Get More Use out of Your Conservatory – Create A Kid-friendly Room

Although there is no doubt that you conservatory is an excellent spot to bask in the summer sunshine and enjoy light evenings, with so much glass, it’s easy for the room to become like a sauna in summer and an igloo in winter. Because of this, the conservatory can become a little neglected and underused, especially by the kids.

The cosy sofa in the living room, or the comfort of their own bedroom, can seem much more inviting than the conservatory. If you know that your conservatory could be a little more lived-in, try some of these great ideas to encourage the children to get more use out of it.

Ages 3-7

Indoor Camping

Little ones will love this idea. Bring the tent inside and set it up inside the conservatory. Having a tent under the cover of your conservatory will add a layer of mystery and adventure to their play. What’s more, the extra layer of canvas will help to keep the heat of the sun off in summer, and add a little warmth to the open space in winter. If you don’t have a tent, a couple of bedsheets artfully hung from the ceiling will work just as well. Set up some blankets, cushions and toys inside for guaranteed hours of fun.

Take the adventure even further with a picnic for lunch! Simply place a throw rug on the floor and serve up some delicious finger sandwiches, fruit and treats for your little ones to enjoy. They will love the new take on an otherwise familiar room, which will allow their imaginations to run wild, and make using the conservatory more appealing.

Ages 8-12

Crafts aplenty

Children love to get creative, so setting up a crafts space in the conservatory is a guaranteed winner. A desk or old dining table covered with a waterproof table cloth makes for a safe place for painting, clay moulding, papier-Mache, gluing and sticking and whatever else takes their fancy.

Natural sunlight is perfect for painting and drawing, and once their creations are complete they will dry much faster in the open of the conservatory too. Just be sure to move anything light-coloured out of the way so it doesn’t get smudged with mucky fingers or paint splashes!

13+

Hangout area

It can be difficult to entice teenagers out of their bedrooms. But rather than leaving them to their mysterious teenage activities (playing on their tablets or gaming most likely), make the temptation to migrate to the conservatory unbearable.

A comfy sofa, some beanbags and some unique mood-lighting – like lava lamps or fairy lights – will transform the space into the perfect place to hang out with their friends. Set up a TV in there, and your conservatory is almost guaranteed to become the kids’ first choice for film nights, sleep overs and parties. Your teenagers will love having their own room in the house to hang-out with mates.