Home → Conservatories → Conservatory FAQs → How to furnish a conservatory
When furnishing your conservatory, the theme you go for should ideally be based on its size and style (as well as your own personal taste, of course). Once you know the overall look you’re going for, there are lots of smaller choices to make. We’ll explore each of these in turn.
How to dress conservatory windows
Blinds are a popular option for conservatories, but it’s worth taking the time to choose a window dressing that suits the individual style of your room. Modern polycarbonate conservatories often look best with blinds that match their colour. More traditional styles of conservatory, on the other hand, may suit wooden Venetian blinds, shutters, or curtains that fit in with their aesthetic.
A further consideration when choosing window dressings relates to letting in light. If you’re likely to have guests staying in your conservatory overnight or simply enjoy being able to block the light out altogether, then you may want to invest in some high-quality blackout blinds or curtains.
Should you paint or wallpaper the walls?
The overall appearance of lean-to conservatories, orangeries, and those with large interior wall surfaces will be influenced by the colour of the walls. Make sure that you think this decision through properly – it might be worth patch testing a few different samples of paint and wallpaper to see how they look with the level of light in the room.
The most important (and perhaps somewhat obvious) piece of advice is to choose a colour that suits the conservatory and fits in with the rest of the house. Continuity with the other rooms in the house is an important aspect of conservatories. You’ll also need to consider whether you want to opt for a trendy conservatory colour or a timeless classic that you’re unlikely to tire of too soon.
A brief scan of Pinterest will tell you that pastel shades are in for conservatory interiors, so the more fashion-conscious amongst you might want to go for pastel paint. Patterned wallpapers and feature walls are also fashionable for conservatory walls at the moment. Equally, neutral magnolias and light-shaded paints never go out of style and make it a lot easier to adapt the decor in the future.
What plants are good for conservatories?
Many varieties of plants can thrive in conservatories with all of the extra light. Cacti, succulents, and palms are classic, practical choices for conservatory spaces, allowing you to bring the outside in without the hassle of regular maintenance. Olive trees are an attractive yet more unusual option that can generally still survive the colder months in a conservatory.
What to put in a small conservatory?
The key with furnishing small conservatories is to keep it light. Choosing lighter shades for your decor and furnishings can help to make the space look and feel bigger. Equally, it’s important not to overload the space with too much furniture: a well-placed armchair and rug combination is a better option than a large sofa that takes up most of the room.
How to modernise a conservatory
Try updating the look of your conservatory by repainting or wallpapering the walls in a more modern style (for example, light pastel-coloured paints can help to give the room a contemporary look). You could also breathe new life into the space by replacing the furniture. Accent chairs that tie together a conservatory’s colour scheme are a popular choice at the moment.