In 1851, when The Crystal Palace was opened, this was the first conservatory in Britain. The first conservatories were built to hold exotic plants. The 1970s was when domestic conservatories became what we know now.

The first designs and ideas were inspired by Victorian designs. This created the classic look that was all the rage in the 1980s.

Conservatories are more than just a sunroom attached to a house. They extend living space and offer much more. These useful, light-filled spaces will increase the value of any home if they are built correctly. For Gloucester Conservatories, contact Firmfix

Here are some conservatory designs and ideas to inspire you in your own home.

Ideas For Small Conservatories

The perfect place to relax and read in the sunshine is a small conservatory.

The shape and available space for your conservatory should be considered if you have a smaller garden. This will ensure that it does not take up the entire outdoor space.

Overly ornate structures can dwarf small houses. The correct style is needed to maintain the balance of the house’s aesthetics.

The addition of a small conservatory at the rear of a city townhouse can create the impression of greater internal space by bringing the outside in and connecting it with a smaller external space. Conservatories can be designed to fit into small or difficult spaces.

Classic Styles

On the right property, classic conservatories with Victorian-styled glass structures can be stunning and impressive.

Victorian or Edwardian-style conservatories work best for older properties. Contemporary glass structures can enhance a traditional home if they are designed correctly.

When building a conservatory, one error that people make is not taking into consideration what style will suit their home. A grand Victorian-type conservatory will overwhelm the aesthetics of a new-build house.

You should first consider a space which will blend in with the existing property. Consider the colour of your bricks and frames, as well as the style of the house.

Contemporary Ideas

A modern conservatory will enhance a house with simple yet stunning lines. Glass extensions bring light into the living space, bringing in more of the outdoors.

Bi-fold doors can help to harmonise the inside with the outside, making the conservatory appear larger. Conservatories can look overly ornate in new-build homes. A simpler structure is usually better.

Consider that a fully-glazed roof on a house located in an urban area will be seen by the neighbours. For more privacy, a roof with a full tiled surface would be the better choice.