Sophie Robinson: How to transform a dull conservatory into a joyful living space
I feel so lucky to have my conservatory, full of light, joyful pattern and with glorious views out to the garden. But I didn’t always feel this way about the room! When we bought our house, we had plans to knock it down as it was plastic, dated and rather tatty. But when we realised our home renovation budget wasn’t going to stretch to a new extension, it was time to get creative.
We began the transformation by painting the uPVC frames, which is very easy if you use an all-surface primer before applying the top coat of your chosen colour – it ensures the paint adheres to the plastic. Next we had to tackle the light, as its south-facing aspect made the room unusable in the height of summer. Having looked at lots of underwhelming options for conservatory blinds, I decided to go bespoke.
These stunning sails were created by a seamstress who measured the roof and then made the individual sails using Wildflower Meadow floral fabric from my Harlequin collection. They are simply held in place with a combination of eyelets and hooks, so are easy to remove and clean. The combination of these sails and the Roman blinds in a coordinating basketweave print, shades the room from the bright sunlight, and it's a delight to be in – I just love the tented effect, swathed in glorious pattern, that the sail blinds create.
The fabric also set the colour scheme for the rest of the room: I pulled out aqua, pink and yellow as the three key hues. Keeping to a tight palette meant I could add many other patterns to the room with the upholstery and cushions, lampshades and artwork.
When you go for a vibrant mix like this, the effect is visually busy, creating a cheerful space that's perfect for a family room such as this one. I intentionally chose English floral patterns for the fabrics to mirror the view from the window looking across the garden, meadow and woodland beyond. I love the connection – bringing the feelgood vibes of the outdoors into my home. I think this is my best transformation yet!
Get the look:
Sofa in Element, Harlequin
Valentin footstool in Rhubarb Smart Cotton, Sofa.com
Turquoise scallop tray, Addison Ross
Fred yellow trays, Zazoo
Raffia pendant lights, La Redoute
For a similar kilim rug, try That Rebel House
For a similar palm lamp, try Graham & Green
Blue Kilda lamp and pink shade, Pooky
Bitossi Sun ornament, SCP
For similar vases and cake stand, try Anthropologie
Sail blinds in Wildflower Meadow, Roman blinds in Basket Weave, cane sofa in Ribbon Stripe, chairs in Woodland Floral, tablecloth in Paper Straw Stripe, cushions in Paper Straw Stripe, Garden Terrace, Wiggle, all Harlequin x Sophie Robinson.
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