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More and more homes feature garden rooms and conservatories, which are additions designed to help utilize an open space. The conservatories and garden rooms can be areas used as offices, studies, chill spots, or to entertain guests and have fun.

The additions have their pros and cons, which we shall discuss in this article as we go over their benefits and drawbacks.

Garden Room And Conservatory, What’s The Difference?

The distinction between a garden room and a conservatory is in their construction. A garden room is built separately from the main house, while a conservatory is attached to the building.

•           A garden room can be made from different materials and styles. It can feature wide windows to help maximize natural lighting. It also can be insulted to ensure it is a comfortable setting all year round.

•           A conservatory will have a door or passage giving access to the main house. The addition does not require lots of renovations and is often something sizable. As such, you will not need planning permission for a conservatory, unlike the garden room.

Garden rooms are an excellent choice if you want some seclusion and privacy, while conservatories are ideal if you’re going to leave more open space to enjoy when out in your backyard.

Garden Rooms

A garden room is a value-adding investment for your property. It enhances the yard’s aesthetics while creating more space for you and your family or friends to enjoy the outdoors. It is built separately from the house thus can be placed wherever you prefer.

It is a build that can be used for different purposes, the primary being having more space for whatever you want to do. It can be your home office, workshop, studio, yoga/gym room, study, chill spot, or entertainment areas.

Being a structure that is separate from your house, it might not enjoy the same indoor comforts. Therefore, it is best to insulate it to ensure it can be an inviting and comfy place all year round. Landscaping around the garden room can help make it feel like part of the backyard instead of seeming like an impromptu project.

You can roof the garden room to match your home. It can be tiled, asphalt shingled, or metal roofed. Whichever the roofing style, the structure will be sturdy and last long if done according to construction standards. You should check Quick-garden rooms to find the perfect garden room for your property.

Garden Room Perks:

•           Is an easy build

•           Can be situated almost anywhere in the garden

•           Is completely detached from your home

•           Versatile in usage, meaning can be used for different purposes

•           Is a value-adding investment to your property

Garden Room Drawbacks:

•           Is built separately from the main house

•           Can take up lots of space

•           Might require planning permission

Conservatories

Conservatories are a perfect choice when you are thinking of maximizing the available outdoor space in your home but have concerns about taking up too much room. Therefore, it is ideal if you want a seamless transition from your house to enjoying being outside in your backyard. Most conservatories are glazed structures with gables, eaves, and the works. They are framework constructions that can be made from different materials.

For instance, you can opt to use uPVC, a modern material that looks fantastic and needs minimal maintenance and is not impacted by the sun’s heat and UV rays. Aluminum is also an excellent material because it is light, sturdy, and durable. It can be fashioned in thin, sturdy frames for better presentation, allowing more natural light to enter the conservatory. Timber is also a viable construction material.

However, conservatories might have a presentable and robust framework, but they are not as durable and versatile as garden rooms. Insulation is a challenge; thus, they are spaces that you can use at certain times of the year. That means a conservatory can be cold and chilly during the winter and hot and humid during the summer. You can mitigate this issue using thermal curtains and setting up a heating and cooling system.

A conservatory might not offer much usage compared to a garden room, but it is ideal for enjoying some gardening. You can grow flowers, vegetables, and other plants. It also can be a great place to relax, eat and entertain when enjoying your outdoors during the warmer months.

Conservatory Pros:

•           It is attached to the housed

•           It has an attractive framework

•           It is perfect for gardening

•           It can be an ideal chill spot in the warmer months

Conservatory Cons:

•           Challenging to insulate

•           It has limited use

•           It gets too cold during the winters and too hot in the summers

•           Its windows require regular cleaning

•           It can take long to erect

Which One To Choose?

Either can do, but the choice ultimately boils down to your preference. Some of the crucial factors to consider are how you will use the addition and how much space you have and need. Nonetheless, conservatories and garden rooms are relatively similar though being distinctively different structures.

Regarding the space you want, you also must consider how versatile it must be; will it be an office, studio, or guest room. If you wish to have an addition that can serve different purposes, consider setting up a garden room. However, it would be best if you contend with the possibility of it taking up more space in your yard. But having an insulated structure that you can use all year is a substantial benefit.

A garden room can last for years because it is made from construction-grade materials and has a firmer build compared to a conservatory. Nevertheless, conservatories can also be an excellent choice since they have the potential of being a beautiful addition to your home.

Most conservatories are made of glass with a metal, PVC, or timber framework. Thus, glazed panes are preferable because they are sturdier.  You will enjoy more natural lighting, which is essential if you are growing plants in the conservatory. However, it also means you must clean the glass surfaces often. Also, it would be best to contend with the limitations of use when it comes to conservatories. You might not use your conservatory all year round but can host guests or use it as a place for relaxing during certain times of the year.