DesignThe design of your conservatory will depend a lot on what you want to use it for. Will it be an extension to existing living space, like a relaxing (and warm) part of your lounge? Or is it going to be primarily a garden room, full of muddy boots and seedlings? Will it only be used in summer, or are you planning to heat it and use it in winter too?The internet is full of inspirational design ideas, so tailor your own conservatory to the specific needs of you and your family. It’s important to adjust your conservatory to the architectural style of the house, too – older houses might benefit from a lantern conservatory rather than one with a gable, for example. Some of the more traditional shapes are available here.ColourThe consensus is that the conservatory should be the same color as the window frames, but if you’re using a wooden frame (or are having a bespoke conservatory made) then there’s no reason to conform. Pastel colours are popular, as are brighter greens and blues. Micro-porous paint is recommended for conservatories as this allows the wood to breathe.The roofObviously your roof needs to be watertight, but as anybody with a modern conservatory will tell you, a plastic roof can still be impractical in the rain. Why? Noise. The clatter of heavy rain on a polycarbonate sheeting roof can be extremely invasive, so make sure you pick a material that will withstand a good battering from the British climate.It’s nice to have a transparent roof – it’s important for plants to get the right amount of light, and it turns the conservatory into a much airier space. But a dirty roof looks scruffy and will darken the room. Either clean it regularly, or install a conservatory with a roof that tilts 25 degrees so that it collects less debris.Ventilation and heatingVentilation is a particular concern to those interested in growing plants in their conservatory. Keen gardeners will know how even a small fluctuation in temperature can affect germination rates – airflow and cooling will give you much more control over this during summer months. Windows that open automatically at certain temperatures are very effective and don’t require any intervention on your part, and ceiling fans can cause a significant drop in perceived temperature even if they’re working very slowly.Your conservatory may get quite cold during the rest of the year. If you’re installing a new conservatory you could consider underfloor heating, which can either be an electric system or plumbed into your existing central heating (the latter option may have implications on building regulations). The system will be invisible to guests and, perhaps most importantly, will make walking in the conservatory bare-footed much more pleasant.Planning permission and building regulationsGenerally speaking, you don’t need planning permission for a conservatory. There are a number of criteria your planned work needs to meet in order for this to be the case but the vast majority of conservatories fall within this category. Check out the guidelines on the planning portal.Conservatories aren’t subject to the same type of building regulations as an ordinary extension, provided they:
- Have a floor area of less than 30 square meters;
- Are independently heated or aren’t heated at all;
- Are separated from the rest of the house by ‘proper’ external walls and a door.
