The term “orangery” actually goes quite far back. Between the 17th and 19th century, an orangery was similar to a greenhouse extension that was used for growing citrus trees. The orangery protected the citrus trees from the harsh English weather and helped them survive throughout the winter. As time went on, the citrus fruits became cheaper and more readily available, so it was instead used to nurture different types of exotic plants. 

Conservatories are thought to have been created from the original orangery, but instead of growing and protecting citrus, they were used for herbs, shrubs and other plants. They used glass ceilings instead to give the plants more light, and the conservatory was constructed in a way to allow the plants to grow faster instead of just protecting them from the weather. Conservatories were also built as attachments to the home instead of the possibility of being detached like an orangery. This lead to the idea that conservatories weren’t just for growing plants, but could also be treated as an extension to the home. 

As already mentioned, conservatories typically have a full glass roof. In addition, they always act as an extension to the home, meaning they share similar designs to the home itself. This means the decor inside a conservatory will complement the rest of the home, carpets or laminate flooring will extend into the conservatory and it will feel much like an extra room. Conservatories also take a lot less brickwork and are usually constructed from other materials. Their main focus is to act as an extension to the home that allows you to embrace the nature in your garden while staying indoors. 

 

Orangeries, on the other hand, are generally different from the rest of the home. They often involve brickwork, use larger windows than a conservatory, and will typically have a skylight as opposed to a full glass roof. This means less overall light in the orangery during the day, but it’s enhanced with lighting fixtures, unlike most conservatories. Their solid roof typically means that they’ll take more work, but it also gives it a sense of luxury in terms of private spaces and extensions that you can build on your home. 

We’re specialists in both conservatories and orangeries here in Colchester, Essex. It’s a beautiful place where many homes have wonderful gardens and plenty of extra space to build an extension to the home. So whether you go for the luxury orangery or a more open conservatory, we can help with your extension plans. Contact us and a specialist will be in touch to see how we can help you.