Conservatories are a lovely place to unwind, socialise and enjoy the warmth of the sun, but they're not always the roomiest of areas. While we want to decorate, and fill the space with comfortable seating to make it as homey as possible, it can easily become overcrowded, so furnishing can become a bit of a balancing act.
To help you enhance your space, we've put together a guide to the best small conservatory ideas. From light colour schemes, to the addition of plants and mirrors, read on to discover our décor tips, and transform your conservatory into a more spacious relaxing haven.
We've also included a list of décor pieces for inspiration!
Jump to:
- Mirrors
- Plants
- Multipurpose furniture
- Light and neutral colour scheme
- Glass décor
- Furniture with legs
- Light coloured blinds and curtains
For more space-enhancing ideas, explore the best compact living essentials for small homes.
Small conservatory ideas
Reflect the natural light with mirrors
Adding a mirror to a room is an effortless way to make your space feel both bigger and brighter. As an area that already benefits from natural light, a conservatory can really benefit from a mirror. Finding the perfect size is a bit of a balancing act, as you want a mirror that's large enough to create the feeling of more space, without it looking obtrusive. A standout floor mirror may be your only option if your conservatory is wall-to-wall glass, and if you're working with an outdoor brick wall, consider a garden mirror.
Round white mirror
Round mirrors offer a smart, timeless look and can work well in small conservatories as a way of opening the space. We were taken with this mirror from Amazon as it has a white chunky frame which again adds to the lightness and brightness of the room. Plus, it'll go with all colour schemes.
At 80cm, this mirror is a decent size, and its pared-back, unfussy appearance means it'll look great with both eclectic wall art and funky clocks as well as a minimalist vibe. There are two D ring hooks on the back for easy hanging.
Wavy mirror
- Buy now from Noho Home (£1,979)
If you don't have a wall suitable for hanging, a standing mirror is a lovely alternative. While this Noho Home wavy mirror will set you back, it's a striking accessory that oozes style, sophistication and all-round wow factor. Jump on the wavy mirror trend and add a touch of glamour to your small conservatory.
Bring the outside in with plants
Plants look fantastic in a conservatory as they create a blend between outdoors and in - enjoy the feeling of being outdoors, even if the weather is rotten. The vibrant green helps break up a colour scheme, and as always with house plants, they make your space more interesting and dynamic. Make sure to opt for plants that can handle direct sunlight, particularly if you have a glass conservatory.
Luckily there are lots of neat house plants and thin house trees around so you can find a perfect plant for your small conservatory.
The Little Botanical Purifying Plant Bundle
This sweet collection of potted plants includes a Sansevieria punk, a Ficus Benjamina and a Snakey Sansevieria. The stylish grey pots would look fabulous in a contemporary space, and we reckon this would also make for a great housewarming gift.
You could place them huddled together on a small coffee table, or spread them around the conservatory for a lively jungle feel.
HOMESCAPES Green Ficus Tree
If you have a bad history of killing plants, and want to go down the artificial route, Homescapes has an array of authentic-looking plants on offer. When you're dealing with a tight space, a small tree can look great as it's tall without taking up too much floor space. This ficus tree would look beautiful in the corner of your conservatory for a natural, welcoming feel. The stem is real wood, and the plant comes in a little black pot, but you can pot your plant in a decorative pot of your choice for a more colourful addition to your conservatory.
Trail plant
- Buy now from Crocus (
£26.99£21.59)
Trail plants are ideal for tights spaces, as you can hang your plants against a wall, or on a shelf, and leave the floor space for furniture. Plus they look stunning against a white wall, and help add a sense of intrigue and dimension to a room.
Available from Crocus, this Peperomia plant features adorable button-like leaves. Place on a shelf, or in your favourite hanging pot, for an instant burst of freshness, and greenhouse vibe.
Fed up of cluttering your home with plastic? Check out the best biodegradable plant pots.
Save on space with multipurpose furniture
When you're short on space, investing in multipurpose furniture is a smart move. Coffee tables with storage space and desk functions can help you make the most of a room without it becoming overly cluttered.
Adjustable Coffee Table
- Buy now from Dunelm (£344.99)
This nifty coffee table from Dunelm doubles as a dining table as the glass top lifts up. So you can chill with a cuppa and book during the day, and gather your friends for a dinner in the conservatory come night. A lovely home addition in the summer when you want to enjoy the lighter evenings. We love the woven aesthetic too - a classic conservatory look!
Small double sofa bed
- Buy now from Argos (£390.00)
In the summer evenings, you may wish to use your small conservatory as a makeshift spare room, which is where a compact sofa bed, or a chair bed, can come in handy. You can curl up with a good book on a comfortable seat in your sun trap during the day, and treat your guests to a comfortable bed when they pop by for a visit.
This Habitat find would work well for a small conservatory as it's light in colour, and measures just over one metre in width. The soft boucle fabric is also a winner for us!
Adopt a light and neutral colour scheme
A light colour scheme – whites, creams, pastels and neutrals – works wonders for a small space as it reflects the light, creating the sense of more space. This works particularly well in a conservatory as the sunshine pours in! From pale pink wall colours, to white room décor, you can have fun playing around with various light and neutral tones and shades to create a dreamy haven.
Sweetcheeks Wall Paint
- Buy now from Frenchic (£9.95)
If you’d rather avoid white and cream, a pale pink can look super in a conservatory. Frenchic has an array of stunning colours on offer, with plenty of pinks to consider, but the Sweetcheeks wall paint took our fancy. The chalk paint is suitable for internal woodwork as well as walls, so why not paint your wooden furniture for a fun and unique look?
Off White Sofa Throw
- Buy now from Dusk (
£25.00£20.00)
A white throw or blanket draped across your conservatory furniture is an effortless way to make a room feel lighter, plus it’s always a welcomed accessory during the cooler evenings.
This off white throw from Dusk is soft and snuggly, and perfect for layering. Plus, it’s currently on offer with a 20% saving!
A cream rug can also work a treat - find inspiration in our roundup of the best outdoor rugs.
Let light through with glass décor
Glass décor – whether it’s a vase, ornament or glass dome – refracts and scatters light which can create a magical sparkly effect. Glass also reflects light which helps enhance a room’s brightness. Place glass décor next to your conservatory’s windows and enjoy the sunshine all the more.
Briar Pink Glass Bud Vase
- Buy now from Oliver Bonas (£7.50)
Oliver Bonas is home to an array of striking glass homeware. This bud vase features a green rim which contrasts against the pink vase beautifully. Fill with your favourite delicate flowers for the ultimate final touch to your conservatory. The brand’s glass trinket pots are another delightful choice.
Plant mister
- Buy now from Garden Trading (£8.00)
If your conservatory is thriving with plants, a plant mister is an essential accessory! A lovely glass room accessory that’s both practical and pretty.
Furniture with legs
Opting for furniture with legs rather than solid, boxy designs, is an easy way to open up the space and avoid a squashed, hemmed-in feeling. Decorate your small conservatory with a statement armchair, or a streamlined compact sofa and create a roomy, comfortable seating area.
Loha Velvet Sofa
- Buy now from Oliver Bonas (£975.00)
Oliver Bonas is one of our favourite stopping points for neat and stylish sofas, and this boucle design is perfect for a small conservatory. We love the unique mix of rattan and boucle, and the light colour is sure to brighten your space. For a colour contrast, a plush velvet cushion in a rich teal, or dark blue would look fabulous.
Tray Coffee Table
To save on space, a neat coffee table that sits by a chair is a better alternative than a chunky central coffee table that gets in the way. This metal coffee table from Noa and Nani comes in an array of on-trend, muted colours and the thin table legs and tray are ideal for letting the light stream through. Add a few coasters, and you've got yourself the ultimate morning coffee spot as the sun comes up!
The lightweight design can be easily transported so if your conservatory is filling up with guests, place the table in another room to create more space.
Hang light coloured blinds and curtains
Adding blinds and curtains to your conservatory allows for privacy which is lovely in the evenings when you're hosting, or enjoying a cosy dinner. A few fairly lights can also work a treat when you're creating that picture-perfect scene. With curtains and blinds, we'd recommend light colour schemes. If you're looking to still enjoy some natural light in the day, while maintaining a level of privacy, a sheer blind - rather than a black-out blind - can work well.
White Sheer Roller Blind
Dunelm has a huge array of blinds and curtains on offer, so if you're stumped for style inspiration, it's well worth a browse. This white sheer roller blind ticks plenty of boxes for us: stylish, budget-friendly and available in a choice of sizes.
On the lookout for a Venetian, or Roman blind? Read our roundup of the best blinds.
Cotton Black Out Curtains
- Buy now from Marks & Spencer (£49.50 - £109.00)
If you do want to go down the black out route, there are plenty of light fabrics around. We're a big fan of these abstract curtains from Marks and Spencer - the light background will keep everything feeling airy and fresh when you've got the natural light during the day, while the colourful abstract print adds a funky feel.
Plus, blackout blinds are always handy if you're watching a film, or looking to reduce heat loss in the winter.
Looking to add a more contemporary twist to your conservatory? Read our guide to the best modern conservatory ideas to revamp your sun room.
