di Reschio</a> serves as a glamorous, light-filled seating area.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Davide Lovatti","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":418,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6189456a9fad5833bd1742df/master/w_320,c_limit/141-2.jpg"},{"height":837,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6189456a9fad5833bd1742df/master/w_640,c_limit/141-2.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":837,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6189456a9fad5833bd1742df/master/w_640,c_limit/141-2.jpg"},{"height":1674,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6189456a9fad5833bd1742df/master/w_1280,c_limit/141-2.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":1339,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6189456a9fad5833bd1742df/master/w_1024,c_limit/141-2.jpg"},{"height":2678,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6189456a9fad5833bd1742df/master/w_2048,c_limit/141-2.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":1674,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6189456a9fad5833bd1742df/master/w_1280,c_limit/141-2.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":1674,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6189456a9fad5833bd1742df/master/w_1280,c_limit/141-2.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
Davide Lovatti22/31This double-height, steel-framed glasshouse built within the old castle walls of Castello di Reschio serves as a glamorous, light-filled seating area.
Lucas Allen23/31Designer Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay, the owner of this Victorian country house in Shropshire has enhanced the interiors of this grand property with her signature mid-century aesthetic without compromising original features. The conservatory attached to the side of the house provides a bright space. It is decorated with a neutral palette for a calming atmosphere, and striped wallpaper emphasises the height of the space.
Simon Brown24/31This is a modern take on a conservatory by interior designer Philip Hooper of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, who added a clerestory, supported by a steel frame, to let more light into the dining room.
Lucas Allen25/31To restore a feeling of equilibrium to his Queen Anne house in Herefordshire, interior decorator Edward Bulmer remodelled the layout, added a new wing, and painted the walls in interesting colours to create a contemporary family home. The kitchen dining area is now housed in the conservatory, part of the newly built wing.
Elsa Young26/31The owners of this London house added a generous conservatory at the back, featuring three sets of french windows. Designer Suzy Hoodless has decorated it in her signature smart style, with Muuto’s ‘Nerd’ chairs, a sleek table and bench, and a striking monochrome rug.
Simon Brown27/31The conservatory in artist and designer Bridie Hall’s north London house is used as a library and snug. Bookcases painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Off-Black’ lend it a cosy atmosphere.
Michael Sinclair28/31A conservatory with rattan furniture and chik blinds acts as an extension of the garden in the London home of Lady Wakefield. Designed by Marston & Langinger, it also provides an alternative dining area. Like the rest of the house, it is full of pieces chosen with confidence. Nothing is matching and objects are not necessarily of value, but they are all things of beauty and interest.
Paul Massey29/31A warm welcoming interior with a carefully curated mix of vintage and custom-made furniture gives Ett Hem hotel in Stockholm, designed by Ilse Crawford, the feel of a well-loved private house. In the glass house, a gauzy sail-like shade can be pulled over the roof to keep out the sun, while an abundance of homely plants links the space to the garden beyond.
Line T Klein30/31Tradition meets 21st-century style in this Georgian orangery at a Somerset country house, where original tiling is complemented by clean-lined furniture. This elegant addition was updated in the Victorian era and now houses one of two kitchens in the house.
David Oliver31/31In this Norfolk country home, interior decorator Veere Grenney wanted to respect the architecture of the rooms yet reflect the owners' relaxed and hospitable way of life. A long table can be found in the relatively new conservatory, which links the Georgian part of the house to the Tudor wing. This ‘Waste’ table in plywood was made by Piet Hein Eek and is surrounded by Hans J Wegner ‘Wishbone’ chairs. Above it, hanging from an oculus in the ceiling, is a Charles Saunders 'Oak Leaf' chandelier, which could be an armful of foliage blown in from the park.
.jpg)
