If you want to create more space in your home, there are a couple of different paths that you can take.
One option is to build a conservatory. Alternatively, you can also create a cedar garden room.
From a cost standpoint, both options are approximately the same. When deciding which is the best choice for your home, it is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
Today, many people are opting for garden rooms. These rooms provide a lot of benefits, many of which are listed below. In the end, however, the choice between a conservatory or garden room really depends on how much land you own, how you live your life, and how you plan to use the space.
Outdoor living, inside…
In this post we’re going to evaluate the pros and cons of each option.
Conservatories
Conservatories provide a stylish addition to your home. While they offer a number of advantages, many people choose to add them because of the way that they look.
Benefits
Attached to the house – Since conservatories are attached directly to the house, they act as an extra room. This can increase the resale value of the home while at the same time expanding the usable space.
It’s estimated that a conservatory costing between £4,000 and £10,000 will increase the value of your home by around 5%. Depending on where you live, that could be more of less than the cost of the conservatory.
Attractive modern conservatory extension
Attractive – When you step into a conservatory, you are surrounded by green plants, comfortable furniture and warm, beautiful sunlight streaming in through the glass. If you love the idea of having a room in your home where you can sit in the sun and enjoy a book or watch the world outside, a conservatory could be a good option.
Drawbacks
An overabundance of sunlight – Even though it seems like having a lot of extra light would be beneficial, there are certain situations where it is not ideal.
For instance, if you are trying to use a computer, the amount of light in the room can make it impossible to see your screen. Sunlight can also cause furnishings, photographs and other items to fade or warp.
Poor temperature control – It is difficult to control the temperature in a conservatory. In the summer months, it tends to be extremely hot. In the winter, the temperature drops so much that it is uncomfortable to spend time in the space.
Open air garden room with lots of light
Since so much of the room is made up of glass, conservatories are practically impossible to insulate, which can make heating them a costly prospect.
The excess amount of light and poor temperature control both limit the practical uses for a conservatory.
Time-consuming to build – Most conservatories take a long time to build. The construction process is also quite disruptive and can be expensive. Adding on one of these rooms can be inconvenient.
Related: The best vacuum cleaner for a conservatory would be the GTech Pro. Portable, lightweight and easy to use.
Garden Rooms
Compared to conservatories, garden rooms are a lot more versatile. These freestanding rooms can serve a lot of different purposes, making them a practical choice for any home.
They’ve been described as:
“…a fully insulated, double glazed, electrically wired building that is usually made from wood and usually built freestanding (i.e. not connected to the house like a conservatory) in your garden.”
Benefits
Flexibility – Garden rooms can be used in a variety of different ways, making them a flexible solution.
You can create a traditional garden room where you can enjoy spending time outdoors on a sunny day. Alternatively, you can turn it into a home office or a spa.
Garden rooms also work well as home gyms. You can even just use them to add extra space for your family. When coming up with uses for the space, you are only limited by your creativity. Take a look at urbanpods for other inspirational ideas.
Easy to heat and cool – Garden rooms that are built out of cedar typically incorporate high-quality insulation. As a result, they are easier to heat or cool than conservatories, meaning that they can be used throughout the entire year.
Fast and easy to build – In most cases, the building process takes less than three days. This includes the time required to build a solid base for the structure. As an added bonus, the process doesn’t require any heavy equipment, minimizing the impact on your property.
Drawbacks
Separate from the house – While conservatories are attached directly to the home, garden rooms are built as separate structures. Some people find this to be a drawback since they don’t like the idea of having to step outside to get to the space.
For other people, however, being separated from the home is ideal since it provides a quiet area that is free from distractions.
If you prefer the thought of a detached room, a garden room might be the better choice for you.
Requires outdoor space – Since garden rooms are built in your garden, you need to be willing to sacrifice some of your outdoor space. Of course, that also applies to conservatories.
Because garden rooms are built as freestanding structures, however, it can feel like you are giving up more of your garden. Some people see this as a drawback. Others are grateful that they don’t have quite as much lawn to take care of!
Whichever one you choose, make sure that you have all the required planning permissions necessary. You may find that you don’t need any, as planning permissions have been relaxed a lot lately to enable people to stay where they are as land is becoming more scarce. Best to check first though…
