Winter garden in a private house - do-it-yourself decoration and design

A conservatory or conservatory is a structure that will no doubt decorate any interior. This is a sunny and pleasant place that pleases the owners with lush greenery and fragrance of flowers all year round. From the outside, everything looks simple and beautiful, but when planning to build a winter garden in a private house, it is necessary to carefully follow the advice of experienced builders regarding the choice of construction, materials, glazing methods and so on.

Paradise in the house

Having decided to recreate the atmosphere of constant summer in a house or apartment, you need to know exactly what a winter garden is and what is its difference from an ordinary greenhouse. A greenhouse is the same greenhouse that focuses on growing cultivated plants in artificially created conditions (for example, oranges or bananas).

Most often, such a structure is separate from the house, for example, in the garden zone, and does not provide the owners with the opportunity to create an additional recreation area for family and friends. It supports climatic conditions in which it is difficult for a person, for example, high humidity.

The winter garden of the house is an intermediate zone between the living room and the natural environment. Here the climate is recreated, which positively affects the well-being of a person, and the nature of the plants and flowers grown is not so complicated, although it requires certain conditions.

Of course, the construction and design of the garden in a private house is very individual, because it depends on many factors, namely: location, heating method and types of plants that the owners want to grow. But this does not mean that for the arrangement it is necessary to attract outsiders. All actions - from an idea and a project to the construction of walls made of polycarbonate or glass can be done and made out with your own hands, the main thing is desire.

Selection of location and design

Thinking about how to make a winter garden with your own hands in a country house or in the country, most self-taught builders primarily think about saving. Naturally, the construction of such a comfort and relaxation zone requires money and time costs, but by creating a project of such a garden on your own, they can be significantly reduced or, at least, optimized as much as possible.

The first question that the owners have to solve is the location of the paradise. The best choice is a home garden oriented to the east, as the translucent structure will not overheat. You should not choose the south side, as the plants are provided with overheating, and the cost of watering and ventilation will increase significantly. The northern location is also not entirely successful, since you have to seriously spend money on heating. The western side is a more acceptable option, but in the summer the room will be quite hot.

The garden can have a variety of designs, for example:

• adjacent to the building - The building, which is a glazed veranda. Often this design is also called the "buffer garden";
• located in the house itself, that is, being part of a dining room, living room or sitting area. This room can be partially or fully glazed and have an artificially created microclimate that allows you to grow exotic plants at any time of the year;
• freestanding - It is rare because many people associate this arrangement with a greenhouse, and not with a zone of comfort and relaxation.

The most versatile and popular option is the rectangular design of the winter garden with a shed roof in the form of an extension to the house.

Heating systems

The garden itself is able to accumulate a certain amount of heat, but in the cold season this room and heat-loving plants in it certainly need heating.

The main condition when choosing a heating system is its efficiency, optimal heat distribution at a low cost. Of course, many factors need to be taken into account, for example, how much time the owners spend in the "paradise", use it as a continuation of the house, or visit the country house from time to time. The plants themselves are also important, because tropical ones require temperatures above 20 degrees, and frost-resistant ones will survive even with small frosts. The most popular heating systems are:

• heaters or air conditioners (split systems). The advantages of using such heaters are ease of installation and the ability to control the amount of heat. However, this is a rather expensive option, because electricity is quite expensive. In addition, it will be necessary to additionally organize the humidification of the air, since electrical appliances for heating make it very dry;
• water or steam heating involves connecting the heating radiators of the garden to the central heating of the entire house. In this case, the winter garden can be used as a dining room or living room, because there is no temperature difference between the rooms. In terms of costs, this option is quite economical, but special skills are needed to install and install such a system;
• heating with a wood-burning stove gives a special flavor to the greenhouse, but it is not very convenient. The stove requires constant attention, the purchase of coal and firewood, and also unevenly distributes heat throughout the room;
• the air system consists of installing a fan in the window of a window adjacent to the garden. In this case, warm air is distilled from the heated room. It is relatively inexpensive, but requires the purchase of an air heater and takes up a lot of space;
• an electric underfloor heating is an excellent option for heating, since the roots receive enough heat, and the water for irrigation is additionally heated. However, to equip such a system, significant financial costs are required, in addition, the repair work of such equipment is very problematic.

Ventilation and lighting

Any plants that are cultivated in the garden require an influx of fresh air on an ongoing basis. Most often, this implies the arrangement of window leaves or transoms, and the area of ​​such ventilation openings should occupy at least 25% of the total area of ​​the garden walls. This is the only way to ensure the required level of oxygen supply. Window leaves can be opened or closed manually, or can be equipped with automation.

It is also necessary to think over the system of additional lighting, because in winter and cloudy plants will experience its lack. Lamps for this purpose can be purchased without problems in a store, the main thing is to choose the type of device correctly, because they not only illuminate, but also affect the growth of plants. For example, ordinary incandescent lamps will not work here, since they emit a lot of heat and plants can simply get a burn. But their main drawback is that their spectrum does not contain the rays with which photosynthesis occurs.

Options suitable for lighting the garden and greenhouse are fluorescent, metal halide and sodium lamps. The most suitable are phytolamps designed specifically for plant lighting.

But the light should be moderate, because its excess also adversely affects plants. And if in winter the owner of the "paradise" must take care of additional light, then in hot, summer - about protection from excessive lighting. For such protection, awnings made of special fabric with a reflective surface are used. Also, to protect from sunlight, windows are sometimes curtained from the inside with curtains and blinds.

Watering plants

Automatic watering - The best option for the winter corner, especially the mechanized systems are now a great many. With the help of automation, you can configure various modes depending on the temperature and moisture content of plants.

Specialists are likely to offer drip irrigation to the new owner. This design is a system of perforated hoses through which water enters the soil. With this method of irrigation, puddles are not formed, and the roots of the plants completely get the necessary moisture. A drainage system is also needed through which excess water will leave.

The coordinated work of all the systems described will provide a comfortable rest in a green oasis for the owner and his visitors, as well as supply the plants with moisture, warmth and fresh air, that is, everything that is needed for life.

Winter garden in a private house: photo gallery