Creating indoor-outdoor spaces with an orangery extension

For many homeowners, an indoor-outdoor living space is the dream they aspire to. Why? Because it offers the versatility to enjoy all aspects of their home, bringing together the interior of the property with the garden or patio.

Planned, designed and executed properly, an indoor-outdoor space can help you enjoy the benefits of natural light, fresh air and a spacious home all year round. It provides a connection with the natural world outside and creates a versatile area that's a pleasure to be in.

Whether you enjoy hosting social gatherings with family and friends, or are looking to create a relaxing retreat in which to unwind, an indoor-outdoor living space is ideal. From large gatherings and intimate summer soirées, to a chilled evening with a good book or play time with the children, creating seamless transitions between home and your garden will maximise your living area and enhance your lifestyle.

What is an indoor-outdoor living space?

An indoor-outdoor living space can be any area that brings the outside together with your home’s interior. By turning your patio or garden into an extension of your home, you can create something wonderful that offers versatility of use throughout the seasons. It also means that you make the most of the whole of your home and your garden, giving you an additional area for relaxing, entertaining and spending time with family and friends.

Indoor-outdoor spaces usually feature a lot of natural light and fresh air. They help connect your home with the natural world, which is a key feature of biophilic design.

How to create an indoor-outdoor living space

Light is key to creating an inside area that feels like it’s outside and in the open air. The best way way to bring lots of light into your home is through the use of glazing.

Another important element for indoor-outdoor living is having an opening that connects the inside of your home with your garden or patio.

One way of achieving both of these crucial elements is to install an orangery extension to your home.

Creating indoor-outdoor spaces with an orangery extension

The best way to fully embrace indoor-outdoor living is through a bespoke glass extension. An orangery extension, for example, will create additional living space for you and your family while incorporating plenty of glazing to maximise natural light. It will also feature sliding doors or bi-folds that can be opened up to break down the boundary between your home and garden/patio.

A luxury orangery extension creates a spacious and inviting indoor-outdoor area. This bespoke structure is highly insulated and energy efficient, which helps it maintain a comfortable temperature all year round. Heating, shading and ventilation options can add extra comfort, meaning you can create a flexible living area that works perfectly for your everyday lifestyle and requirements. Why not use your orangery extension as a stunning open-plan kitchen or a light-filled family room?

With large windows, floor-to-ceiling glass doors and a glazed roof, a luxury orangery extension makes a real statement and creates a stunning place in which to relax and enjoy family time or welcome guests for fabulous gatherings.

As part of your indoor-outdoor orangery extension design, you can incorporate the following features to enhance the connection between the two spaces.

Sliding doors and bi-folding doors

Using large glass doors is one of the best ways of creating an indoor-outdoor space. Imagine throwing open the doors when the weather is warmer to truly make the most of the whole of your property and garden.

The floor to ceiling glass floods your home with natural light, and creates an airy, open-plan feel. And when you open the doors, your interior gets all the benefits of the fresh air from outside.

The two areas are also connected through the views between them – from the outside looking into your home and the inside looking out at the views of your garden and beyond. Even when the doors are closed, the transparency of the glazing will make the space feel like one.

If you're undecided whether to choose sliding doors or bi-folding doors, read our article here.

Open corner glass doors

Building on the benefits of glass doors mentioned above, open corners double the effect created by sliding doors or bi-folds. That’s because open corners are created with two sets of glazed doors, which move away from each other to leave the corner completely open. With a contemporary orangery glass extension, this would leave the whole space open except for a single post.

You can read more about open corner glass doors here.

Zero thresholds

For a true sense of your indoors blending with the outdoors, low, flush or zero thresholds on your glass doors are a must.

Open up the doors to create one uninterrupted area stretching from inside your home right through to your patio or garden. A zero threshold accentuates the cohesive nature of this single space by creating a seamless flow throughout.

You could further blur the boundaries between your home and garden by matching your interior flooring to your patio. This will create a sleek connection between the two.

A contemporary orangery extension

An all-glass structure is a contemporary version of an orangery extension. With its light and airy appearance, a wintergarden glass extension can complement all property styles and ages. Added to older homes, it will flood them with natural light and provide a contrast between the traditional and the modern. And with contemporary homes, it provides a seamless addition that blends in with the current architecture and style.

Bespoke glass extensions offer comfort and freedom every day of the year. There's no better way to get that indoor-outdoor feeling than with a glass extension!

Design ideas to maximise your indoor-outdoor living space

• Create a layout that makes the most of your property’s surroundings. So, place your seating area facing the best view, or design a focal point with an outdoor fireplace or inspiring garden design.

• As mentioned above, consider using the same or similar tiles inside your orangery extension and outside on your patio.

• Use colour to bring your indoor-outdoor spaces together. Matching furniture, fixtures, fittings and flooring can be placed across both areas to give a sense of harmony and unity.

• Bring the outdoors into your home through the use of natural elements such as plants and natural fabrics. Plants love the natural light that streams into a glass extension - choose different sizes and heights of plants to add interest.

• Take the indoors out into your garden by furnishing your outside area with homely décor such as coffee tables, cushions, throws and rugs.

• If you are creating a glass kitchen extension, place your kitchen towards the back, nearest to the rest of your home. This will give you a wall on which to place cabinets but also allow you to place the dining area nearest the glass doors that open out onto your garden or patio. It also means your dining area will enjoy the full effects of the glazed structure. And placing an island in the middle of the orangery extension will also allow you to face towards your garden, patio and the views beyond.

• If you are particularly fond of entertaining family and friends, why not consider installing a free-standing cocktail bar within your glass extension?

• Create smaller, defined zones which help to give purpose to your large, open-plan area. You can do this through the placement of furniture and furnishings and the use of colour to designate areas for cooking, dining, entertaining and relaxing.

• Position lighting to create areas for focus as well as those for relaxation. Although your extension will have lots of natural light from the abundance of glazing, you can create interest and functionality though additional lighting.

• Use furniture with hidden storage to keep your indoor-outdoor space uncluttered and free.