How to furnish your dream conservatory
With the weather keeping us guessing this summer, a conservatory offers the perfect vantage-point. It’s a multi-purpose space which can be adapted to suit your needs but we’re often unsure as to how to furnish this quintessentially British room.
Crystal Windows and Conservatories has created conservatories for some of the most prestigious addresses in Cheshire and managing director Tony Wooderson echoes this sentiment, “We offer bespoke design and colour PVC-u to ensure that the conservatory itself fits with the overall style of the home but obviously it’s important to extend that principle to the interior.”
Tony points out that the decisions made when building your conservatory will determine the furnishing requirements – for example, the direction it’s facing will hugely affect the natural light, self-cleaning glass will ensure you want to show your windows off and not hide them under blinds and underfloor heating would be a wise investment for a conservatory that’s in the shade.
With this in mind, interiors expert Tricia Cunningham of stylish Cheshire boutique Kitty Fisher’s Finds offers a few top tips on how to furnish your dream conservatory:
1. If you’re using it as a dining space, think shimmer and glisten – a chandelier and a candelabra will transform your conservatory. If you don’t have overhead lighting, you can still get the effect with wall lights or well-placed lamps.
2. Don’t be afraid to use wallpaper – it can work beautifully on the low sections of wall and especially framing the doorway into the house. A botanical themed paper is ideal to emphasize the connection with the garden.
3. For a really relaxed feel, think ’souk’ and opt for Moroccan-style lanterns, faded kilim fabrics, low-level seating with plump cushions and some coloured tealights. Be careful not to overdo it though as it mustn’t jar with the rest of the home.
4. Take inspiration from the French with antique ironwork furniture. Our Gallic cousins are more apt to use garden furniture in the home and this can work well if you choose carefully. Wrought iron panels on the walls will also enhance this look.
5. Place a mirror in your conservatory to reflect the garden back. It’s not often thought of but the effect can be stunning.
6. And finally; wicker. It’s become the default furnishing and can be effective but if you are taking the traditional route go for something very stylish like Lloyd Loom with new and interesting shapes and subtle colours.
