What Are Your Options With Modern DIY Conservatories?

What exactly do we mean by modern DIY conservatories?  It is a very vague term, because what one person deems as being thoroughly modern the next person might think is fairly ordinary.  So a lot of it is in the eye of the person who views the finished product.

The vast majority of conservatory styles that are modern in nature are really much the same as traditional conservatories.  Victorian and Edwardian styles definitely hark back to other times, but the orangery and the P shaped conservatory are rather more obscure.  They could relate either to times gone by or modern times, depending on which way you look at it.

Quite often a modern DIY conservatory is one that has been constructed out of modern materials.  Instead of being made from hardwood it will be made from uPVC.  This simple difference is often what people mean by modern or traditional.

Some companies are striking out in a new direction and creating DIY conservatories that are very modern in design however.  These kinds of conservatories are very modern and stylish and very unlike the normal kinds of designs and shapes you are used to.

There has also been a move in the direction of glass rooms rather than standard designs.  The more glass that is used, the more you feel as if you are outside.  This is the look some designers are going for.

If you think of an orangery design, this appeals very well to the use of more glass.  Some of these have lots of glass included in them, while others make better use of higher walls to help create the illusion of another room rather than a conservatory.

Some of these designs have the walls going almost all the way up to the roof.  There are then some narrow windows running along the length of each elevation, with these and the roof letting in more light.

Skylights are also good for modern DIY conservatory designs.  They let heat out and fresh air in, and help to aerate and lighten a conservatory which relies on solid walls more than it would traditionally.

Finally you have to think about the use of bi-fold doors rather than traditional patio doors.  These allow you to open up virtually one whole wall to the garden, rather than simply opening up a set of double doors.  This compensates for having more walls than you would ordinarily, and it defines many of the modern conservatory designs you will see today.

It very much depends on your own personal tastes and indeed your budget as to whether you opt for this kind of DIY conservatory.  It might be just what you are looking for.

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What Can You Plant During The Winter Months?

There is nothing as good as the feeling of getting out into the garden during the spring and finally planting the first few flowers of the season.  We can look forward to the summer when we will see the fruits – and the flowers – of our labours.

But what is there to do while the winter months plod on?  Is this a time of year when we just have to wait for better weather?

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Ten Of The Best Plants To Add To Your Winter Conservatory

Most people love the idea of growing and experimenting with plants during the summer.  But when winter arrives and brings with it plenty of dreadful weather, we can hardly get outside at all.

Luckily you have an alternative to this if you have a DIY conservatory.  It can become your indoor garden through the winter, and since there are plenty of plants which love this atmosphere and the surroundings, you can enjoy gardening on a whole new level.

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Which Plants Should You Add To Your Conservatory?

Do you have any idea?  The answer could actually depend on whether your self-build conservatory faces the south and gets lots of heat and light during the day.  Alternatively you will need to look at a whole different selection of plants if your conservatory favours another direction.  So depending on the location you will need to choose the best plants for that situation.

A good bet for any DIY conservatory is a fruit tree.  And if you are thinking of the huge version that needs half the garden to drop its fruit in, you need to scale down a bit!  Miniature fruit trees such as orange trees and lemon trees are available to stand in pots in your conservatory.  You should get perfectly formed oranges and lemons – they will just be a lot smaller than the regular kind.

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Choosing The Right Type Of Conservatory For You

If you have only just begun to think about choosing a new DIY conservatory, you might be surprised to find there are lots of decisions to be made.  Firstly there is the basic size and shape to think about and then you need to consider how you will finish it off.

But the first consideration is of course the plot you have available.  How much room do you have for a DIY conservatory and where will you position it?

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Ideal Furniture For Your Conservatory

Once your new self-build conservatory is finished, you then have the task of furnishing it.  This will be made easier if you think about how you want to use the room first.

For example, will you be primarily using it as a dining room?  If so, a table and chairs will be the most important item to add.  If this is the case make sure you measure up properly to see what size table would fit in.  Consider the amount of space needed for the chairs too though – it is easy to think about the table and forget that the chairs need to be pushed back for people to get into them.

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What Are The Best Plants For A Conservatory?

Would you know the answer?  In truth the answer can depend on the nature of your DIY conservatory.  For example if yours is south facing you will get plenty of sun – and that doesn’t appeal to some plants.  Conversely if your DIY conservatory faces in another direction you will have a whole new selection of plants to consider that will thrive much better under those different conditions.

One type of plant that tends to like a self-build conservatory is the fruit tree.  Now you might imagine this to be a big tree that requires a garden to flourish in, but this isn’t always the case.  You can buy miniature fruit trees that look and smell wonderful in a conservatory.  Orange and lemon trees are both very popular because of the fresh citrus smell they give off.  And they are just the right size to sit in a fancy pot on the floor.

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Planning For Plants In Your Conservatory

One of the best things about having a self-build conservatory is the fact that you are near to your garden all year round.  Regardless of what the weather is doing you can watch what is happening and see your plants and shrubs developing as the year presses on.

But there is also the prospect of being able to grow plants inside your self-build conservatory as well.  While not all plants enjoy the unusual conditions this room presents, some will positively thrive in them.  The trick is to plan ahead and make sure you know what you want to have and where you want to have it.

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Ten Great Plants To Liven Up Your Conservatory In Winter

One of the best parts of the summer months is the ability to grow lots of vibrant and lively plants in the garden and indoors.

But just because the winter months roll around, it doesn’t mean you have to go without seeing a grand display.  In fact you can move it indoors and make the most of the surroundings in your DIY conservatory instead.

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Winter Gardening – What To Plant And When

Come the spring, we’re all eager to get out into the garden and plant those first few shrubs and flowers that will come to fruition during the summer.

But what do we do during the winter months?  Do we ignore the garden altogether and wait for next spring to get underway again?

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