If you believe what weather forecasts, we’re in for a long, hot summer. This is going to be a great time to enjoy your garden and the outside areas of your home. But if you have a conservatory, you might want to start preparing it for the summer ahead too.
Keeping a conservatory relaxing and cool during the warmer months of the year isn’t always easy, but with a little planning, you should be able to get it ready for a long and sultry summer.
1. Cool things down
The very nature of a conservatory means it is highly susceptible to overheating unless you take action. To keep the mercury as low as possible, make sure you have fabric blinds fitted before the summer arrives. If your budget stretches to it, buy an air conditioning unit, and have cooling film fitted to the conservatory windows.
2. Use natural furniture
There is something about natural furniture in a conservatory that makes this relaxing room an extension of a garden. Choose chairs, tables and couches made with cane, wicker or rattan. Look for furniture made with metal, teak or walnut to create an “outdoorsy” look and feel that will set everyone at ease. When selecting colour schemes, fabrics and accessories, opt for cool, pastel shades and lots of white.
3. Choose your flooring carefully
The last thing you should have in your conservatory this summer is carpet. Instead, look for natural, cooling flooring such as tile, marble, slate, limestone or granite. If you want to create a Mediterranean ambience, terracotta tiles will do the job perfectly. Try to avoid real wood and laminate, as they can often warp in very high temperatures.
4. Add some low-level lighting
Low-level lighting such as table lamps and floor lamps produce less reflection and glare than overhead lighting. If you can, use LED lighting that can be directed at features such as potted plants, flower arrangements and various other attractive features. If you want to extend the long summer days a little, add some orange and yellow filters to your lights to create the illusion of extra sunlight when dusk is approaching.
5. Bring Mother Nature indoors
This is your opportunity to make your conservatory an extension of your garden. Position large plants, flowers and topiary in key positions. If you’re concerned about pests, simply invest in some artificial plants instead. You can continue the Mother Nature theme by choosing soft furnishings and fabrics with plant and flower motifs.
6. Set up a bar area
If you like to sip on juices and cocktails in your garden during the summer months, it might be a good idea to set up a bar in advance. To prevent flies and mosquitoes from gathering around your fruit juices, set up the bar in a corner of your conservatory. This can be used for all your social gatherings, and add the elements of fun and sophistication to proceedings.
7. Declutter
When you’re hot and bothered during long, summer days, it’s nice to feel free to stretch out and relax. However, this can be very difficult if your conservatory is cluttered with furniture and various possessions. Anything that isn’t either delivering a practical purpose or doesn’t add to the summer theme of your conservatory should be removed for the season.
8. Select the perfect color scheme
Choose a colour scheme consisting of no more than three or four colours. Make sure green is one of them, however, so you can add plants without worrying about them clashing. Other colours that work well in the summer are violets and cool blues. If your conservatory is north or east-facing, choose oranges and hot pinks to make the space feel warmer for longer.09
Your conservatory should be the one room in your home where you can relax and leave the pressures of 21st century life behind. Get it ready for summer, and you can look forward to long, restful summer days of total abandon.
