Six Top Tips For Keeping Your Conservatory Cool
If you’re not living in the UK right now, you’re most likely blissfully unaware of the heatwave sweeping across England, Wales and Scotland. With blistering temperatures reaching record highs, people all over the UK are running for the shade of a tree or the cool waters of their local beach. Others are choosing the sanctuary of their homes. With many UK properties built to keep the warmth in, you may be wondering how to cool off at home. This is particularly pertinent for homes with a conservatory.
What is a conservatory?
Much like a traditional extension or a sunroom, a conservatory is an extra room attached to a home by a single wall. Conservatories are often built for the purpose of extending a home without going to the trouble of building an extension and can close the gap between your exterior and interior spaces. In doing so, a conservatory can foster a sense of intimacy with your garden which can have a number of benefits for you and your family including improvements to your mental wellbeing.
Gone are the days when conservatories were used by the British nobility for growing exotic flora and fauna abroad. These days, modern conservatories are most often used as additional living spaces and are furbished much like the rest of a home with curtains, drapes, blinds, artwork and furnishings. Often engineered with expansive panes of glass, and minimal hardware, modern conservatories are flooded with natural light – creating a serene, peaceful environment perfect for both large and smaller, more intimate social occasions.
Keeping cool this summer
If your conservatory is getting a little too hot this summer, there are a number of additional features you can introduce to bring the space back down to a comfortable temperature.
Put up curtains or blinds
In addition to being aesthetically appealing, blinds and curtains can also be a useful addition to a conservatory for the purpose of keeping the space lovely and cool in the summer. Blinds are particularly useful, as you’ll be able to minimise the amount of heat passing into the space without compromising on natural light.
In addition, blinds and curtains also have the advantage of delivering exceptional insulation in the winter, ideal if you’re looking to keep your conservatory warm as the chillier months kick in.
Choose soft, light furnishings
The interior design of your conservatory can have a dramatic impact on its internal temperature. Darker colours paired with materials such as leather can significantly increase your conservatory’s ability to hold heat – and make it unbearably hot in the summer.
To cool your conservatory down, consider soft, lighter textiles paired with pastel colours. You may be surprised at the difference it makes!
Install a heat pump
Installing a heat pump may sound counterintuitive if you’re looking to cool down your conservatory. However, many heat pumps have a dual-function system meaning you’ll be able to warm your conservatory in the winter and cool it down in the summer.
Increase ventilation
Although it may sound overly simplified, opening your conservatory’s windows and doors to let the air circulate may be the solution. You might also want to turn your attention to the roof where you could consider a traditional conservatory fan, air vents or even a skylight.
Add plants
A natural, affordable and environmentally friendly way to keep your conservatory cool is by simply adding plants. Plants not only look lovely but are an ideal method of reducing humidity. Some great examples of light-loving, conservatory-friendly plants that have great dehumidifying properties include Lapageria, Plumbago, Sarracenia and Hymenocallis.
Modern Conservatories at Majestic Designs
For more than 19 years, Majestic Designs have engineered our range of conservatories right here in Somerset in our state-of-the-art factories. Over the years, our fully employed team of highly skilled FENSA accredited and MTC registered lead installers have garnered a county-wide reputation for their expert craftsmanship and friendly, professional customer service.
Our bespoke conservatories come equipped with a variety of modern conveniences and can be designed to your exact specifications in a wide range of styles and colours. You can rest assured your conservatory from Majestic Designs will perfectly match both your personal tastes and the aesthetics of your home, as well as deliver heightened energy efficiency and security.
If you would like any more information about our range of bespoke conservatories, contact Majestic Designs today.
