Turn Your Existing Conservatory Into a Garden Room

Discover the Benefits of Converting Your Conservatory Into a Garden Room or Orangery Extension in the UK.

Is your conservatory no longer serving its purpose? Is it becoming an eyesore with its yellowing PVC and blown roof panels? Upgrading your space to get the Westbury look, by converting your conservatory to a garden room or orangery extension without starting from scratch, is far more achievable than you may originally think. With Westbury’s architectural approach, you don’t have to demolish and start again to achieve an elegant garden room.

It can be easy for homeowners with existing conservatories to dismiss the idea of renovating their home with an orangery for two very simple reasons. One, they don’t believe that they have the facilities for one, and two, that it would be too expensive to knock down their conservatory and start over again.

The truth is that those with under-utilised conservatories can upgrade in quality, design and function, all whilst saving on cost. Providing the foundations are okay,  you can check this by checking for large cracks, Westbury can utilise the existing walls and floor to transform this previously underused space into an inspiring new living area, catered to your personal taste.

What Is a Garden Room vs. Orangery vs. Conservatory?

When considering a glazed extension, it helps to understand the subtle yet important differences between a garden room, a conservatory, and an orangery. Each offers its own character in terms of comfort, style, and investment.

What Is A Garden Room?

A garden room is designed to feel like a natural continuation of your home. With a fully tiled or pitched roof, large glazed gables, and carefully matched brick or timber details, it blends seamlessly with the existing architecture. Unlike a conservatory, a garden room maintains a consistent temperature all year round, making it a truly versatile living space. Westbury’s garden rooms deliver unmatched comfort, combining elegant design with excellent insulation and year-round usability.

What Is A Conservatory?

A conservatory is the lightest and most glass-filled of the three. With a fully glazed roof and walls that maximise natural daylight, conservatories offer a bright, airy atmosphere that brings the garden indoors. However, due to the amount of glazing, they can be more susceptible to seasonal temperature changes. Conservatories are often the most cost-effective option, providing a classic glazed extension that feels open and connected to the outdoors. However, they often look great, but their performance can be poor.

What Is An Orangery?

An orangery extension sits between a conservatory and a garden room. It features a flat roof with a central roof lantern and more substantial masonry, creating a sense of architectural presence. Orangeries are prized for their elegant proportions, heritage detailing, and balanced levels of natural light. With better insulation than a conservatory, an orangery is an integral part of the home that can be put to use all year round and is often chosen as a stylish, luxury alternative.

Feature	Conservatory	Orangery	Garden Room
Glazing / Roof Style	Fully glazed roof, walls mostly glass.	Flat roof with roof lantern; semi-glazed walls, more solid.	Tiled or pitched roof, glazed gables, semi-glazed walls.
Thermal Comfort / Year-round Use	Can overheat in summer, cold in winter unless mitigated.	Better insulation and more stable temperature.	Most consistent comfort across seasons; highly insulated.
Style / Visual Impact	Light, airy, strong connection to garden.	Elegant, architectural, heritage detailing.	Blends seamlessly with house, dramatic gables, integrated style.
Typical Cost	Lower cost than orangeries and garden rooms, but can vary with glazing.	Typically from £50k + VAT; average £80–90k for larger builds.	Generally start from £65k + VAT; higher for bespoke designs.

Why Your Old Conservatory Needs An Upgrade

Conservatories have been a very common extension since the 19th century and ballooned in popularity in the late 1900s. Despite their purpose, they often don’t feel like much of an ‘extension’ of your home at all. As time moves on and modern home life evolves, it’s very likely that those long-standing conservatories no longer meet the expectations, both functionally and aesthetically, that they once did.

Visually, conservatories built over twenty years ago were cheaply built and do not match the style of the modern-day home, making it impossible to create a seamless flow from home to your garden. Most old conservatory designs look dated in comparison to the rest of your home and start to look like a separate entity to your property, rather than the purposeful extension you once hoped for.

The biggest positive to having a conservatory is the flooding of natural light, however, this becomes a drastic negative in the high summer as your room is more susceptible to extreme high temperatures and intense glare from the surrounding glazing. Throughout the colder months, you are further prevented from utilising your conservatory, as poor insulation can make winters unbearably cold and dreary. You are forced to shut the doors and close off your additional room from the rest of the house to keep your central heating in and the cold air out. Not only that, but if the weather is poor outside, it is inside your conservatory too, as the glass roof invites in the deafening sound of heavy rain and the gloominess of grey skies.

How A Garden Room Can Transform Your Space

Garden rooms add authentic charm by extending your property in a functional and fully personalised way. They are custom-built, architecturally-led buildings that are sure to reignite your love for your property, all whilst bringing distinctive flair to your Home – often added to listed and heritage buildings because of the tiled roof.

One of the key draws to having a garden room is their versatility – these additional living spaces can take the shape of many different rooms to fit the needs of individual families. For inspiration on how you could utilise your new garden room, take a look at our case studies here. 

Can You Convert A Conservatory to a Garden Room in the UK?

By utilising the existing brickwork of your conservatory, a brand-new garden room or orangery can be built by constructing new insulated walls and a roof, allowing you to experience a new functional, glazed room on your house with a smaller investment. There could potentially be £30,000-£40,000 worth of building work already in place from your existing conservatory, significantly reducing the cost of your garden room build.

With some fresh flooring and updated decor, your former conservatory will be transformed into a functional living area that adds value to your property. Conservatories do not increase the selling price of your home, but garden rooms are a worthwhile extension that will not only enhance your current living situation but will also act as an investment. They are lower-maintenance extensions that make your home attractive both to you, and any future buyers.

What Is An Orangery Extension?

An orangery extension refers to a glazed extension combining solid construction (brick walls or dwarf walls, roof lantern) with architectural elegance, offering more solid structure than a conservatory but greater light than a full solid extension.

Benefits and Downsides of Garden Room

Pros of Converting

• Reusing the existing structure saves on groundwork and demolition costs.
• A garden room provides year-round comfort via insulation, a solid tiled or pitched roof, and better thermal performance and shade.
• It improves flow between the home and garden and adds architectural and monetary value and visual appeal.

Cons of Converting

• The existing conservatory foundations or walls may limit design, you may still need to adjust or reinforce them.
• Conversion can be costly depending on glazing, roof style, and joinery details.
  

How Much Does It Typically Cost To Convert A Conservatory Into An Orangery?

Westbury’s guide prices for orangeries and garden room extensions start around £65,000 + VAT, with average price for an orangery at about £80,000-£100,000 for 40-50 m², depending on glazing, joinery, roof lanterns, finishings, and number of sides.

When converting an existing conservatory you may already have £30,000-£40,000 of building work already in place, significantly reducing building costs.

Do You Need Planning Permission To Convert A Conservatory?

In many cases, replacing a conservatory with an orangery or garden room falls under permitted development rights. We always recommended you check with your local authority because exceptions do exist (e.g. conservation areas, listed property).  

Why An Orangery Will Improve Your Lifestyle

In contrast to traditional conservatories, garden rooms and orangeries are built to be a room for all seasons. Glass technology has significantly improved over the years, and our orangeries are part-built using heat resistant glass, which reduces heat build-up, glare, and internal fading. On top of that, improved insulation and solid roofs instead of a glazed roof means that you will experience better heat regulation all year round, retaining your central heating and reflecting harsh sun away. Opting for an orangery means that you will reap the benefits of better ventilation and more comfortable living conditions, without compromising on natural light. By implementing a roof lantern, you will gain a sense of space and enjoy all the benefits of natural light whilst staying cooler and more comfortable.

Our roof lantern ventilation system is a built-in glazed casement window. It is powered by an electric motor and can also include a rain sensor and thermostat, meaning that the vent will open and close depending on the weather – keeping the rain out and fresh air in. Rest assured that you can always open and close the vents manually to your liking, so your lantern is secure.

Q&A

Is an orangery warmer than a conservatory?

Yes. Orangeries use more solid structure (brick walls or dwarf walls) and a less glazed roof (flat roof with roof lantern) which gives better insulation, making them warmer than many conservatories in winter. 

Does a conservatory or a garden room add value to a property?

Yes. Thoughtfully designed conservatories and garden rooms act as extra usable living space. This boosts curb appeal and often increasing a home’s financial value. 

Can I reuse conservatory foundations?

Sometimes. You may reuse existing conservatory foundations when replacing a conservatory with an orangery or garden room. It depends on condition and structural suitability. 

Can you sleep in a garden room in the UK?

Yes. As long as the garden room is built with appropriate insulation, glazing, heating, ventilation, and meets any local building/regulation requirements, it can function as a bedroom or sleeping space.  

Is A Conversion Right for You and How to Make your Orangery a Reality

Transforming your conservatory into an orangery means that there will be plenty more time spent in the heart of your home dining, entertaining, and living in this previously underused extension. Once a liability, your old conservatory will be a thing of the past, and instead it will become a true asset to your home.

To better understand your options, give our sales & design team a call today. Alternatively, book a showroom visit.

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