Tiling your conservatory: tips on how to create a unique design

Conservatories are a great thing to have as part of any home and really enhance the value of any property. However, they must be installed with caution - picking one that's too ostentatious, small or poorly-decorated could make it a bad investment in the long run.

After all, it's estimated that around 70 per cent of people buy conservatories through extended borrowing, whether it's consulting a bank, building society or savings to invest in the often-expensive addition to a house. The use of tiles is becoming increasingly popular as part of a conservatory design as they work well with the unpredictable seasons to complement both hot and cold weather. With great deals going at The Tile Depot, floor tiles and wall tiles alike may provide a fantastically cheap design that you, your family and friends will always enjoy, regardless of the sun being out or not.

When you're designing a conservatory, you should first ensure the overall construction blends in with the rest of the house; brickwork, for instance, should be in-keeping with the home's existing colour. Extra care should be taken to stop it from dominating the rear of the building with over-the-top additions, too - try to keep windows from being overly ornate, for example. However, the interior can be whatever you want, really; unlike other rooms, the conservatory is an addition that is designed to be closed off, making it a sanctuary or haven from the hustle and bustle of the modern home.

Tiles are a great choice for making your own personal space because they look fresh and attractive, as well as being easy to clean. On top of this, they can be surprisingly simple to install, while proving to be much more resilient than carpets should foot traffic be high. Ceramic tiles are the usual go-to when it comes to the type you choose, but they tend to be better-suited to walls. When it comes to floor tiles, porcelain has better resilience in all directions, making them worth the extra money.

If you're aiming to get a feeling of refuge from your tiled conservatory, aim to bring in primary colours that are bright, warm but not too in-your-face. Adopt a beach-inspired look, incorporating wicker or wooden furniture that can be easily moved and slotted together, allowing movement between seasons so you can get the most from the sun. Failing that, why not consider investing in a hammock or two? Frames can be deconstructed and hidden away in less hospitable months, though they are unparalleled when you want to relax with a book in the evening sun of the summer.

For people who want a much warmer environment from their conservatory, consider pairing terracotta tiles with wooden flooring - laminate or hardwood, depending on your budget - and bring in some leather furniture.

Are you a game or film enthusiast? Why not set up an entertainment room in your conservatory? Pair tiled floors with a rug, blackout blinds and brightly-coloured fixings, making it into a perfect place to enjoy the latest releases. You could even build a projector screen into the window frame that can retract when not in use, allowing as much light into the room as possible when you don't need it and avoiding the requirement to take up room with a bulky TV.

Of course, you can always play it safe by extending your front room design into the conservatory, carrying over carpets and furniture. While this is a low-risk strategy, you may find it hard to relax as it may carry over the worries and tasks you need to do elsewhere in the home.

Whatever you do, reflect your personality as much as possible. Given it's an extension, you have every right to be individual, so long as you can enjoy it for years in the future.