Have you ever dreamed that the summer does not end? Nothing is impossible! It is in your power to make it endless. Create a green, fragrant oasis at home and enjoy it all year round. A picturesque winter garden filled with lush greenery - what could be better for rest and relaxation after the boring monotony of the office interior?
The winter garden is a complex system that includes a lot of engineering and technological solutions. The design allows you to create the optimal microclimate for a variety of plants, to provide competent care for them. In addition, the "green" room in an apartment or a country house can become a place for a comfortable pastime, rest and relaxation.
Kinds
There are various types of conservatories that fundamentally differ in purpose and arrangement. Before embarking on the implementation of your ideas, you need to decide which of the existing options you want to get as a result. The most popular versions are:
residential;
greenhouse;
buffer.
Residential
The winter garden, equipped in a heated room, was called residential. It creates a microclimate that is equally comfortable for plants and for the inhabitants of the house. It contains a sufficient number of representatives of the flora, which can be cultivated year-round. Most often, such a winter garden becomes an extension of the dwelling and is used as a living room, dining room, billiards or office. Plants here are traditionally placed in pots or planters. A convenient option is mobile structures that allow you to change the location of plantings, depending on the degree of their love of the sun, the characteristic conditions of care and design features.
Greenhouse
The greenhouse is a type of winter garden that serves only for growing plants and is not part of the living space.This is an unheated design in which the ideal microclimate is created for a wide variety, including exotic species. Plants and soil are heated by the infrared radiation of the sun, which penetrates through the glass roof and walls. It often cultivates flowers, vegetables, fruits. Many plants are transplanted into the ground after the establishment of warm weather. The greenhouse is an indispensable design for amateur gardeners, scientists, botanists and agricultural complexes. However, this room cannot be called a rest and relaxation zone for the owners.
Buffer
This type of home oasis is an extension to the house, which is a kind of buffer between the living room and the street. This is a glazed unheated space. It cannot be used as residential, with the exception of the time of year when heating is not required in the summer months. Panoramic glazing contributes to the accumulation of heat. Thanks to this, a certain temperature is maintained inside the house itself, which saves on heating. It is impossible to create a microclimate similar to a greenhouse here. A constantly opening door does not contribute to its maintenance. Therefore, there are not many plants in the buffer garden, but here you can equip a wonderful area for relaxation and entertainment, and open windows will allow you to enjoy the view of the surrounding landscape.
Winter Garden Styles
Interior decoration, plants, decorative filling are of great importance for the concept of a winter garden. If you choose them thoughtlessly, not consistent with a particular style, the result you are unlikely to please. Therefore, before you start creating your own green “corner”, you need to decide on his style, create a detailed project and only after that start the arrangement. The winter garden can be designed as an imitation of any natural landscape zone or endowed with the features of one of the architectural styles.
Classical
The main feature of the classical style is moderation. Finishing done in neutral soft colors will not distract you. And in the classical garden, of course, there is something to see. The succulent colors of the subtropical plants seem even brighter against the backdrop of snow-white stucco and marble. Typically, such rooms are filled with a variety of arches, columns, pilasters. In addition to interior solutions, space is generously decorated with various statues and other works of art - frescoes, paintings. As additional decorations, you can use mini-fountains, water tanks. And of course, we must not forget about classic furniture and lamps.
Japanese
The Japanese winter garden is a place where you can completely abstract from the surrounding reality and surrender to the process of self-knowledge. The philosophy of such a place gravitates to minimalism and pronounced symbolism. To create the atmosphere of a Japanese garden, you can choose one of the most common areas:
kare-sansui - the so-called dry landscape. Such a landscape is hardly a garden. His characters are gravel, sand and stones of various sizes. No plants and ponds can be found here. The main purpose of this garden is to provide a space where a person can meditate, calm down and restore the energy spent;
tsukiyama - known as a hilly garden. It is typical for him to reproduce any terrain in miniature. In this case, a set of dwarf trees will symbolize a forest, a rocky embankment - mountains, and a small pond - the sea;
Garden for tea ceremonies - allows you to relax and enjoy a cup of green tea among the picturesque plants. Bright colors that excite the psyche should be avoided.
Country
Country style will suit absolutely any garden. The highlight of this place will be bright and lush flower beds. They can combine completely different colors.The attributes of this style include natural lawns and randomly appearing self-sowing in the form of wild flowers or those that voluntarily moved from the garden. Vegetables are an integral part of the garden, for example, bright and spectacular miniature pumpkins or squash, which successfully replace flowers. It is impossible to imagine a country garden without wooden elements - rough unprocessed benches, boxes for plants, old chairs, nets for vines, arbors. Ponds have a natural look - overgrown with water lilies and duckweed, they are often equipped with wooden walkways. As a decor, you can use old watering cans, irons, wheels and even a rocker.
English
Nowhere has winter gardens gained such popularity as in England. It was the British who became the authors of two main types:
Victorian - the garden is equipped in a 3 or 5-pointed bay window. The roof of this room is represented by a transparent five-slope structure. As a material for glazing use glass or transparent polycarbonate;
Edwardian - differs from the previous version in the simplicity of form - rectangular structures with a conventional gable roof.
The English-style winter garden is a place for a pleasant pastime with a cup of tea, talking and female needlework. The main color combinations are green and cream, pink and white. There are also bright colors - yellow, blue, and refine the interior details in shades of old gold. Of particular importance in the English greenhouse is given to windows - they are decorated with a variety of layouts, stained glass elements, full-length curtains. A warm carpet will make the warm floor even more comfortable, and old furniture will allow you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of antiquity and isolate yourself from the bustle of the modern world.
Mediterranean
The hallmark of the design for the winter garden in this style is the simplicity and clarity of the lines. Most often this is a room with a shed roof, adjacent to the house.Therefore, often the role of a greenhouse is played by a veranda or a glazed terrace. This is a functional and solid room.
The distinctive features of the Mediterranean conservatory are its light walls and floor, as if burnt under burning sunshine. As a decor, you can often find antique statues and ceramic vases. Forged benches, tables with glass countertops, pergolas braided by curly roses can serve as an element of design. Sundials and artificial ponds are also attributes of this style.
The traditional plants for the Mediterranean conservatory are juniper, real palm trees, citrus, pistachio or olive trees. Of the flowers - lavender, roses. And, of course, here you can not do without herbs - rosemary, saffron, coriander, basil - integral attributes of this style.
High tech
The hi-tech winter garden is the realm of glass, shiny metal, plastic and regular geometric shapes. A huge role in such an interior is played by lighting. Glass floor lamps, chrome lamps are installed at different levels, which allows the use of light as efficiently as possible. The practicality and functionality of each element is what characterizes this style. Here, convenient and simple furniture of geometric shapes made of plastic, artificial leather, metal will be appropriate. Interior items with a metal frame will fit perfectly into the space.
Modern
Expressive lines, conciseness, contrasting combinations, periodically repeating identical motifs are the hallmarks of the Art Nouveau garden. Throughout space, you can trace a single symbolic concept. All design elements - crowns, lawns, paths have smooth and very clear outlines. The expressiveness of the borders is enhanced by the contrast of color combinations - green lawn and gray paving paths, light and shadow. Plants for this garden should have large original leaves and a fanciful pattern of branches.The ornate shape of irises made them an integral element of the Art Nouveau style. In such a garden, expressive and graceful peonies and lilies are also indispensable.
How to equip a winter garden: step by step instructions
A professionally equipped conservatory will allow you to meet in the summer whenever you return home. Thanks to the proven technology and care, the necessary microclimate will be constantly maintained here. Such a construction will require impressive investments. But you can always do without unnecessary expenses, if you take up the matter yourself. The task of creating a winter garden with your own hands is not an easy one, so you will have to thoroughly “shoe”. You will have to familiarize yourself with all the nuances of this complex and time-consuming process.
Choosing a place for building a garden
Before proceeding with the design of the premises for the winter garden, it is necessary to determine the location of the building relative to the building. The side on which the structure will be located affects the temperature regime of the future garden and its microclimate.
Pros and cons of placement on each side:
from the east - the most successful side, it allows you to create the most comfortable conditions for plants and people there - with enough light, such a building will not overheat;
from the south - not too good position for the garden, especially in the summer. Plants will overheat and require additional ventilation. On the other hand, in winter such a design will retain heat and save energy carriers;
from the west - similar designs can retain heat for a long time. In the summer, this feature may turn into a minus;
from the north - heat is poorly accumulated in such a room and its return is accelerated. If this is the only possible option for arranging a green corner, you need to carefully consider its heating.
Wherever the winter garden is located, it should be filled with light, coziness and comfort.
Determine the form of construction
The shape of the building depends on the features of the building structure, the required size, placement - against the wall or in the corner, the chosen stylistic direction.
When designing a building, you can choose any of the already known formations. If none of the versions developed by professionals suits you, come up with an original model of a greenhouse.
Basic design options in shape
A rectangular structure with a simple pitched roof. Walls and roof should be transparent. This is the most common modification of the winter garden, which is most often attached to the wall of the building.
Corner structure - envelops the outer corner of the house.
A quarter polygon - the building is built into the corner of the building from the street.
A rectangular construction that is mounted in the corner of the house from the inside.
A room formed by four walls and a gable roof.
A three- or pentagonal structure with a three-and five-pitched roof, respectively. Attaches to the wall of the building.
What material to build
The design of the conservatory consists of a frame and glazing. The frame is most often made of aluminum. This is a lightweight and durable material that allows you to create a stable structure that does not face collapse due to its own weight.
The choice of material for glazing depends on the purpose of the winter garden, its location relative to the building, the financial capabilities of the owners. Most often it is glass. In rare cases, transparent polycarbonate is used.
For greenhouses use tempered glass with a thickness of at least 6 mm with high thermal insulation performance. In order to prevent fogging of the windows, they organize a heating. The advantage of tempered glass is its strength and safety. If it nevertheless breaks, it will fly apart into small fragments with non-sharp edges.
Double-glazed windows
Today the market offers a variety of double-glazed windows. With their help, you can organize perfect heat and sound insulation, protect plants on a hot day from scorching rays. Inside the double-glazed window is filled with inert gas, which prevents heat from leaving the room. But this is not the only plus of this material. Today you can pick up glasses, complemented by a variety of useful bonuses. Shockproof, hardened, soundproof, energy-saving, mirror - there are offers for any request.
Pay attention to self-cleaning glass. They are great for arranging the roof. This innovation has remarkable properties - the dirt on it decomposes under the influence of sunlight, and just rinses off during rain.
Polycarbonate
This material perfectly absorbs light and has an increased ability to heat insulation compared to glass. Polycarbonate is highly flexible and impact resistant. True, its density is much worse than that of glass. The material may be matte, transparent, darkened or colored. Many color options allow you to successfully fit it into any design. Flexible plastic can be given interesting curved shapes. Light weight can also be attributed to the advantages of the material.
If clear weather prevails in your area, it makes sense to choose dark polycarbonate. It will prevent the effects of burning rays and help protect your plants. Just keep in mind that you will have to compensate for the lack of light with additional artificial lighting.
There is molded and cellular polycarbonate. The heat-saving properties of the latter prevail. It is lighter, so it is recommended to use it for the arrangement of roofs.
Polycarbonate can turn green over time. This is due to the fact that algae form on it. In addition, it quickly overwrites, gets dirty and requires constant care.
Foundation pouring and frame installation
Despite the low weight of the aluminum profile frame, a foundation must be brought under it. At least - a shallow tape option. This will reduce the construction budget, without reducing the bearing characteristics of the base and maintaining the reliability of the structure.
Foundation construction steps
We dig a trench with a width of 30 cm and a depth of 60 along the perimeter of the future structure.
Pour 15 cm of gravel or sand into the bottom of the trench.
Tamp the formed pillow.
We lay the reinforcing mesh on top of the rammed layer.
We assemble the formwork from the boards. The top edge of the structure should protrude 6-10 cm from the ground.
Fill the prepared form with cement mortar and leave until completely solidified.
We remove the formwork.
The next step is the manufacture of the frame
For work, you need profile bars of four types:
supporting;
starting;
front;
specialized.
Assembly sequence
We lay supporting profiles along the perimeter of the future structure. Their number depends on the shape of the winter garden. We form a base from them, fixing with anchors.
We fasten the starting strips on the wall of the private cottage and connect them to the base.
We install facade profiles around the entire perimeter of the structure every 70-100 cm. In the place of the future door, you need to leave a place under the opening of at least 100 cm. We fasten the slats with screws and anchors to the supports.
We fix the cross-members in the places of ventilation windows.
On top of the facade profiles, install supporting elements around the perimeter of the structure.
We equip a rafter structure with specialized slats with a slope inclination of 30-45 degrees. We fasten the profile at a distance of 50-70 cm.
On the upper support strips we install a water drainage system.
We seal all the joints of the frame elements with each other, with the foundation and the wall using silicone.
Covering the frame of the winter garden
The glazing process must begin with the roof.Double-glazed windows are installed one by one on the formed rafters. A layer of rubber sealant is laid between the metal strip and the glazing element. Then they are pressed tightly against each other using a special locking beam. Wall cladding of walls is made similarly.
Polycarbonate is mounted on a metal frame by the method of point connection using special self-tapping screws for working on metal. Hardware should be equipped with a special gasket - washer.
First of all, marking of the attachment points on the material and on the profile is carried out. The step between the screws can be from 25-70 cm.
Then the film is removed from the polycarbonate sheet, after which it is laid on the frame. At the junction of panels it is necessary to use a connecting profile. We fix the material by screwing the screws in the intended places.
In areas where a dent is formed, you must immediately unscrew the screw. The fact is that in a “tightened” place cracks form over a couple of years, and the tightness of the joint is broken.
Roof device and choice of material for the roof
If the frame of the winter garden is planned to be mounted from aluminum, then the material for creating the roof must be selected with great care. The choice of the shape of the roof depends on the stability of the frame and the expected loads throughout the year. It must be designed to meet specific requirements.
By the design of the roof can be:
pent;
gable;
beveled;
flat;
four-slope;
multifaceted.
The choice of form depends on the characteristics of the building itself. The roof can be made in the form of a dome, cone, pyramid, sphere and even a cube.
The structure of the roof influences the creation of indoor conditions. It affects the flow of heat, light, shadow formation, ventilation efficiency and even the organization of irrigation.
To equip the roof, the following materials are used - ordinary glass, with decorative inserts, darkened - with sun protection.
Winter garden heating
It is necessary to arrange heating in the residential winter garden. The system is a combination of two options for heating devices - underfloor heating and conventional heaters located on the floor. The function of the latter is to heat facade double-glazed windows.
Installation of water supply and irrigation systems
Watering plants using a watering can is a pleasant, but troublesome and time-consuming event. Automatic watering will allow you to effortlessly maintain the required level of soil moisture.
If the water pressure allows, you can connect the automatic watering system directly to the water supply. This method is the least resource intensive. You will need to organize a tie-in into the system, install a flushing module and special filters. The only negative is that the water from the system may be too cold for irrigation.
A more expensive way is an automatic system, which consists of a tank with water and a special pump that creates pressure.
Wiring and lighting
To ensure the operation of all systems, power supply is required. Therefore, even at the design stage, you need to determine the appropriate type of wiring, organize its installation, and also provide for the required number of sockets and switches.
Light is something that is never much in a conservatory. The lack of lighting adversely affects plants, causing a slowdown in their growth. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the room with additional light sources.
We carefully choose the lamps - the growth of plants depends on this. Incandescent bulbs, conventional fluorescent options - not the best choice for the garden. For this purpose, two types of phytolamps are optimal - LED and fluorescent. They were designed specifically to cover the "inhabitants" of greenhouses.
Ventilation system equipment
Ventilation is an essential element of the winter garden. It helps maintain a certain level of humidity and temperature in the room, provides oxygen and cleans the air of carbon dioxide. The ventilation system must be of two types:
natural - carried out by window leaves and hatches in the roof of the building;
forced - in the form of electric fans.
Protecting the winter garden from strong sunlight
Lack of light is harmful to plants, but its excess is much more dangerous. In summer, when the sun is especially active, it is necessary to provide the garden with reliable protection.
Two types of structures that are effective for saving plants from solar radiation can be distinguished:
internal - fabric curtains, Japanese panels, roll curtains, blinds. You can use structures made of bamboo or plastic. Metal blinds are not suitable, as they affect the temperature regime inside the room - they quickly heat up and spread heat for a long time. In addition, during forced ventilation, they vibrate and create unnecessary noise;
external - glazing with a reflecting mirror effect, tinted windows, marquises, awnings. These materials prevent rays from entering the garden, so that the temperature there remains at the same level.
Plants for the winter garden and decoration
In winter gardens, three main types of plants are used:
tropical
subtropical;
desert.
Choosing the green content for the home "oasis", do not mix representatives of different geographical zones in the same room. For each of them it is necessary to organize a certain microclimate.
Tropical plants
The tropical option is the most popular type of conservatory. It originated in the Baroque era. The incredible decorativeness of tropical plants allows you to create truly fabulous compositions. In such a garden fountains, ponds, sculptures, flowerpots and other design elements organically look.Among such an impressive landscape, a recreation area in the form of benches, armchairs, sofas will perfectly fit.
Varieties of tropical plants that can be used:
Alocasia in any variation - it will decorate any interior thanks to beautiful spreading leaves of various shades;
Dieffenbachia Seguin - the owner of white-green leaves, an excellent option for the design of the first tier of the tropical garden;
ficus lyre - its incredible leaves can shelter a vacationer from sunlight;
striped calathea is also an excellent choice for filling a tropical greenhouse.
Subtropical plants
The main difference between these gardens from the previous ones is the predominance of representatives of the citrus family. Also, they are characterized by a variety of cacti, succulents, palm trees. They can not compete with tropical plants in terms of picturesqueness of flowers, but they are less whimsical and calmly tolerate a lack of heat. Sometimes, in order for the plants to begin to bear fruit, the temperature in the room has to be specially lowered.
Which of the subtropical plants is not averse to settle in the winter garden?
Mandarin is a representative of citrus fruits familiar to everyone. It will delight you with beautiful flowering and delicious, fragrant fruits.
Citron is a low shrub with white delicate flowers and spectacular and large fruits.
Strelitzia - in the fall it is covered with bright colors that resemble multi-colored parrots.
Livistona is Chinese - the owner of large fan-shaped leaves. The front surface of the sheet reflects sunlight, as it is covered with a waxy coating.
Plants of the desert regions
Desert gardens are not so popular and, nevertheless, they have their fans. To equip such a garden, you do not have to fill the entire floor of the room with sand. You can create the right atmosphere with the help of desert plants - succulents. These are any varieties of cacti, crassulaceae, scarlet and other similar owners of thick fleshy leaves and sharp thorns.They are very decorative in themselves, and some may please you with wonderful colors. Plants of this type are unpretentious, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. With their help, you can create a picturesque and extraordinary green "corner".
The main areas of the garden
The purpose of the winter garden is not only plant breeding, but also relaxation. Therefore, it is important to divide it into special zones. This will contribute to the proper care of green "pets", easy access to them, and a comfortable pastime for the owners.
When arranging a garden, first of all, it is necessary to deal with the allocation of zones - recreational, communicative and decorative.
Decorative - here plants, flower arrangements, landscape decoration elements selected in a certain style will be located - a decorative pond, fountain, rocky hill, sculptures.
Recreational - a zone equipped with furniture. Here you can place a sofa, chairs, a table, a variety of benches. Rocking chairs, serving tables on wheels are perfect. The recreation area is designed for the quiet contemplation of plants, relaxation and reception.
Communication - a zone providing a passage in order to admire the beauty of plants from close range.
How to equip a winter garden on the balcony or loggia in the apartment
If you do not have a cottage where it is easy to find a place to install a glass structure, do not worry. An impromptu winter garden can be easily created on your own balcony or loggia. Before buying plants, the room needs to be prepared - install glazing and heat insulation. It is necessary to think over the lighting and arrange places for connecting electrical appliances - underfloor heating, lamps, ventilation systems. To maintain the microclimate and a favorable temperature for plants, you can install air conditioning. Windows should be equipped with roller blinds or pleated, so that you can adjust the natural light.
Conclusion
The main purpose of the winter garden is not the cultivation of flowers and seedlings. It is created in order to be able to enjoy the contemplation of beautiful plants brought from distant lands, to admire the combination of skillfully selected decorative elements. Here you can relax under the murmur of water in a miniature fountain and immerse yourself in romantic dreams.
Have you ever dreamed that the summer does not end? Nothing is impossible! It is in your power to make it endless. Create a green, fragrant oasis at home and enjoy it all year round. A picturesque winter garden filled with lush greenery - what could be better for rest and relaxation after the boring monotony of the office interior?
Content
Key Features and Features
The winter garden is a complex system that includes a lot of engineering and technological solutions. The design allows you to create the optimal microclimate for a variety of plants, to provide competent care for them. In addition, the "green" room in an apartment or a country house can become a place for a comfortable pastime, rest and relaxation.
Kinds
There are various types of conservatories that fundamentally differ in purpose and arrangement. Before embarking on the implementation of your ideas, you need to decide which of the existing options you want to get as a result. The most popular versions are:
Residential
The winter garden, equipped in a heated room, was called residential. It creates a microclimate that is equally comfortable for plants and for the inhabitants of the house. It contains a sufficient number of representatives of the flora, which can be cultivated year-round. Most often, such a winter garden becomes an extension of the dwelling and is used as a living room, dining room, billiards or office. Plants here are traditionally placed in pots or planters. A convenient option is mobile structures that allow you to change the location of plantings, depending on the degree of their love of the sun, the characteristic conditions of care and design features.
Greenhouse
The greenhouse is a type of winter garden that serves only for growing plants and is not part of the living space.This is an unheated design in which the ideal microclimate is created for a wide variety, including exotic species. Plants and soil are heated by the infrared radiation of the sun, which penetrates through the glass roof and walls. It often cultivates flowers, vegetables, fruits. Many plants are transplanted into the ground after the establishment of warm weather. The greenhouse is an indispensable design for amateur gardeners, scientists, botanists and agricultural complexes. However, this room cannot be called a rest and relaxation zone for the owners.
Buffer
This type of home oasis is an extension to the house, which is a kind of buffer between the living room and the street. This is a glazed unheated space. It cannot be used as residential, with the exception of the time of year when heating is not required in the summer months. Panoramic glazing contributes to the accumulation of heat. Thanks to this, a certain temperature is maintained inside the house itself, which saves on heating. It is impossible to create a microclimate similar to a greenhouse here. A constantly opening door does not contribute to its maintenance. Therefore, there are not many plants in the buffer garden, but here you can equip a wonderful area for relaxation and entertainment, and open windows will allow you to enjoy the view of the surrounding landscape.
Winter Garden Styles
Interior decoration, plants, decorative filling are of great importance for the concept of a winter garden. If you choose them thoughtlessly, not consistent with a particular style, the result you are unlikely to please. Therefore, before you start creating your own green “corner”, you need to decide on his style, create a detailed project and only after that start the arrangement. The winter garden can be designed as an imitation of any natural landscape zone or endowed with the features of one of the architectural styles.
Classical
The main feature of the classical style is moderation. Finishing done in neutral soft colors will not distract you. And in the classical garden, of course, there is something to see. The succulent colors of the subtropical plants seem even brighter against the backdrop of snow-white stucco and marble. Typically, such rooms are filled with a variety of arches, columns, pilasters. In addition to interior solutions, space is generously decorated with various statues and other works of art - frescoes, paintings. As additional decorations, you can use mini-fountains, water tanks. And of course, we must not forget about classic furniture and lamps.
Japanese
The Japanese winter garden is a place where you can completely abstract from the surrounding reality and surrender to the process of self-knowledge. The philosophy of such a place gravitates to minimalism and pronounced symbolism. To create the atmosphere of a Japanese garden, you can choose one of the most common areas:
Country
Country style will suit absolutely any garden. The highlight of this place will be bright and lush flower beds. They can combine completely different colors.The attributes of this style include natural lawns and randomly appearing self-sowing in the form of wild flowers or those that voluntarily moved from the garden. Vegetables are an integral part of the garden, for example, bright and spectacular miniature pumpkins or squash, which successfully replace flowers. It is impossible to imagine a country garden without wooden elements - rough unprocessed benches, boxes for plants, old chairs, nets for vines, arbors. Ponds have a natural look - overgrown with water lilies and duckweed, they are often equipped with wooden walkways. As a decor, you can use old watering cans, irons, wheels and even a rocker.
English
Nowhere has winter gardens gained such popularity as in England. It was the British who became the authors of two main types:
The English-style winter garden is a place for a pleasant pastime with a cup of tea, talking and female needlework. The main color combinations are green and cream, pink and white. There are also bright colors - yellow, blue, and refine the interior details in shades of old gold. Of particular importance in the English greenhouse is given to windows - they are decorated with a variety of layouts, stained glass elements, full-length curtains. A warm carpet will make the warm floor even more comfortable, and old furniture will allow you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of antiquity and isolate yourself from the bustle of the modern world.
Mediterranean
The hallmark of the design for the winter garden in this style is the simplicity and clarity of the lines. Most often this is a room with a shed roof, adjacent to the house.Therefore, often the role of a greenhouse is played by a veranda or a glazed terrace. This is a functional and solid room.
The distinctive features of the Mediterranean conservatory are its light walls and floor, as if burnt under burning sunshine. As a decor, you can often find antique statues and ceramic vases. Forged benches, tables with glass countertops, pergolas braided by curly roses can serve as an element of design. Sundials and artificial ponds are also attributes of this style.
The traditional plants for the Mediterranean conservatory are juniper, real palm trees, citrus, pistachio or olive trees. Of the flowers - lavender, roses. And, of course, here you can not do without herbs - rosemary, saffron, coriander, basil - integral attributes of this style.
High tech
The hi-tech winter garden is the realm of glass, shiny metal, plastic and regular geometric shapes. A huge role in such an interior is played by lighting. Glass floor lamps, chrome lamps are installed at different levels, which allows the use of light as efficiently as possible. The practicality and functionality of each element is what characterizes this style. Here, convenient and simple furniture of geometric shapes made of plastic, artificial leather, metal will be appropriate. Interior items with a metal frame will fit perfectly into the space.
Modern
Expressive lines, conciseness, contrasting combinations, periodically repeating identical motifs are the hallmarks of the Art Nouveau garden. Throughout space, you can trace a single symbolic concept. All design elements - crowns, lawns, paths have smooth and very clear outlines. The expressiveness of the borders is enhanced by the contrast of color combinations - green lawn and gray paving paths, light and shadow. Plants for this garden should have large original leaves and a fanciful pattern of branches.The ornate shape of irises made them an integral element of the Art Nouveau style. In such a garden, expressive and graceful peonies and lilies are also indispensable.
How to equip a winter garden: step by step instructions
A professionally equipped conservatory will allow you to meet in the summer whenever you return home. Thanks to the proven technology and care, the necessary microclimate will be constantly maintained here. Such a construction will require impressive investments. But you can always do without unnecessary expenses, if you take up the matter yourself. The task of creating a winter garden with your own hands is not an easy one, so you will have to thoroughly “shoe”. You will have to familiarize yourself with all the nuances of this complex and time-consuming process.
Choosing a place for building a garden
Before proceeding with the design of the premises for the winter garden, it is necessary to determine the location of the building relative to the building. The side on which the structure will be located affects the temperature regime of the future garden and its microclimate.
Pros and cons of placement on each side:
Wherever the winter garden is located, it should be filled with light, coziness and comfort.
Determine the form of construction
The shape of the building depends on the features of the building structure, the required size, placement - against the wall or in the corner, the chosen stylistic direction.
When designing a building, you can choose any of the already known formations. If none of the versions developed by professionals suits you, come up with an original model of a greenhouse.
Basic design options in shape
What material to build
The design of the conservatory consists of a frame and glazing. The frame is most often made of aluminum. This is a lightweight and durable material that allows you to create a stable structure that does not face collapse due to its own weight.
The choice of material for glazing depends on the purpose of the winter garden, its location relative to the building, the financial capabilities of the owners. Most often it is glass. In rare cases, transparent polycarbonate is used.
For greenhouses use tempered glass with a thickness of at least 6 mm with high thermal insulation performance. In order to prevent fogging of the windows, they organize a heating. The advantage of tempered glass is its strength and safety. If it nevertheless breaks, it will fly apart into small fragments with non-sharp edges.
Double-glazed windows
Today the market offers a variety of double-glazed windows. With their help, you can organize perfect heat and sound insulation, protect plants on a hot day from scorching rays. Inside the double-glazed window is filled with inert gas, which prevents heat from leaving the room. But this is not the only plus of this material. Today you can pick up glasses, complemented by a variety of useful bonuses. Shockproof, hardened, soundproof, energy-saving, mirror - there are offers for any request.
Polycarbonate
This material perfectly absorbs light and has an increased ability to heat insulation compared to glass. Polycarbonate is highly flexible and impact resistant. True, its density is much worse than that of glass. The material may be matte, transparent, darkened or colored. Many color options allow you to successfully fit it into any design. Flexible plastic can be given interesting curved shapes. Light weight can also be attributed to the advantages of the material.
If clear weather prevails in your area, it makes sense to choose dark polycarbonate. It will prevent the effects of burning rays and help protect your plants. Just keep in mind that you will have to compensate for the lack of light with additional artificial lighting.
There is molded and cellular polycarbonate. The heat-saving properties of the latter prevail. It is lighter, so it is recommended to use it for the arrangement of roofs.
Foundation pouring and frame installation
Despite the low weight of the aluminum profile frame, a foundation must be brought under it. At least - a shallow tape option. This will reduce the construction budget, without reducing the bearing characteristics of the base and maintaining the reliability of the structure.
Foundation construction steps
The next step is the manufacture of the frame
For work, you need profile bars of four types:
Assembly sequence
Covering the frame of the winter garden
The glazing process must begin with the roof.Double-glazed windows are installed one by one on the formed rafters. A layer of rubber sealant is laid between the metal strip and the glazing element. Then they are pressed tightly against each other using a special locking beam. Wall cladding of walls is made similarly.
Polycarbonate is mounted on a metal frame by the method of point connection using special self-tapping screws for working on metal. Hardware should be equipped with a special gasket - washer.
First of all, marking of the attachment points on the material and on the profile is carried out. The step between the screws can be from 25-70 cm.
Then the film is removed from the polycarbonate sheet, after which it is laid on the frame. At the junction of panels it is necessary to use a connecting profile. We fix the material by screwing the screws in the intended places.
Roof device and choice of material for the roof
If the frame of the winter garden is planned to be mounted from aluminum, then the material for creating the roof must be selected with great care. The choice of the shape of the roof depends on the stability of the frame and the expected loads throughout the year. It must be designed to meet specific requirements.
By the design of the roof can be:
The choice of form depends on the characteristics of the building itself. The roof can be made in the form of a dome, cone, pyramid, sphere and even a cube.
The structure of the roof influences the creation of indoor conditions. It affects the flow of heat, light, shadow formation, ventilation efficiency and even the organization of irrigation.
To equip the roof, the following materials are used - ordinary glass, with decorative inserts, darkened - with sun protection.
Winter garden heating
It is necessary to arrange heating in the residential winter garden. The system is a combination of two options for heating devices - underfloor heating and conventional heaters located on the floor. The function of the latter is to heat facade double-glazed windows.
Installation of water supply and irrigation systems
Watering plants using a watering can is a pleasant, but troublesome and time-consuming event. Automatic watering will allow you to effortlessly maintain the required level of soil moisture.
If the water pressure allows, you can connect the automatic watering system directly to the water supply. This method is the least resource intensive. You will need to organize a tie-in into the system, install a flushing module and special filters. The only negative is that the water from the system may be too cold for irrigation.
A more expensive way is an automatic system, which consists of a tank with water and a special pump that creates pressure.
Wiring and lighting
To ensure the operation of all systems, power supply is required. Therefore, even at the design stage, you need to determine the appropriate type of wiring, organize its installation, and also provide for the required number of sockets and switches.
Light is something that is never much in a conservatory. The lack of lighting adversely affects plants, causing a slowdown in their growth. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the room with additional light sources.
We carefully choose the lamps - the growth of plants depends on this. Incandescent bulbs, conventional fluorescent options - not the best choice for the garden. For this purpose, two types of phytolamps are optimal - LED and fluorescent. They were designed specifically to cover the "inhabitants" of greenhouses.
Ventilation system equipment
Ventilation is an essential element of the winter garden. It helps maintain a certain level of humidity and temperature in the room, provides oxygen and cleans the air of carbon dioxide. The ventilation system must be of two types:
Protecting the winter garden from strong sunlight
Lack of light is harmful to plants, but its excess is much more dangerous. In summer, when the sun is especially active, it is necessary to provide the garden with reliable protection.
Two types of structures that are effective for saving plants from solar radiation can be distinguished:
Plants for the winter garden and decoration
In winter gardens, three main types of plants are used:
Choosing the green content for the home "oasis", do not mix representatives of different geographical zones in the same room. For each of them it is necessary to organize a certain microclimate.
Tropical plants
The tropical option is the most popular type of conservatory. It originated in the Baroque era. The incredible decorativeness of tropical plants allows you to create truly fabulous compositions. In such a garden fountains, ponds, sculptures, flowerpots and other design elements organically look.Among such an impressive landscape, a recreation area in the form of benches, armchairs, sofas will perfectly fit.
Varieties of tropical plants that can be used:
Subtropical plants
The main difference between these gardens from the previous ones is the predominance of representatives of the citrus family. Also, they are characterized by a variety of cacti, succulents, palm trees. They can not compete with tropical plants in terms of picturesqueness of flowers, but they are less whimsical and calmly tolerate a lack of heat. Sometimes, in order for the plants to begin to bear fruit, the temperature in the room has to be specially lowered.
Which of the subtropical plants is not averse to settle in the winter garden?
Plants of the desert regions
Desert gardens are not so popular and, nevertheless, they have their fans. To equip such a garden, you do not have to fill the entire floor of the room with sand. You can create the right atmosphere with the help of desert plants - succulents. These are any varieties of cacti, crassulaceae, scarlet and other similar owners of thick fleshy leaves and sharp thorns.They are very decorative in themselves, and some may please you with wonderful colors. Plants of this type are unpretentious, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. With their help, you can create a picturesque and extraordinary green "corner".
The main areas of the garden
The purpose of the winter garden is not only plant breeding, but also relaxation. Therefore, it is important to divide it into special zones. This will contribute to the proper care of green "pets", easy access to them, and a comfortable pastime for the owners.
When arranging a garden, first of all, it is necessary to deal with the allocation of zones - recreational, communicative and decorative.
Decorative - here plants, flower arrangements, landscape decoration elements selected in a certain style will be located - a decorative pond, fountain, rocky hill, sculptures.
Recreational - a zone equipped with furniture. Here you can place a sofa, chairs, a table, a variety of benches. Rocking chairs, serving tables on wheels are perfect. The recreation area is designed for the quiet contemplation of plants, relaxation and reception.
Communication - a zone providing a passage in order to admire the beauty of plants from close range.
How to equip a winter garden on the balcony or loggia in the apartment
If you do not have a cottage where it is easy to find a place to install a glass structure, do not worry. An impromptu winter garden can be easily created on your own balcony or loggia. Before buying plants, the room needs to be prepared - install glazing and heat insulation. It is necessary to think over the lighting and arrange places for connecting electrical appliances - underfloor heating, lamps, ventilation systems. To maintain the microclimate and a favorable temperature for plants, you can install air conditioning. Windows should be equipped with roller blinds or pleated, so that you can adjust the natural light.
Conclusion
The main purpose of the winter garden is not the cultivation of flowers and seedlings. It is created in order to be able to enjoy the contemplation of beautiful plants brought from distant lands, to admire the combination of skillfully selected decorative elements. Here you can relax under the murmur of water in a miniature fountain and immerse yourself in romantic dreams.