Thinking of moving your dining area into your conservatory? You'll be in need of some of our conservatory dining room ideas then.
Setting up a dining area in your garden room means you can enjoy beautiful views with every meal, turning a simple daily event into a blissful experience, all year round. You can achieve a stunning conservatory dining area that's bathed in natural light, using a glass roof, skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Conservatory dining room ideas
'As well as freeing up your existing dining room for other uses, a bright and airy conservatory can make an excellent place to eat,' explains Mark Caulfield, director at The Caulfield Company.
'Whether it’s used for family dinners or formal dinner parties, beautiful new conservatory ideas can offer an excellent social space for eating, drinking and enjoying your garden.'
We run through our favourite conservatory dining room looks, perfect for casual brunches and late night suppers.
1. Make the space light and bright
In a cool, crisp conservatory, opt for a simple but elegant dining table and surround it with understated contemporary chairs that blend in with the rest of the dining room colour scheme. This allows the greenery of the garden backdrop to shine through.
James Upton, Managing Director of Westbury Garden Rooms says 'Choosing to use your conservatory or orangery as a dining area is the perfect way to provide your guests with a light and bright, open-plan space for dining.'
'During the day the room will be flooded with plenty of natural light. By evening, diners will be treated to views of the evening sky. An open plan conservatory that includes a dining area, and soft seating is the space that a family will inevitably inhabit the majority of the time.'
2. Opt for wood
Choose soft wooden furniture, such as a bamboo-look dining set, to add a touch of country charm to a modern conservatory idea. It creates an informal and cosy place to eat for the whole family.
A chunky limed oak table would make a striking centrepiece in the middle of a rustic garden room or orangery idea, echoing the natural textures of the outdoor space beyond. Introduce aromatic lavender planted up in pretty pots, plus chic tableware to create a provincial French-inspired dining feel.
3. Keep to budget
If you're looking for budget dining room ideas and want to make use of your existing dining set, you just need to add a tablecloth and printed seat covers to make an impact and define your conservatory dining scheme.
4. Install bi-folds
Large-scale bi-fold doors make a style-statement in this modern extension, perfect for sheltered, alfresco dining with a view over the garden. Add comfy cushions and wile away the hours with your dinner guests as the sun goes down.
Mark Caulfield, director of The Caulfield Company adds, 'From breakfasting whilst watching the birds, to dinner parties with a garden view! Even when the weather isn’t nice, you will still be able to enjoy the outdoors every day. Make the most of this with plenty of windows, creating a light and inviting space.'
5. Create a feature floor in a compact space
Small conservatories can be put to good use too. Here, a small round dining table and stylish terracotta flooring creates a charming dining area, perfect for breakfast with a view.
6. Add a gallery wall
Turn your conservatory into an elegant dining room fit for any guests. Here a gallery wall idea and comfy velvet chairs add a personal touch to this light-filled room.
Choose a neutral colour for the walls and floor to keep your conservatory diner light and bright – especially important for small conservatories. Build up your look by layering on carefully chosen fixtures, fittings and furniture.
7. Opt for country style
This simple country-style dining room works perfectly as a natural extension to the kitchen. Exposed brickwork, tongue-and-groove cabinetry and distressed furniture all add to the rustic feel.
8. Go open plan
This airy, open-plan kitchen is a natural home for a relaxed dining area overlooking the garden with a side return extension idea featuring a modern floor to ceiling window and rooflights.
'You can create a flowing space from your kitchen to your conservatory with windows, open doorways or arches between the rooms,' explains Mark from The Caulfield Company,
'You could even join both rooms together and make them open plan, with the dining table at the back of the house to make the most of the views.'
9. Design a pitched roof
This pitched-roof conservatory extension has been decorated simply for maximum impact. A roomy dining table and chairs takes centre stage, ideal for light-filled family dining overlooking the garden.
Make the most of an airy garden room, with a large, rustic dining table. In this room, simple oak flooring and a limed oak table provide the focal point and complement the garden beyond.
10. Include contemporary furniture
Scandi inspired furniture in a palette of neutrals makes the most of this conservatory. As well as space for dining, there's room too for a sofa and floor lamp, ideal for reading and relaxing.
Janine Loucaides, Interior Blogger for Amara advises, 'Create an effortlessly charming setting in your conservatory by exploiting the natural light flooding through and views of the great outdoors.'
'Hunt for a vintage timber dining table set; upholster the seat pads in rustic linen fabrics. Add industrial metal pendants, combined with retro LED bulbs. Handmade multi-coloured encaustic tiles will add vibrancy to the floor.'
This bright conservatory includes gorgeous conservatory plant ideas, while providing an ideal vantage point for garden viewing. Simple furniture makes this an informal dining space.
11. Play with nifty space-saving hacks
If you have limited space, think about opting for in-built booth seating. Round tables (or another table style that would suit your space) frees up some space, too.
James Upton, Managing Director of Westbury Garden Rooms says, 'If you use your conservatory as a dining area, there should be plenty of room for your chosen style/size of dining table and additional seating to accommodate everyone.'
'The most common type of table used is a long rectangular one, but there are other options to consider. Try an ‘L’ or horse-shoe shaped table. This will give an illusion of space by leaving a portion of the floor space free. And they'll also help guests feel like they are in smaller groups which make it easier to talk.'
Can you use a conservatory as a dining room?
Although, more traditionally a conservatory is used as an extra seating area to enjoy the garden, they actually make fabulous dining rooms. Whether for formal dinner parties or family suppers, a conservatory is a great social space for eating and drinking.
'The first advantage of using a conservatory as a dining room is that it frees up your existing dining area,' says Mark from The Caulfield Company. 'This means that the old dining room can be used as additional sitting space. Or even opened up to extend your front room or kitchen.'
'You can create a flowing space from your kitchen to your conservatory with windows, open doorways or arches between rooms. You could even join both rooms together and make them open plan with the dining table at the back of the house to make the most of the views.'
How do I get the most of my small conservatory?
If your existing conservatory is on the small side, don't fret as there's lots you can do to make the most of your small space. Adding a splash of colour can lift a small space, while making sure you don't overload it with furniture is probably the most imperative advice.
Look for nifty ways to use the space wisely like installing window seats. Elevate storage to make clear floor space will also trick the eye. It's also a good idea to keep the space cool by using blinds to block out too much light.
Emma from Westbury Garden Rooms makes the case for clever conservatory lighting ideas to make a small space seem bigger. ‘Lighting creates, enhances, and transforms each space so is considered an integral element for our designers to consider.'
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