How to furnish your orangery with Neptune – Style inspiration

When it comes to furnishing your new orangery space, there are all sorts of considerations to bear in mind. How the space will be used, should be first and foremost, and from there all of your furnishings, colour, and style choices will flourish.

Over the years we have been fortunate enough to work with so many clients with a broad range of styles and ambitious plans. Making no two Westbury Orangeries alike! However, we often spot a few of our favourite brands, adapting and flourishing in these unique spaces once we return to photograph them. Whether it’s a Humphrey Munson kitchen, cushions by William Yeoward, or furniture by Neptune, it’s always exciting to see how each orangery has been furnished.

Here are some of our favourite projects to date, furnished by Neptune.

Creating contrast

In this Lincolnshire home, the orangery features a dining area below a glazed roof that is beaming in natural light, casting soft theatrical shadows over the adjacent dark and seductive living space. The contrast in light natural tones and dark atmospheric shades visually establishes zones within the space that are perfectly furnished and fit for purpose.

The focal point of the dining space is a spectacular roof lantern that shines a spotlight over the Arundel Dining table in Natural Oak, flanked by benches from the same collection with ‘Linara Warm White’ cushions.

‘Arundel’s a dining table for when you want to give your space a modern country look. Natural Oak, which, as the name suggests, gives the oak a subtle, honey-coloured look.’ The designers at Neptune explain. The entire Arundel collection delivers an understated aesthetic with down-to-earth simplicity. The dining space in this bright and energetic room is perfectly designed for family meals and creates a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere.

Beside this positive, bright space, is a contrasting living area that encourages uninterrupted relaxation. A deeply shaded area that oozes confidence. The focal point of this living space is the Shoreditch Sofa & Chaise in the fabric ‘Archie Night Sky’ which faces directly opposite a wall painted in the colour Westbury Black. The area reveals a peaceful evening retreat for the family to unwind in the evenings after tea. The sofa is scattered with cushions in the same natural hues from the dining area adjacent – such as the Grace Cushion, Twill – help to maintain a subtle continuity between spaces.

Read the full Case Study on this project

Balancing Modern and Classic styles

By its very nature, an orangery is classic in design but willoften create modern, open plan, living spaces.

Neptune’s Suffolk Dining Table can be seen in this Westbury orangery. The ball detail on the table legs is what gives it a classic country kitchen feel and for a modern contrast, the tabletop is straight-lined and simple. This offers the perfect balance of styles, as the designers at Neptune advise, ‘Suffolk’s a classic kitchen table with a crisp finish and understated design that means it works in more contemporary spaces too. Choose it when you want a country farmhouse look that’s completely timeless but still feels fresh and up to date. This version extends as well – ideal if you’re sometimes the host but need more space in your room normally.’

Modern Urban style

Characterised by an abundance of open space and intriguing industrial decorative furnishings. This style can easily become hard and unwelcoming, but when executed correctly the space will be soft and ooze luxury. This Orangery space is the perfect example of that balance, with two Lottie Sofas  ‘because of [their] buttons and tufts, it’s a piece that’ll add another layer of texture to your room – it’s the combination of different textures, colours and lighting that come together to make your space feel well-designed and welcoming.’

In addition, there are three curved Amelia Armchairs. Featuring the same quilting the armchairs are ‘full of detail: quilted tufting and diamond stitching in the fabric; a coved back that hugs you in; and arms that sweep down, framed by fine piping.’ These additions help to soften the space and make it feel endlessly cosy and inviting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose furniture for an orangery?

You should start with the function of the room rather than the style. Decide whether the room is for everyday living, dining, or a mix, before you pick pieces. Once you decide on the function of the room, you can move onto material and colour choices which tend to follow naturally from what the rest of the house already has on display.

Should orangery furniture match the rest of the house?

Either can work if done well. Your decision should come down to what makes the room feel used rather than an add-on. While some homeowners deliberately choose a style to contrast with the rest of their home with colour and fabric, others may prefer continuity so that the house flows with a single aesthetic. Neither is more correct than the other, so it will depend on if you want the room to feel like an extension or if it has a different pace from the rest of the house.

Can I mix modern and classic furniture styles in an orangery?

Yes, and it can sometimes work better than committing fully to one or the other. For example, a dining table with a traditional detail paired with a plain, straight-lined top reads as balanced rather than mismatched. The same logic can apply to upholstery, where a classic shape in a plainer modern fabric can suit an orangery’s blend of architecture and open glazing.

Will sunlight fade the furniture in my orangery?

Furniture in an orangery will be less at risk of fading compared to a conservatory, but there is still a small risk. Anything that sits in direct sunlight will fade over time, so be sure to place anything you value out of the line of sunrays. If your furniture is sitting in an area where sunlight will often touch it, choose tightly-woven, solution-dyed fabrics over natural fibres for upholstery. Also consider installing blinds to use during the brightest hours so there’s less damage done to your furniture in sunlight.