Conservatory vs Orangery: What’s the Difference & Which is Best for You?

What is a Conservatory?

A conservatory is a home extension with a glass roof often covering at least 75% of the overall roof area, and glass walls covering at least 50% of the overall wall area. A conservatory is a light-filled extension with a high proportion of glass — both in the roof and walls — designed to maximise views and natural daylight. From classic Victorian styles to modern lean-to designs, conservatories are a timeless choice for bringing the outside in.

Today’s designs can include pelmets, insulated columns, and even tiled roofs — meaning you can work with conservatory builders to create a space that looks and performs like a true single story extension.

An orangery is a home extension with a glass roof typically covering less than 75% of the overall roof area, and glass walls covering less than 50% of the total wall area. Historically, orangeries were built on grand estates to grow citrus trees — hence the name. Today, an orangery is a sophisticated, partially glazed extension that blends the openness of a conservatory with the feel of a traditional brick-built room.

Modern orangeries typically feature:

• A flat roof perimeter with a central roof lantern for light
• Solid pillars or Ultraframe’s insulated columns for improved warmth
• Deep pelmets for downlights and a cosy, ‘real room’ feel

They’re ideal for homeowners who want a bright yet private space that feels like a seamless part of the home.

Modern orangery installations can be customised with floor-to-ceiling glass, or minimal brickwork, offering the perfect blend of elegance and practicality.

Why Is It Called an Orangery?

The term ‘orangery’ dates back to the 17th century, when wealthy European households built grand glazed structures to house exotic plants — especially orange trees. These orangeries had solid walls with tall windows and were seen as status symbols of the time.

While you probably won’t be growing citrus trees, the name lives on as a nod to the structure’s roots in luxury and elegance.

How Do You Pronounce ‘Orangery’?

We get this question a lot! In the UK, it’s typically pronounced:

“ORR-in-juh-ree” (rhymes with “spinery”)

It’s one of those wonderfully old-fashioned words that still pops up in modern home design.

What Do Brits Call a Sunroom?

In the UK, “sunroom” isn’t used very often — we usually say conservatory or orangery, depending on the build. While sunroom is more common in the US, a UK conservatory or orangery performs a similar role: a glazed space where you can enjoy the light and views of your garden in comfort.

You can read more in our article on designing the perfect sunroom extension.

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Typical Orangery Features

Orangeries blend the light and openness of a conservatory with the warmth and permanence of a traditional extension. Thanks to their solid roofs, deep pelmets and substantial pillars, they create a cosy, room-like feel that’s perfect for year-round use. Whether you’re after classic grandeur or sleek contemporary style, modern orangeries can be tailored to suit your home beautifully. 

The Contemporary Orangery

To give you an idea, the Contemporary Orangery combines our super-insulated columns, with a decorative cornice and insulated pelmet for the ultimate orangery look. To add modern styling support, wide spans of bi-fold or sliding doors should be added with an integrated, invisible structural goalpost. A touch of contemporary glamour – perfect if you’re looking for something stylish that perhaps combines with the colour of your window frames.

The Classic Orangery

The Classic Orangery, on the other hand, has a more traditional look with its brick piers, internal pelmet on the inside, and curved cornice, which exudes traditional stately-home elegance.

The Lantern Orangery

The Lantern Orangery is perfect for every conceivable property. Modern or traditional, it features the beautiful Ultrasky roof lantern. Internally, it has a deep perimeter ceiling, allowing for a flexible lighting design.

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Typical Conservatory Features

Conservatories are designed to maximise natural light and connect your home to the outdoors. Characterised by their expansive glazing, they’re the go-to choice for bright, airy spaces that feel open and inviting. With today’s advanced roof and frame options, you can create a conservatory that suits any home – from traditional to ultra-modern – while delivering excellent energy efficiency and comfort.

Glass Roof

These double glazed roofs deliver the classic aesthetics you most associate with a traditional conservatory. This style shows the apparent differences between a conservatory and an orangery. They allow an unrivalled amount of natural light to flood into your home, offering great versatility as a social space. Despite this, our double glazed conservatory roofs are incredibly secure and weatherproof.

Livinroof

A stark difference visually from our Glass Roof, our Livinroof is a solid alternative to the traditional glass roof option. With a solid roof, they can look closer to traditional extensions, which is why it's so hard for homeowners to work out the differences between conservatories and orangeries. These solid roofs provide increased home security and privacy, while the inclusion of glass panels will keep the room bright and welcoming.

Ultraroof

The third conservatory roof option that Ultraframe offer is the Ultraroof, which is similar to the Livinroof. The main difference is that rather than using solid panels, it instead uses tiles. This delivers superb aesthetics with more traditional homes, especially when partnered with the subtle lean-to conservatory style. The way the tiles are fitted makes the Ultraroof incredibly secure and weatherproof.

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Which Is Better – an Orangery or a Conservatory?

With so many differences between orangeries and conservatories, it's hard to know what one is best for your home. You can have either installed with just about any style of property, but it's important to consider a few things before you get to make a final decision.

Orangeries, due to their rectangular shape, work better with smaller homes. However, covering too much surface area with an oversized orangery could ruin the visual appeal of your home. You also wouldn't want to cover too much of your garden with an orangery, so take that into account when choosing between the two.

Another difference between orangeries and conservatories is that the former will more naturally suit older homes. Our installers should be able to match the brickwork of your home to your orangery, which can help maintain its period charm. Although conservatories can be tailored to suit older properties, an orangery will blend more effortlessly. 

A lean-to conservatory is a fantastic alternative to an orangery if you're looking to make renovations to a smaller home. They differentiate from other conservatory styles, by having a slanted roof as opposed to a double-hipped one. This allows them to fit under the eaves of single storey properties. Despite this, they still deliver great visual appeal and don't take up much of your garden space.

However, if you live in a bigger house, you can have conservatories designed bespoke to fit your available space. This is another difference between conservatories and orangeries. With this, you can create P and T-shaped conservatory designs, which will perfectly blend with your home without looking oversized.

It really comes down to what you want from your space:

Choose an orangery if you want:

• A more substantial, insulated room

• An extension that blends with existing brickwork

• A premium look and feel

Choose a conservatory if you want:

• Maximum natural light and outdoor views

• A more affordable way to extend your home

• A brighter, more open space

If you're still unsure whether a conservatory or an orangery is right for your home, you can discuss further with your approved Ultra Installer, who will make recommendations after seeing your home. 

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Can I Turn My Conservatory Into an Orangery?

Yes — and it’s one of the most popular upgrade options we offer. You can transform your existing conservatory by:

• Replacing a glass or polycarbonate roof with our Livinroof or Ultraroof systems
• Adding insulated columns or brick piers
• Fitting a deep pelmet with integrated lighting
• Choosing solid walls or plastered internal finishes

Learn more about your conservatory roof replacement options to get started with your conservatory upgrade.

Find Your Nearest Ultra Installer

For more information about orangeries, conservatories or replacement roofs, use our free search tool to locate an approved Ultra Installer near you. They will have the expertise – and knowledge of our products – needed to answer your questions about the difference between orangery and conservatory rooms.

You can also submit a request to us during the process, asking for more information about any of our products. A member of our team will then contact you for a more in-depth discussion about our products, although no obligation will be entailed. 

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