Many homeowners across the West Midlands love the idea of a conservatory, but only when they’re built to the best quality, as you’d find with West Midlands Double Glazing. 

Conservatories not built effectively find that extreme temperatures (for example, too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter) or a lack of functionality mean it can become a glorified storage area rather than a true living space.

That’s where turning a conservatory into a room can completely transform how you use your home.

Whether you’re dreaming of a light-filled kitchen to host the hustle and bustle of the home, a cosy living room to curl up in, or a quiet home office to get your head down, a well-planned conversion can make your conservatory feel like a seamless part of your house.

At West Midlands Double Glazing, our team of experts help homeowners explore conservatory conversion ideas that suit their lifestyle, budget and property. Get in touch now for a quote for a conservatory conversion.

In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at what’s involved in turning a conservatory into a room, and whether it’s the right move for you.

How Feasible Is It To Turn Your Conservatory Into a New Room?

Before choosing the perfect paint colours, the most quaint furniture, or excitedly pinning all your ideas on a dedicated Pinterest board, the first (and most important) question is: can your conservatory actually be converted into a proper room? Let’s find out – you’d first need to think about:

• Foundations & Structure
• Roof Type
• Walls, Glazing & Insulation

Foundations and structure

One of the biggest considerations is whether your conservatory is structurally sound enough to withstand a new room. Many older conservatories were built with lighter foundations than the rest of the house, as they weren’t intended for year-round use. 

But, fear not – this doesn’t mean conversion is impossible, but it may affect what you can do. 

To fully understand whether it’s feasible for your conservatory to be turned into a new room, you can undertake a structural assessment. This will confirm whether the existing base can support heavier materials such as solid walls, tiled flooring, or kitchen units.

Roof type

Another one of the biggest game-changers when turning a conservatory into a room is the roof. 

Traditional glass or polycarbonate roofs often lead to overheating in summer and heat loss in winter, which is obviously undesirable for rooms such as offices, kitchens or living areas. Replacing your conservatory roof with a solid or insulated tiled roof can dramatically improve both your comfort while using the room, as well as your property’s overall energy efficiency.

Walls, glazing, and insulation

Upgrading glazing to modern, energy-efficient double or triple glazing is key if you want the room to feel like the rest of your home. If you use the same windows as the rest of your house, your conservatory will also feel more like an extension of your existing home, rather than an add-on area.

Insulated walls, dwarf walls, or even partial brickwork can also help to regulate temperature and reduce noise. So, if you’re wondering how to make a conservatory into a room that works all year round, insulation is usually the answer.

What Rooms Can You Turn a Conservatory Into?

There’s many choices you can make, but some of the most popular trends include turning your conservatory into a:

• Kitchen
• Living Room
• Office
• Playroom
• Games Room
• … and many more!

Turning a Conservatory into a Kitchen

Many homeowners ask, can you put a kitchen in a conservatory? The short answer is yes – and when done right, it can be a stunning use of space in your home.

A kitchen conservatory extension brings in natural light while creating a sociable, modern space, perfect for both cooking and entertaining. So, what do we need to consider before making the transition?

Design Considerations

Most importantly, with this type of room, heating and cooling considerations are crucial, as kitchens already generate a lot of heat. The last thing you’d then need is to create a room that’s a heat trap, making it unusable in the summer when you want to fire up the oven!

To combat this, underfloor heating can be a popular choice, providing consistent warmth that can be set on a timer and not too intrusive to the room, while also avoiding taking up wall space. 

Proper roof and wall insulation will then help keep temperatures stable year-round – so, selecting the best roofing option for your room is crucial to extending the lifespan of the conservatory.

Flooring is another consideration for this space, as it needs to be practical and moisture-resistant (especially if little ones are involved, meaning extra messy mealtimes! That’s why tiles, engineered wood or luxury vinyl work particularly well, making the space modern and sleek while combating any moisture battles along the way.

Decor

So, how would you decorate your conservatory-turned-kitchen? 

Think carefully about lighting, as while daylight will do much of the work, you’ll still need to install task lighting for late evening cooking and ambient lighting for evenings. This will be useful in the winter when the nights draw in, and you can’t rely on natural sunlight.

Also, open shelving, soft rugs under dining areas and a thoughtful layout can help make the space feel inviting, cosy and warm, avoiding any feeling clinical and sterile in any way.

Turning a Conservatory into a Living Room

Is your dream to turn your conservatory into a lounge or extra living room? This is a popular choice, especially if your current living room feels cramped or you’ve got lots of people in your household. 

Converting a conservatory to a living area can give you that extra breathing space, and more privacy from family members when you need a bit more alone time.

Design Considerations

While you don’t have to think about heating and cooling in the same way you do when converting to a kitchen, the ultimate consideration for lounges is comfort, as comfort is king here. 

Insulation, energy-efficient glazing, and a solid roof help the room feel warm, cosy and snuggly in winter and cool, breezy and laid-back in summer. For these reasons, many homeowners opt for radiators or underfloor heating to match the rest of the house for both continuity and an easy way to manage heat.

Flooring options can vary, but for ultimate cosiness, carpet or warm-toned flooring can instantly make the space feel more “living room” and less “garden room”.

Decor

Ambience is everything when it comes to converting a conservatory into a lounge. Think about layered lighting to create this ambience – ceiling lights, floor lamps and table lamps help create that desired cosy atmosphere. 

A reading light is also a great choice for bookworms who may want to curl up in a corner with their Kindle or favourite paperback, so it’s wise to consider the room’s usage when thinking about lighting.

Position sofas outwards to fully embrace and enjoy the views from the garden, and decorate with soft furnishings and rugs to turn the space into a true retreat.

Turning a Conservatory into an Office

With more of us working from home over the past few years, a quiet, dedicated workspace can be invaluable – especially if you have a busy household where you may need a bit more peace to get your head down. 

That’s why a conservatory office is a great conversion choice, offering light, separation and much-needed focus.

Design Considerations

The biggest consideration here is glare control. There’s no point in creating a beautiful office conservatory to be unusable when the sun is beaming down, making staring at a laptop virtually impossible.

Blinds or solar-control glazing can reduce screen reflection, while installing good insulation prevents distractions caused by temperature swings, meaning you can focus on what you need to get done for the day. 

Flooring-wise, we’d recommend hardwearing but comfortable flooring, such as carpet tiles or laminate with a rug, as these tend to work well for office use.

Decor

When it comes to your office layout, think ergonomic furniture and neutral colours. Try not to clutter the space with distractions, as a busy space often leads to a busy mind – clever storage (like inbuilt cupboards) helps maintain a calm, productive environment.

For the best lighting options, task lighting can help workers during the evening hours when the natural light has dispersed. You could even install some back lighting on your computer screen to create an evening ambience, making the room feel inviting and productive.

Turning a Conservatory into a Playroom

And of course, for those with little ones running round the house, having a dedicated playroom keeps toys contained and gives children their own space – something many parents dream of!

Design Considerations

Of course, the biggest consideration for this space is safety. Soft flooring options, such as plush carpets, foam play tiles, cork flooring or play rugs, can help to absorb sound, can be stain resistant and offer gentle cushioning for little tumbles.

(Absorbing the noise insulation can be especially helpful if the conservatory adjoins neighbours or quiet areas of the house!)

Effective temperature control ensures the room is usable all year, meaning your little ones can play come winter or summer and remain cool, happy and relaxed all year round.

Decor

This is where fun, bold colours can really come into their own! Think bright paint or exciting wallpaper, washable rugs (that you don’t mind getting apple juice spilt on them consistently!) and flexible storage solutions to neatly pack away toys are ideal. 

If you’ve got a large conservatory, zoned layouts – for example, one area for crafts, another for toys – can help keep the chaos under control, and they can truly feel as if the area is theirs.

Turning a Conservatory into a Games Room

Another great use of a conservatory is for a games room! From pool tables to gaming setups, a conservatory can be the perfect place to unwind, relax and get competitive with your family members and friends.

Design Considerations

Games rooms often require extra electrical points for multiple plugs and extension cables (for allll the technology!), so this needs to be considered within the build when determining the feasibility of turning your conservatory into a games room. 

Plus, stable temperatures must also be maintained to protect equipment, meaning that good insulation and controlled ventilation are essential for the room to work effectively. 

For flooring, games rooms may contain heavy furniture (such as pool tables or arcade machines), so durable flooring that can handle the weight is a must.

Decor

This is where the right lighting can paint the picture of a true games enthusiast. Think ambient lighting, using blackout blinds for screens and layered lighting to add texture throughout the room.

Comfortable seating, such as L-shaped sofas and bean bag chairs, make all the difference to being able to stay and play games all evening. 

Personal touches that add a layer of your personality, such as posters, neon signs or themed decor, can really bring the space to life.

Want to turn your conservatory into a room, but not sure what? Take a read through our dedicated ideas guide on what to do with a conservatory for more ideas, such as a reading room, a spare bedroom and an exercise room.

Conservatory Conversion FAQs

Do I Need Planning Permission To Convert a Conservatory Into a Room?

In many cases, planning permission isn’t required, especially if the footprint of the conservatory stays the same. However, building regulations will usually apply, particularly around insulation and structural changes. 

It’s always best to check before starting work – get in touch with our expert team today to find out more.

What Are The Most Common Challenges of Turning a Conservatory Into a Room?

Temperature control is often the biggest issue, followed by budget considerations – as making your dream home can often break the bank. 

Privacy and noise can also be concerns, depending on location and usage, but all of these can be addressed with good design and quality materials, as you’d expect from West Midlands Double Glazing.

How Much Does it Cost to Turn a Conservatory Into a Room?

Costs vary depending on size, structure, and the level of work required. 

Simple upgrades may be relatively affordable, while full conversions with solid roofs and insulation are a bigger investment, but one that often adds real value to your home.

To get a quote, contact a member of our expert team today to find out more.

Ready To Turn Your Conservatory Into a New Room?

Turning an underused conservatory into a functional, comfortable room can completely change how you live in your home. Whether you’re exploring conservatory conversion ideas for a kitchen, office, or family space, the key is thoughtful planning and quality craftsmanship.

If you’re ready to transform your conservatory into a space you’ll truly enjoy, get in touch with the team at WMDG today. With over 150 positive Google reviews, we’ve built a reputation as one of the most reliable and customer-focused companies in the region. We also offer a variety of finance options, including buy-now-pay-later plans, and at the time of writing, we’re the only provider in the West Midlands to offer finance terms of up to 20 years on conservatory projects.

Ready to start planning your conservatory conversion? Get in touch with a member of our amazing team today to book in for your FREE quote and consultation.