Conservatories date back to as long ago as the 16th century. Back then, farmers used them as greenhouses – serving as a means of citrus fruit protection and cultivation. In 2020, things are a little different.
These popular household extensions are now designed with the intent of giving residents the chance to find their own personal haven, for rest and relaxation. They’re nothing short of a luxury. And while they might cost a little to build, the mental health benefits cannot be overlooked.
Don’t just take our word for it. Let’s take a closer look at all the benefits of attaching one to your house.
- Extra sunlight and vitamin D
The importance of your health can never be understated. That’s especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our bodies are a cacophony of different vitamins and nutrients. One of the most important of these is most commonly provided to us through natural sunlight.
As the NHS points out, vitamin D is vital for keeping muscles, bones and teeth in good shape. It does this by regulating the amount of phosphate and calcium found in our body.
At a time when getting outside is harder than it’s ever been, having a conservatory to protect you from the virus – while still allowing your body to absorb sunlight – could be a fantastic solution.
- An escape from the world
We all need a little time away from the rest of the world. While humans might inherently be pack animals, it’s not uncommon for us to need time to ourselves to recoup and recharge.
A conservatory is the perfect spot to do just that. With the ability to customise the space to the specifications of your choosing, you can make this little bubble of serenity your happy escape from society.
Think of it as the one little part of the world where the everyday problems of life can’t affect you. Just be sure you aren’t retreating back to your safe place a little bit too much. While it’s good to have a dedicated area for alone time, you won’t want to neglect everything else around you for too long.
- Practical space for storage
The last thing you’re going to want is for your lovely conservatory to become a space for storing all your old junk and clutter. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find room for a few items which might otherwise have nowhere to go.
Larger pieces of furniture or books which you’re no longer able to find a space for on the shelf can all be used to decorate the area. There are many ways to make your personal space aesthetically pleasing, while also giving you the piece of mind that comes with decluttering your house.
As you won’t want to make your conservatory too messy, it might be worth including storage as an aspect of the initial design process. Think about where larger pieces can go, then make space for them accordingly as you begin construction.
- A personal office
There have been loads of useful guides discussing the perfect setup for anyone looking to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. These largely focus around the same couple of topics – finding space for yourself and ensuring your desk isn’t positioned to damage your back.
With a conservatory you’re creating a makeshift office, which provides ample space to create the optimum setup for the needs of both your work and your body. This is a luxury not everyone can say they’re privy to.
And who says this needs to be exclusively restricted to the pandemic? This space could serve as the perfect home office long after the threat has passed. With the world moving closer towards remote working as the norm, having one could be a prized commodity.
A conservatory is a fantastic option for anyone looking to boost their mental health. But, as Direct Line highlight, it’s important to remember that there are a few insurance details to take care of – you might have to reassess the rebuild costs of your home, for example.
Formalities such as these might be a headache at first, but don’t let that put you off – the long-term mental health benefits of having your very own conservatory are still considerable.
Article by Geoffrey Aldis
