Conservatory designs

Conservatories have evolved dramatically over the last two decades, the typical conservatory, that was sometimes slightly ramshackle in appearance, and sometimes downright ugly is now available in a myriad of attractive designs that can genuinely complement the existing home.
Since you are only going to construct one conservatory you really need to get the design right first time and need to take a number of factors into consideration, such as the design features of the existing house, the ground conditions and, of course, the available budget.

Many conservatories are available as bespoke designs, so pretty much anything is possible within the constraints of what is structurally possible. However there a six basic designs to consider.
Victorian Conservatory this is a design that incorporates an angled bay to the front elevation. The front bay is available in 3 or 5 angled sections. Realistically there is no real connection between this conservatory design and actual Victorian architecture, which is known for its Gothic revival style. The only connection is that this conservatory design could be considered relatively ornate. There is the consideration with this conservatory design that internal usable space is lost by the incorporation of the bay, however if the existing house has a bay window this style could very well be the most appropriate.

Edwardian Conservatory also known as Georgian conservatory design. This conservatory design uses a central ridge, in the same way as a Victorian, but the difference is in the baseplan. The Edwardian conservatory is square or rectangular. This echoes the Edwardian architectural style, which is much less ornate and is more functional. An Edwardian conservatory is a practical solution for those looking to maximise the usable space available in the conservatory. This probably explains why Edwardian has become the most popular conservatory design.

Sunlounge Conservatory or lean to conservatory. This is the most simple conservatory design. The roof consists of a wall plate that attaches it to the existing house and all the rainwater falls away from the existing building. It can be a practical solution, especially if there is limited back height available for the roof, for example on a bungalow. This design especially suits a modern property, although can look a little plain.

Gable End Conservatory  This design is similar in base plan to the Edwardian, but the central roof ridge continues right to the front elevation and a triangular gable frame is installed to the front. As with the Edwardian conservatory design this is a practical solution in terms of usable internal space and, due to the roof height, is an excellent option for allowing maximum light into the room.

P Shaped Conservatory is a more complex design. The P describes the base plan of the conservatory. Usually the largest section of the conservatory is Victorian or Edwardian, essentially with a lean to section added. This can give a P shaped conservatory at least the feel of two separate rooms. A popular option is a dining room with lounge and for this a P shaped conservatory is an excellent solution. The complexities of the design make it essential that care and consideration is given to its structural performance.

T shaped conservatory is another, even more complex design. It is quite similar to the P shape, except that the central Victorian or Edwardian section will have a lean to section added to both sides. The roof design is even more complex that the P shape and needs very careful consideration. It can be a very attractive looking building but not the most practical use of space, since the projecting T section is really only ornamental. Inevitably the more complex the design, the greater the project cost.

All of the above basic designs can be constructed in a great variety of options, larger or smaller, with or without brick walls and other design options. They are also available in any number of glazing solutions, which greatly affect the thermal performance of the room.