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Creating A Beautiful Home and Garden

When I purchased a home a few years ago, I had no idea what kind of workload I would be faced with. In addition to trying to figure out how to keep the place clean, I was also left with the challenge of tidying up the yard and keeping things trimmed. It was a little overwhelming, but I knew that I could do it with a little hard work and dedication. I started reading a lot of books and blogs about creating gorgeous things for your home and yard, and it was a great creative outlet. This blog is all about exciting, fun ways to make your home and yard even more beautiful.

Creating A Beautiful Home and Garden

5 Considerations When Selecting Draperies For Your Conservatory

by Alyssa Perkins

If your home has a conservatory, then you have a unique drapery challenge. A conservatory tends to be used somewhat as a greenhouse and also as a sun room, which means that your drapes need to serve many functions and still look great. Before you pick patterns and fabric, it is important that you consider the following five things. 

What purpose will the drapes serve? 

Some people choose to forgo draperies in the conservatory altogether, making the conservatory into a greenhouse. However, there are many reasons why you may want drapes in your conservatory.

  • Privacy. If you use your conservatory for parties or dinners, you may want some privacy while you are in your windowed room. Sheer curtains can provide a small amount of privacy, especially during the day, whereas blackout curtains can provide complete privacy when necessary. Think about how much privacy you want in your conservatory before you make a curtain selection. 
  • Protecting plants. During the summer, plants can get too much sun when they are in a conservatory, causing them to burn or wilt. Sheer curtains or roller shades can reduce direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day and keep your plants safe. 
  • Maintaining consistent temperatures. During cool weather, your conservatory can get cold at night. Whether you have heating or not, insulating curtains are a good way to keep your plants and yourself warm during cold evenings. 

Where will the drapes connect? 

In most rooms, drapes connect just above the windows or at the top of the wall. Conservatories often have glass ceilings, though. This can affect where and how you plan to attach your drapes. You will need to decide whether you will make drapes that fit from the highest point on your ceiling to the floor or whether you want separate panels for each section of windows. Separate sections give you greater control over light, warmth, and privacy. However, they may take more time to open and close. 

How will the drapes look when they are open? 

In a conservatory, it is important that you measure how much wall space is between each window. Ideally, your curtains will be able to fit over the wall, leaving the windows fully exposed when they are open. To achieve this affect you may want to look into roller curtains or drapes with a wide accordion fold that makes them thinner when they are bunched together. 

What kind of temperature change do you get in your conservatory? 

If you live in a mild climate or if your conservatory has internal heating and air conditioning, then you will probably have a small temperature change throughout the day. However, if you live in a place with cold winters or hot summers, then it is likely that your conservatory will have extreme temperature differences throughout the year and even throughout the day. 

If your conservatory has large temperature swings, you may want to add layers of drapes which can be closed to maintain the ideal temperature throughout the day and evening. For example, in the morning you would pull all of the drapes to allow the conservatory to heat up. At midday you would close a sheer curtain to prevent the conservatory form overheating, and at night you would close one or two heavy, thick curtains to keep the heat inside. 

What kind of plants do you have growing in your conservatory?

Finally, the plants you have growing in your conservatory will determine what kinds of curtains you should purchase. You should consider their needs, such as whether they need partial shade or full sun. You should also make sure that you purchase a fabric that does not clash with the leaves or blooms. Neutrals and light pastels are often good choices. For more information, contact an interior designer

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