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A year in the Life of a Conservatory

Conservatory blinds by Hillarys

Turn a blind eye to your conservatory

In Britain we've had a love affair with conservatories since the 18th century when they were originally used by the affluent as a place to cultivate potted plants and as a link between the
home and garden.

Today a well-designed conservatory will be bright and spacious, still a stepping stone from indoors to outside, and can add up to 10 per cent to the value of your property as well as giving you more living space. But there's no point in adding an extra room unless you give it an identity and use it on a daily basis. During the cooler weather especially (which let's face it, in the UK probably amounts to around eight months of the year) it's easy to turn your back on the conservatory and use it as a place to dry washing or even store the bikes!

Hillarys is on a mission to make the conservatory a room for all seasons and reasons - be it an extension of a kitchen, dining area, home office or even a bathroom. "A conservatory traditionally comes into its own as a place to relax and enjoy during balmy summer days, " says Sarah Quilliam, head of product design at Hillarys, "however it can be so much more. Heat, light and privacy are often the key reasons why people stop using their glass rooms so much at other times of the year, but with a bit of forethought this needn't be
the case at all," she adds.

"By adding blinds to your conservatory you can really help to turn it into anything you want it to be, all year round. Cool and minimalist, bright and funky, chic and contemporary or warm and cosy, it's amazing what the right blinds can bring to your conservatory, from privacy and warmth to a totally new way of using your space.

"A home office, additional sitting room, intimate dining room, games room, even an unusual guest room, here's our month by month guide to getting the most out of your conservatory!"

January - Clutter buster

Many of us make a New Year's resolution of some sort or other,
whether it's to join a gym, give up a 'vice' or make a complete lifestyle
change. Some we keep, some are broken by teatime on New Years Day.

However short the lifespan of our resolutions there's always something cleansing about a fresh start, and de-toxing our homes as well as our bodies can be equally rewarding. After the clutter and excess of Christmas, going back to a more pared down look is good for the soul. Roller blinds are clean and unfussy when you want to make the most of your space and depending on which fabric you
choose, they allow you to vary the amount of light you let in.

Homework

If your New Year's resolution is to leave behind packed trains, traffic jams and the monotony of a nine to five regime to work from home, make your conservatory work for you. Light and airy with an inspiring outlook over the garden, they make great home offices and if space is an issue you can even make it multi-task by including a sofa
bed so it can double as a guest room.

Feeling hot, hot, hot!

As the temperature outside drops, keep the draught out, hide that bleak winter view and inject sizzling colour into your conservatory with warm shades of orange and gold.

February - Love is blind

Romance is definitely in the air this month and conservatories are a great place for entertaining. Blinds create a wonderful atmosphere in the evenings and with the candles lit, it's a perfect environment for special dinner parties.

So why not enjoy a Valentine's meal in the privacy of your home away from tightly packed tables and pricey restaurants?

Roman blinds add a touch of luxury because they are more like a curtain and if you use your conservatory at night, fully lined Romans will give a lovely feeling of warmth and privacy.

For her

Go romantic with pastel verticals in the prettiest of pinks. Choose soft
furniture, cosy throws and scatters cushions to complete the effect.

For him

Asked to picture a traditional conservatory and images of wicker
furniture and a lot of greenery probably pop into your mind. Or you
could think outside the box and go for something a bit more 'blokey'
by mixing black leather with chrome and setting it off with simple but
striking Venetians in Gun Metal.

March - Light fantastic

As we look ahead to the clocks going forward and the anticipation of longer, lighter days, strike the right note for spring with an uplifting burst of fresh yellow in your conservatory. Add comfy sofas and co-ordinating accessories in lighter textures to breathe spring into your home.

spring........

Say it with flowers - blooms in a room always go down well and a delicate floral sprig design on crisp roman blinds brings a touch of spring magic into your conservatory.

........clean

Quick spring cleaning tip: for Venetian blinds: Pop on a pair of cotton

April - Purple reign

Showers one minute, sunshine the next,April is one of those unpredictable months when you're never quite sure whether to wear wellies or flip flops, a cardie or a coat! But just because the weather can't make it's mind up whether to be bright or dismal your
conservatory doesn't have to be an bland wash-out. Treat it to a bold splash of colour at the windows with shades of mauve, plum and berry and enjoy a purple patch of your own.

Citrus appeal

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and there's nothing better than spending it with family and friends on a sunny spring morning. It may not count as one of your 'five a day' but this fruity roman blind will add a little zest to your morning routine.

May - Greenhouse effect

For keen gardeners, conservatories offer an opportunity to be a little more adventurous with the choice of plants. Always make room for a spot of foliage in your conservatory as it adds the final touch, linking the garden with the house.

Achieve a modern colonial look with simple aluminium venetian blinds, offset by classic style sofas and plants

Light control

As it's very likely that you'll need to control the light in a conservatory,
stylish vertical blinds are the practical choice. They're also a good option for when you want access to a door while keeping out the sun.

June - Golden glow

Abundant light during June means you don't have to be afraid of colour in a conservatory. The sun's glare can make pale colours look insipid, so for a bold, striking look, choose vibrant colours.

Contrasting effect

Roof blinds will often look lighter than blinds at the side window
as the light filters in at different angles. Go for a complete
contrast to eliminate this effect.

Wonderful woodweave

Woodweave blinds give a delightful rustic feel to a cosy
conservatory and gently diffuse the light to give a relaxing dappled effect - perfect for lighter summer living.

July - Sun screen

We're a hard to please lot, no sooner does the temperature warm up, then we're moaning about it being too hot and craving a shady haven. Just cast your mind back to January...

Summertime temperatures can soar as high as 55 degrees in your conservatory, especially if it faces south, which can make it a pretty uncomfortable place to be. Especially if like a growing number of
homes it's an extension to the kitchen.

Pleated blinds along the sides of the conservatory as well as the roof are ideal. They can feature sun-reflective backings, keeping excess heat out in the summer and helping to stop warmth escaping in cooler months.

Top tip

Roof blinds are likly to be quite a large investment. Choose the blinds
first then put together the rest of your interior around this choice -
it's cheaper and quicker to change paint and accessories at a later date.

Away to the shed

Stripes are always in vogue - use them in a garden room style of
conservatory to give a really summery, beach hut feel.

August - beach scene

Too busy to get away to the seaside? Evoke happy summer thoughts and memories year-round by treating your home to a little summer holiday beach style. Combine whitewashed floors and walls with wicker furniture and colourful fabrics like these stripy blinds for a bright and breezy feel.

Blow me -cleaning pleated blinds!

Whilst summer sun is lovely it does tend to show up all the dust and shine a huge light on shall we say, any less than spotless parts of your conservatory. Although it's tempting to keep your blinds down to reduce glare and maintain a cooler temperature, pleated roof blinds should be fully opened every week to ensure that the pleated effect is maintained.

They simply need to be dusted using a dry duster but be careful not to damage the pleats by pressing too hard. And a great way to get rid of dead insects that can collect behind roof blinds is to use a hairdryer to blow them out and onto the floor!

September - Back to school -down to work.

September is probably the most vulnerable month in the conservatory
calendar as summer draws to a close, the kids go back to school and you get back into work mode. No more lazy days whiling away the time as you watch the world go by from your sunny retreat. But wait! Don't turn your back on it till next year, why not give your
conservatory a fresh purpose, a new lease of life too - it could become a study, a playroom for the kids or even a games room for big kids!

One space - two uses

Even better, make your conservatory work twice as hard for you - it's a playroom by day and a spare bedroom by night!

October - Day light robbery

The clocks go back and the evenings draw in which is the perfect time to turn your conservatory in to a cosy snug. Vertical blinds will make the most of autumn sunshine during the day but keep prying eyes out at night.

A warm glow

Fabrics in golden shades bring in the sunshine and a glorious feeling of warmth and well-being whatever the weather outside,
while opulent reds offer everything from classic style to complementary colour.

November- Winter layers

With north facing conservatories, heat and light are likely to be at a premium, especially during the chilly winter months. Pleated roof blinds with their insulating backing really come into their own at this time of year especially when teamed with roman blinds at the sides.

Conservatory or conservation

Homeowners can make savings of up to £102 a year on fuel bills by selecting the right window dressing, according to research conducted by Nottingham University on behalf of Hillarys Blinds.

The study compared and evaluated various blind and fabric types, with Hillarys lined roman blinds coming out on top as the most energy efficient with pleated coming a close second.

December - Sweet dreams

The festive season is a great time to be sociable, but a house full of visitors can also make it a very stressful time. If you're running out of bedroom space upstairs consider turning your conservatory into a guest room. Vertical blinds will allow plenty of light to flood in whilst still maintaining that essential privacy.

Star gazing

Fancy a really alternative bathroom? Then why not turn your conservatory into one!

 

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