A well-designed orangery will almost always add more than its initial cost, because it enhances how the entire ground floor functions and flows, according to Robin Edwards, property buying agent at Curetons.
He explained that if a classically proportioned orangery costs, say, 5% of a home’s value, it is not unrealistic to see an uplift of a similar amount again when it is finished, so 10% overall. For example, a £2 million property that adds a £100k orangery could see its value rise to £2.2 million or more (+£200k), because it changes buyer perception of the home rather than simply adding square footage. The same is true of lower-value properties too.
Mervyn Montgomery, joint director of Hampton, a designer and manufacturer of bespoke timber orangeries, agrees: “Many of our clients talk about wanting to introduce a real ‘wow factor’ to their home. While most want to enjoy the additional space and light in their home themselves, there is no doubt that a well-designed orangery extension can also strengthen a property’s appeal, saleability, and long-term value.”
Orangeries vs. conservatories
In recent years, Hampton has found that homeowner preference has shifted quite clearly toward orangeries and away from conservatories. While the company believes that a well-built conservatory will not detract from the value of a property, orangeries are generally preferred by discerning buyers because they raise fewer questions.
Edwards said: “If buyers have to think about blinds, heaters, condensation, overheating, or overhauling the space, they start to mentally downgrade and devalue the property immediately. Buyers often see them as a future cost rather than a benefit, and factor the price of replacement or removal when making offers.”
Brand power
Adding an orangery from a reputable brand also ensures that the extension adds maximum value to the property in the future because the selling agent will usually name the company in the marketing details, particularly if the buyer demographic values design and craftsmanship.
Edwards commented: “Working with a brand for any home addition adds reassurance, credibility and a sense of premium quality. While it doesn’t guarantee a faster sale on its own, it definitely strengthens the story of the house and helps justify the asking price.”
Hampton provides five tips on getting the correct orangery design for your home:
- Decide whether you want your orangery to blend in with the existing property or make a bold architectural statement. Both approaches can work, so it often comes down to personal preference. However, it is always wise to check with your local planning department, particularly for properties in conservation areas, national parks, or listed buildings, or where an extension falls outside certain permitted development parameters.
- Consider whether you want a self-contained room with doors to the rest of the property, or whether knocking through to one or more rooms would create better flow. Open plan, broken plan, or a more independent space can all work well for different reasons.
- Carefully consider how the space will be used and what functions need to be accommodated within the orangery – whether that be dining, relaxing, entertaining, working, or a combination. A clearly planned, well-zoned design will always outperform an excess of poorly defined square footage.
- Think about glare and solar gain. Modern glass technology can be tailored to how the homeowner lives, whether the orangery is south-facing, needs to accommodate televisions and other screens, or to reduce exterior noise.
- Don’t leave decisions on flooring, lighting, heating, and built-in storage until the orangery is finished. With so many options available, these elements work best when they are fully integrated into the design from the outset.
Montgomery concluded: “The most successful orangeries are those that feel like a natural extension of the home rather than an afterthought. When proportion, performance, and design are considered together from the start, an orangery does more than add space; it elevates how the whole house is experienced, both for the current owners and for future buyers.”
-ends-
Notes to editors:
For more information, contact:
Ali Cort / Rosey Bowring
Browser Media
0207 099 0945
ali.cort@browsermedia.co.uk / rosey.bowring@browsermedia.co.uk
Portrush-based Hampton Conservatories was founded in 1982 by Mervyn and Kim Montgomery and has since become a leading designer and manufacturer of bespoke hardwood glass buildings. It has developed unrivalled expertise in producing award-winning bespoke conservatories, orangeries, swimming pool enclosures, botanical glasshouses, garden rooms and glazed pavilions.