The conservatory is an extension of your home that is also tied to the garden and the outdoors – the perfect balance between the indoor and outdoor. So your conservatory furniture ideas and choices should ideally reflect that.
Despite the fact that conservatories are quite unique spaces unlike any other in a home, the world is your oyster when it comes to conservatory interior ideas and the way you furnish and decorate the space. Don’t feel tied down to traditional ways most people usually decorate conservatories.
The main thing you really need to remember is that a conservatory gets a lot of light and heat exposure – so again, you and your furniture picks need to be prepared for that. But luckily, there are several ways to protect your conservatory furniture from the sun and keep the conservatory cool in the summer months.
Conservatory furniture ideas
‘The aim with conservatory styling is to utilise the room as a sun-drenched, bright and functional space,’ says Mark Holloway, interior expert and founder of Holloways of Ludlow. ‘When furnishing a conservatory, ensure you are making it a practical and versatile space to suit all seasons. Conservatories are the perfect combination of indoor comfort and outdoor character, often making them a more challenging space to decorate. As a transitional space between the home and garden, the furniture you choose for the space should reflect just that.’
So with that in mind, let’s dive in…
1. Go for rattan pieces
Going for rattan furniture in a conservatory can seem either overly traditional (or old-fashioned) for some or too on the nose for others. But the best rattan furniture will always remain a timeless classic, whether you put it in a living room, the garden or a conservatory, especially considering the chic styles currently available on the market.
‘When choosing furniture for a conservatory, I always recommend leaning into pieces that feel light and complement the natural light the space gets,’ says Chloe Barrow, interior expert at Laura James. ‘Rattan or wicker furniture works beautifully here. Not only does this make the space more open due to the openings within the material, but it's also designed to cope well with temperature fluctuations. I love how these materials nod to the outdoors without feeling like garden furniture, striking that perfect indoor-outdoor balance.’
If you're after a classic rattan bistro chair that's made with real rattan - rather than the now often used synthetic poly rattan - then the Abby rattan chair from Habitat would be our top recommendation.
Earning the title of the best rattan outdoor sofa, this Neptune design features a beautifully intricate wicker frame and weather-resistant cushions that come included with this luxury design.
Nkuku is one of the best places to go for sustainably made outdoor furniture, all made largely from rattan and wood. And we love the natural, rustic aesthetic of the Nesari range, including the coffee table, that reminds us of the tropics.
2. Choose UV-resistant materials
Since your conservatory receives so much more sunlight than any other room in the house - whenever the temperamental UK weather decides to be sunny that is - it’s important to choose furniture pieces that won’t get damaged by this exposure to sun and heat.
‘Furniture in the conservatory should be able to handle the conditions of all seasons, so look for durable, UV-resistant materials to ensure you're getting the most from your furniture,’ Mark at Holloways of Ludlow says.
Chloe at Laura James adds, ‘It's best to avoid anything upholstered in delicate fabrics. The heat and sunlight can quickly fade or damage them, and that’s something people often forget. If you're set on a sofa or armchair, choose UV-resistant or removable, washable covers in lighter tones, as darker shades are much more prone to bleaching. I’d generally avoid anything like leather furniture as it doesn’t tend to react well to the fluctuating temperatures and humidity in conservatories. Leather can crack.’
3. Opt for outdoor furniture for your conservatory
While you absolutely can opt for furniture designed for interiors in your conservatory, the best garden furniture is made to last in sunny and hot conditions. And with so many chic garden furniture ideas out there, you might not even be able to tell the difference between regular furniture and pieces made for the outdoors.
‘The lines between indoor and outdoor furniture are becoming increasingly blurred, so using the stylish outdoor furniture ranges now available to furnish your conservatory can be a clever choice for peace of mind without compromising on comfort or aesthetics,’ says Lucy Mather from luxury homeware retailer Arighi Bianchi.
4. Set the scene for dining
'If the conservatory is intended to be used as a dining and hosting space, a table and chair set can be the perfect functional option,' Mark at Holloways of Ludlow says.
If the focus is on using a conservatory to extend your dining and entertaining space you will need to think about accommodating a large dining table and chairs. Dedicate the majority of space to this purpose, ensuing you have plenty of room for chairs to sit comfortably around the central table.
5. Swing with fashionable furniture choices
The swing chair, egg chair, hanging chair whatever you wish to call it – it's THE style of chair dominating our indoor/outdoor rooms right now. This cocooning design is perfect for setting the scene for relaxing in style. Standing on free-standing frame this popular chair choice is ideal to move outside to enjoy the sunshine, retreat back inside when it's not so pleasant out.
6. Make use of multipurpose furniture
Choose conservatory furniture that offers a multifunctional purpose or a smart design to make the most of this space. For instance, this extending dining table, to allow for a functional dining or home office space during the everyday but with the functionality to extend to allow more seating when entertaining. A smart design means the furniture isn't taking up more space than necessary in a limited space.
If there's space, add a sideboard into the mix, to allow for storage and easy access to dinnerware while using the room for entertaining.
7. Embrace an eclectic look
Emulate a vintage tea room vibe by thoughtfully mixing furniture styles. From woven chairs around a wrought iron table to a worn leather armchair. This look is a great way to upcycle furniture pieces that have perhaps outgrown another room in the house. Uniting them in an eclectic vintage-style setting gives them a new lease of life.
Adding pretty linens and shabby chic wire pieces adds charm to the overall look.
8. Make the space feel larger with all-white
Whether you want the space to take shape as a dining room or an extra lounge, adopting a uniformed white colour scheme can create the illusion of space. This works especially well when the conservatory frame is all-white too.
Choosing sideboards, tables, chairs or sofas in white too can help to make the room feel bigger by reflecting the light. Keep the walls and floors neutral too, to maximise the impact and not distract the eye.
9. Maximise space with bespoke built-in seating
If your conservatory space is narrow or restrictive consider bespoke furniture solutions. Clever built-in window seat ideas can frame the rooms, providing adequate seating while taking up minimal floor space. Simple cushions seat cushions beneath the window provide the perfect place to perch with a cuppa and your favourite mag (Ideal Home of course).
Bench seating, in the same style, around the perimeter of the room would also create extra storage underneath the ledge, if space allows.
10. Use a statement corner sofa
If your conservatory is a small space embrace it for one sole purpose. A large corner sofa will dominate the room, but that's no bad thing if you want the space to be an extra entertaining area. A generous comfy sofa will make the small space feel all the inviting. With no more room for extra furniture, except maybe a co-ordinating coffee table, it's clear this conservatory is for relaxing and socialising only.
11. Style the space like an extra living room
Keep your furniture choices simple if you want to use the space as an overspill from the main living room.
'To create a relaxed and cosy atmosphere, sofa-style seating can work well, add plush cushions and textured throws to give the space an inviting feel,' Mark at Holloways of Ludlow says.
A small sofa and coffee table are enough to mimic the feel of a style living room. Furnish the space with a patterned rug and fabric window blind ideas to add colour.
12. Mix modern furniture with traditional decor
Don't be afraid to mix furniture styles. Especially if you have an existing traditional kitchen table, you can merely update the look by adding new modern chairs – such as these woven bucket chairs. This works particularly well when they can be colour co-ordinated if you want a seamless look. Alternatively use this as a way to add accent colours.
13. Make a conservatory space sing with colour
As a room that attracts the sunshine we like to associate it most with happy vibes. An instant way to make the room feel all the more joyous is with a splash of colour. Painted tables and chairs can add a bold splash of hue to this sunny room. As a room so often over looking the garden and filled with plants, the conservatory is the ideal choice for embracing shades of green.
14. Create a cosy corner in a small conservatory
Use a comfy armchair and adjoining footstool to utilise a tight corner space. Using signature living room furniture staples instantly makes the space feel inviting enough to spend an allotted amount of time relaxing. An elegant French-style armchair affords a conservatory the same sense of style as that of a living room.
15. Transform a conservatory into a home office
Generally speaking the conservatory is placed with a view of the garden, making it ideal to create a tranquil environment in which to work. This doesn't require much in way of furniture to transform the space into a garden home office idea of sorts, a simple desk and dining chair can serve the purpose. We would add a cushion to ensure the chair is as comfy as possible while seated at the desk. Being located near the kitchen is a bonus too – perfect for frequent tea breaks.
16. Opt for a multifunctional day bed
If space allows, consider placing a daybed in your conservatory or garden room. Not only will this make the perfect place to have a snooze or enjoy a spot of reading, it can also function as a guest bedroom should the need arise. Include blackout blinds or curtains and plenty of cosy cushions and throws so your guest can enjoy a good night's sleep.
17. Build bespoke seating
Save space and provide a concealed storage solution by building bespoke bench seating around the edges of the conservatory. This neat example shows how an unused corner space can be maximised by a smart window seat idea.
When choosing a bespoke furniture option you have the freedom to tailor the design to your exact spec and measurements – meaning even in the smallest conservatory you can cater for all your furniture and seating needs.
FAQs
What furniture looks good in a conservatory?
What furniture looks good in a conservatory depends on the size of the space. If you have a small conservatory an oversized sofa might looks a bit mismatched, so here armchairs might work better. Likewise if you have a sizeable conservatory with only slight framed furniture floating within the space it might look a little lost. It's all about what works in the space you have.
'Materials such as rattan, willow, metal and glass are all ideal as they look light and fresh and are less prone to fading,' advises John Lewis & Partners' home design stylist, Emma Valerio. 'Consider the space as halfway between the house and the garden and keep materials natural and the colour palette neutral.
Planting towers are a wonderful way to add height and provide a space for plants to bring the outside in, also consider earthenware or glass vases to add texture and introduce colour.'
As a general rule of thumb it's best to have at least one sofa or two armchairs to provide enough seating for you and guests.
To keep the room clutter-free it's best to have a smart storage solution in place, be that a conclude storage ottoman that doubles as a footstool or a shelving ladder to elevate storage needs.
Can you put any furniture in a conservatory?
You can put any furniture in a conservatory, however be mindful of the amount of direct sunlight – which will cause upholstery to fade over time. If you have blinds in place this becomes less of a problem of course.
'Try to avoid chunky heavy pieces such as large leather sofas as they aren't typically suited to strong sun and temperature changes,' warns Emma Valerio from John Lewis & Partners. 'If you love colour, a great way to add this to your conservatory is through soft furnishings and these pieces are more easily moved and replaced if required.'
'Do consider lighting, as although during the day the room will be flooded with light it may require additional lightning in the evening. Consider floor and table lamps to give softer options to stark overhead lighting.'
How do you arrange furniture in a conservatory?
Arrange conservatory furniture to suit your needs. If the space is one for socialising and hosting guests offer a social seating arrangement, i.e two seating choices facing each other to invite a natural layout for entertaining. If your conservatory is small you might wish to go without a coffee table and opt for a side table. instead, to free up valuable floor space.
'Always select pieces of furniture that are in scale with the available space,' advises Emma Valerio at John Lewis & Partners. 'If the aim is to view the garden, ensure you have comfortable seating which faces outside to make the most of the views, including side tables so you have somewhere to house your morning coffee or evening cocktail. Use all of the space and pull furniture into the centre of the room, don't leave it at the edges.'
'If you feel the space needs softening, incorporate an indoor/outdoor rug and a few soft furnishings to add texture. Throws are always a wonderful addition when the temperature drops a little.'
Be inspired to sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty of those garden views.
