How to Best Use Lighting in Your Conservatory

As winter draws in, the use of natural light in a conservatory or an orangery is limited by the amount of daylight received and the quality of the light for that matter. Unfortunately, living in Northern Europe means we are limited to less light than we may like to enjoy. In turn, this means that a good use of lighting is essential and can make all the difference as we enter these longer nights. So, how do you make the most of light in your conservatory?

Diffusing Glass Light diffusing glass can really aid the quality of light and add to the amount of brightness in a conservatory, especially when it is quite dull outside. Light diffusing glass spreads or scatters light from an angle and distributes it evenly across a wider angle to create more light in the conservatory. This makes the room much brighter, and can also help to make it appear more spacious. Light diffusion glass is a significant benefit for those who want to make the most of the light in any room, including a conservatory or an orangery.

Fittings and Fixtures The fittings and fixtures placed in a conservatory have to be considered carefully. One of the things to note is that there are no reflective surfaces to reflect light back into the conservatory. Of course most conservatories have glass roofs, meaning that adding lights and all the wiring that goes with them is a bad idea. Exposed cables are unsightly and also take away from the simple pleasure of looking up at the night sky.

Illuminating the conservatory by using carefully placed lamps is a far better idea and one that can work more practically. These lower lights are more useful for reading and working and don't take away from the overall look of the conservatory or orangery. They also create a warmer and cosier feel during those long winter evenings - something of a necessity. Think ahead when your conservatory is being designed and built, consider where it is best for placing sockets for lighting.

Uplighters Uplighters are also a good idea and can enhance the appeal of an orangery or conservatory, without taking up too much of the space. They come in a range of styles and are also worth considering for external lighting if you'd like your orangery or conservatory to be illuminated in the evenings.

If you do prefer to have lights installed in the roof; then this is doable if the fixtures and wiring are accommodated within a beam of some sort. Again, this is to be thought through at the design stage. This makes for a less cluttered appearance and can increase the aesthetic appeal of your conservatory.

The lighting of the conservatory is essential for comfort during winter. However, preparation is key to it looking great - so remember this when discussing any plans with your conservatory designer.

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What Glass to Choose for Your Conservatory

As a lot of your new conservatory is going to be made of glass, it is important to choose the correct sort of glazing to fit in with your requirements. However, it can be hard to know which sort of glazing to choose. So, what are your options and what do they do?

Solar Control Glazing One of the biggest dictators of the glass you use is based on the level of sun your home receives in a certain area (eg. The garden). A south west facing conservatory will receive more sun than north facing. Solar control glazing can help resolve any issues with receiving either too much, or too little sunshine. This glazing, though expensive, keeps rooms cool in the summer and warm in the winter and is something of a worthwhile investment if you wish to spend time in your conservatory and creates the ultimate climate controlled environment in which to live.

Insulating Glazing This glass is considered thermal efficient and is measured in U-values; the lower the U-values the higher the level of insulation. This means that to keep an orangery or conservatory warm in winter a low U-value in glazing is best. This heat retaining glass can be essential for those who wish to use their conservatory or orangery all year round. Argon gas is added between the panels to insulate the glass and increase the ability for heat retention.

Self-Cleaning Glazing Nobody wants to be out with a bowl full of vinegar and the Sunday papers for the last month trying to clean their conservatory. The large area of a conservatory means there is a lot of cleaning of glass required. Self-cleaning glass is essentially glass that the rain cleans. This reduces the amount of cleaning required by up to 80% as the rain washes away most of the dirt and grime. This allows you to sit and enjoy your conservatory and means you won't just be focusing on having to clean the windows.

Security and Safety One of the biggest concerns many of us have with conservatories is security. That's why conservatory and orangery glass is almost unbreakable and if you require, it is even possible to get bullet proof glass.

Locking systems are also something of a must and that's why our conservatories offer the latest locks as well as features to prevent burglars cutting through door hinges. These locks and our glass combine to create a safe and secure conservatory that is considerably hard to break into and offers you the security you require for your home.

Your selection of glasses and glazing should ensure a comfortable, safe and clean conservatory.

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Things To Consider When Buying a Conservatory

If you are going to be purchasing a conservatory, you can expect to pay quite a sum of money for the privilege, which is why you should ensure that you make all of the right decisions when it comes to picking out the right one. By taking the time to ensure you consider all of the facets that will influence the quality of your conservatory, you can rest assured that you will get so much more out of this area of your home.

Picking the Location

Since most conservatories are areas that are filled with light, this should be one of your main concerns when you are picking the location. Many people choose to fill their conservatories with plants, herbs and flowers, but if it is hidden in a shadowy part of your grounds, you might not be able to grow a thing; keep this in mind when planning the layout of the room.

Accessing the conservatory should be easy; otherwise you might not end up using this area of the home very often. The most common location for this type of room is adjacent to the kitchen or living room; it is up to you, however, to make the final decision with regards to whether you would like to build the room.

Designing your Conservatory

Since this room is going to be a part of your home, it should look like it. When designing the room, make sure that it compliments the overall style of your property, or you could end up with an attachment to your home that looks like it doesn't belong. Consider whether your house is designed in a contemporary or classical style; from here, you can begin focusing your attention on the colours and materials, as well as the flooring, which were used to put the finishing touches on your property. With all of these facets in mind, you can then design a conservatory that will fit in perfectly with the rest of your home.

Check Up on the Building Regulations within your Area

The last thing you will want to do is complete the building of your conservatory only to find that you are out of bounds of the building regulations and you need to tear everything down, so be sure to check up on these regulations beforehand. If you are having a professional do the job for you, inquire about whether they are aware of all of the appropriate building regulations within your area before they begin the project.

Be Prepared for Extra Expenses

When you purchase one of these rooms, you might start out by obtaining a quote from a professional, but if you simply plan for this amount, you might end up spending more than you budgeted for. On the other hand, if you make allowance for a few extra expenses that could be incurred during the installation period, you can rest assured that an extra expense or two won't leave you worried about how you are going to get through the next month.

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