Sunroom vs Conservatory vs Orangery: Creating the Perfect Light-Filled Extension

When considering extending your property, it can feel daunting to face so many different extension options, especially when the terminology is unclear.

From sunrooms to conservatories to orangeries, the terms are often used interchangeably, which can easily confuse homeowners looking for a simple answer.

In this article, we clarify the differences between these three extension types, address common misconceptions, and help you make an informed decision about which option suits your property best.

What is a Conservatory?

Conservatories are fully glazed structures with pitched glass roofs. Designed to maximise natural light, conservatories are easily identified by their extensive glazing. These can be both minimalistic and modern, or intricate and ornate in design, depending on your personal taste.

Key Features

• Pitched, glazed roof
• Can feature dwarf walls (a low brick base) or fully glazed walls
• Can be made from timber, uPVC or aluminium

Best Uses and Situations

• Bright dining areas or breakfast rooms
• Art studio
• Homes needing a strong indoor–outdoor connection
• Ideal for small conservatory ideas in compact gardens
• Use to fill small spaces

Pros and Cons of Conservatories

Modern Conservatory Comfort

Glazing

Advances in glazing technology prevent your conservatory from extreme heat loss or gain. Argon gas between double glazing panes (standard in all of our builds) helps to improve thermal efficiency and retain radiant heat in winter, as argon is a poor heat conductor and thus, allows less heat through the panes. An optional solar-reflective coating can be added to your glazing instead, which we call SunGuard, which reflects harsh heat from the sun away in the summer. This is ideal for creating a conservatory sunroom that’s usable all year round.

Speak to a member of our sales and design team today for expert advice on which coating is best for you.

Timber

We use Accoya® wood for all of our projects. This is a sustainable engineered timber made from the fast-growing radiata pine tree. Accoya wood offers high moisture and decay resistance, exceptional durability, and insect resistance, making it the ideal construction material for a home extension.

Ventilation

Proper ventilation is essential in glazed extensions. Options include roof vents, ceiling fans or air conditioning units. Roof vents can be operated manually or via a thermostat for automatic climate control.

What is a Sunroom?

Sunrooms are small, bolt-on extensions that are typically much cheaper than their competitors. They often feature solid or partially solid roofs, making them feel more like integrated living spaces than traditional conservatories. Sunroom designs are modern and straightforward, offering a quick solution for those seeking to extend their home on a tighter budget with minimal disruption and limited manual labour.

Key Features

• Connected directly to the property
• Can feature a sloped, flat or pitched roof, which can be solid or glazed
• Much cheaper than other home extensions

Best Uses and Situations

• Bright dining areas and breakfast rooms
• Secondary living or lounge area

Pros and Cons of a Sunroom

What is an Orangery?

Orangeries are the most architecturally led and room-like of all extension types. These are flat-roof semi-glazed structures featuring a mix of solid timber and glazed walls, offering a balance of natural light and thermal stability. Their most recognisable feature is their pitched roof lanterns.

Did You Know?

The first orangeries can be tied back to early seventeenth-century Italy, where they were symbols of wealth and were designed to protect exotic fruit during the colder months.

Key Features

• Flat roof extension with a roof lantern, or multiple lanterns
• Semi-glazed
• Decorative pilasters and architecturally led design

Best Uses and Situations

• Kitchen extensions
• Dining areas
• Main or secondary lounges
• Home offices
• Family living spaces
• Great for small orangery extension ideas in tighter footprints

Pros and Cons of an Orangery

Craftsmanship Makes a Difference

At Westbury, we take time and care in designing timeless orangeries that integrate seamlessly with your property’s architecture. Our orangeries are manufactured in-house at our Essex factory to ensure exceptional quality. To find out more, click here.

Side-by-Side Comparison: Key Differences

Now that you know the definitions of these extensions, it’s time to compare them so that you can make the most informed decision about which one is right for you and your home.

Structure and Glass-to-Solid Ratio

South-facing properties that receive high levels of natural light during the warmer months are better suited to orangeries, where the mostly solid, flat roof provides shelter from intense heat. North-facing properties with limited natural light benefit from increased glazing, as found in conservatories and sunrooms.

Roof Types and How They Affect Natural Light

How They Connect to Your Home

Conservatories are typically regarded as an independent structure, often separated by internal doors. Sunrooms bolt onto your home and are similarly separate. Orangeries are true open-plan extensions, providing additional living space and enhancing the flow between your home and garden.

Year-Round Comfort

Orangeries are generally the most thermally efficient extension, offering reliable performance across all seasons. With high-performing double-glazing standard on all of our builds, our orangeries provide year-round comfort. You can read more about this here.

Conservatories of the past had issues with temperature control, but modern Westbury conservatories use the same glazing and timber technologies as our orangeries, ensuring excellent year-round comfort.

As previously mentioned, a solar-reflective coating (SunGuard) can be applied to a conservatory during construction to regulate temperature better.

Sunrooms, sold as a whole unit rather than a personalised extension, are not always as thermally efficient. Depending on their construction quality, sunrooms can vary considerably in insulation effectiveness and should be researched carefully before purchasing.

Cost Comparison

Sunrooms are the cheapest option, with most priced below £10,000. Westbury conservatories typically cost £1500 per square metre, while Westbury orangeries are the most expensive at £2000-£3000 per square metre. This, of course, is subject to various factors including the complexity of the design, additional roof lanterns, roof vents and dual colour schemes. Orangeries may be the most expensive option, but their timeless elegance reflects this – you get what you pay for!

Build Time

Sunrooms are often self-assembly, resulting in minimal build time. Conservatory and orangery build times depend entirely on materials and size.

Schedules will be drawn up and agreed upon before your project begins. Manufacturing can take six to eight weeks on average. At the point of installation, this typically takes between two and three weeks to be water-tight, ready for electrics, heating and plastering. It’s important to remember that this still depends on the size of your extension.

Choosing the Right Option for Your Home

Match Your Property Style

Sunrooms pair well with modern or minimalist homes but can look out of place on period properties. Orangeries provide a more tailored experience and can complement a wide range of architectural styles. It’s important to consider more than just what appeals to you and what integrates well with your property’s style.

Consider Your Home’s Orientation

Conservatories and sunrooms may not suit south-facing homes where natural light is already abundant and intense. An extension is only valuable if it is comfortable and usable year-round, so your home’s orientation is key to consider.

Think About Your Budget

It’s important to consider your budget and how much you’re comfortable spending. Sunrooms are drastically cheaper than other options, however, their appearance and quality of construction can reflect this. Weigh up how much aesthetics and overall impact matter to you against your budget.

Planning Permission and Building Regulations

Permitted development rights sometimes allow you to proceed with your extension without formal planning permission. In order to meet the criteria, your proposed development must:

• Not exceed 4m outward from the existing rear wall of the property for a detached house, or 3m for a semi-detached or terraced house
• Be no taller than 4m – this includes roof lanterns, but not parapets on flat roofs
• Not take up more than 50% of the curtilage – this is the area the council deem to be immediately surrounding the property, and can change

Planning permission may be required if:

• You live in a protected area, such as a National Landscape or a conservation area
• Your home is listed
• You live in a Green Belt
• You’re unsure that your proposed works meet the permitted development criteria

It is always advisable to consult a professional for clarification and expert advice.

If planning permission is required, then Westbury can handle the process for you. We have nearly 40 years of experience in the field, and regularly deal with:

• Planning applications
• Building regulations compliance
• SAP Assessments
• Structural calculations
• Liaising with consultants on your behalf

Small Extension Ideas: Making the Most of Compact Spaces

Compact Orangery Extensions

Smaller orangeries may not be as grand as a larger-scale extension, but they still offer character and architectural charm. By opting for small orangery extension ideas, you will save money on your upgrade whilst still enjoying an elegant, timeless design.

Small Conservatory Ideas: Design Tricks for Small Spaces

Small conservatories can be the ideal additional living space for smaller households. For the best ways to optimise your space, here are our top tips.

• Compact Furniture – Large furniture will make your small space feel cramped and uncomfortable. Opt for smaller, more refined pieces.
• Consider Mirrors – Mirrors open up a space by creating the illusion of depth in the room. You can use strategic placement in your home to maximise this effect.
• Vertical Storage – You can utilise the solid wall of your conservatory (the outside wall of your house) by integrating shelving units. This way, you are gaining much-needed storage space without blocking any natural light from your surrounding glazing.
• Quality in Compact Builds – Regardless of the size of the extension, Westbury maintains the same attention to detail, proportion, and scale. Every design is distinctive and crafted to elevate your space.

To find out what we can do for your home, call our sales and design team today.

FAQs

What’s the difference between an orangery and a conservatory?

Orangeries feature solid, flat roofs with a roof lantern to let in natural light, whereas conservatories are fully glazed structures with pitched, glazed roofs.

Which adds more value to a home?

The value of an extension lies in the quality of the materials and the building work. Westbury orangeries, constructed from top-performing timber, add the most value to your home. Since sunrooms and uPVC conservatories are cheaply made, they may not be visually appealing to prospective buyers and therefore add very little value to your property, if any.

Which is warmest in Winter?

Thanks to advancements in glazing technology, Westbury orangeries, garden rooms and timber conservatories are all thermally efficient. Sunrooms and uPVC conservatories will be much colder during the Winter months.

Can I convert a conservatory into an orangery?

Absolutely! Existing building work can actually save you a substantial amount of money on your orangery or garden room build. For more information, read our blog ‘Turn Your Existing Conservatory Into a Garden Room’. (https://www.westburygr.com/blog/conservatory-to-garden-room-uk/)

Do I need planning permission?

This depends on whether the proposed extension falls within permitted development rights, but you should always seek professional advice. For more information, head here. (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/extensions/planning-permission)

Making Your Decision

All three extension types add a sense of space, increase natural light and provide an additional, functional room. The right choice for you depends on your budget, the property’s style, and how you plan to use the room. If this will be your main living area, a larger investment may be worthwhile. However, if the space is a simple addition to your home and budget is a concern, a sunroom may be a better fit.

Contact us today for tailored advice from our expert sales and design team.