Conservatory Flooring Buying Guide

The best conservatory flooring is hard working, hardwearing, and easy to clean. But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice substance over style. From stylish wood-effect laminate to textured vinyl, you can create a surface that’s both practical and beautiful.

Our conservatory flooring buying guide walks you through the key considerations when selecting the best floor for your conservatory. We’ll help you understand:

• Why conservatories have different flooring challenges to other rooms in the house
• Which flooring is best use in a conservatory - and which you should definitely avoid
• How the location and layout of your conservatory impacts flooring choices
• Whether underfloor heating should be used in a conservatory
• The best conservatory flooring options on a budget

By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to select the right flooring for you - as well as a host of inspiration for beautiful conservatory floors.

What flooring can be used in a conservatory?

Conservatory flooring has its own specific challenges as follows:

Exposure to light

Unlike the rest of the house, conservatories are chosen for their ability to let maximum light into the space: so while that’s lovely when reading a book, it’s not so easy on the floor, as it will be more exposed to bleaching and drying out than any other space. As a result, you need to ensure that your conservatory flooring idea is able to withstand lots of UV exposure without excessive bleaching - especially if you don’t have window blinds installed to keep out the light.

Exposure to moisture

Conservatories are particularly useful as a bridge between the outdoors and indoors, offering a welcome space to carry out all those mucky tasks that you’d rather not bring into the house. Cleaning muddy boots; mopping doggy paws (and little accidents); watering a selection of houseplants and more - the floor is going to get wet, frequently! Make sure the flooring you choose is water repellant, or at least, water resistant.

Exposure to the cold

Generally, conservatories are flimsier in construction than the house they’re attached to. Usually, one wall backs onto the house, while the others are exposed to the elements. As a result, it’ll be the first place to feel the frost, so the flooring that you choose needs to be able to withstand lower temperatures without being so cold that you dread walking on it!

What are the best floorings to use in a conservatory?

So without further ado - let’s look at the best floorings one by one.

Conservatory Vinyl Tiles

For a floor that’s water resistant, easy to fit, and easy to clean: Laminate Vinyl Tiles (LVT) fit the bill. Waterproof, heavy duty and available in a range of effects such as rustic, plain, wood and stone, they offer practicality and style while being super hardwearing. Ideal for conservatories that experience a lot of floor traffic and are frequently exposed to the wet. We love the high gloss finish of Prestige Gloss Fissure Oak. Hardwearing LVT is also great for commercial conservatory areas that see a lot of foot traffic, such as a cafe or spa with conservatory seating. 

Conservatory Laminate Flooring

For areas with light to moderate foot traffic, Laminate is great value, easy to clean and water repellent - and it lasts for ages, too. Laminate gives you the option of many styling options;  Embrace Pro 10mm Frayed Oak Laminate has that shabby chic look with a light finish that will give the impression of space, even in smaller conservatories. However, you don’t have to stick to light floorings for conservatories: this Prestige 8mm Valley Maple Laminate has a darker finish that creates a sharp, modern look - ideal for the conservatory that doubles as a workspace or outdoor office. Plus, laminate flooring resists the sun’s rays so your beautiful installation is far less likely to fade over the years.

Engineered Wood Flooring in Conservatories

Can I use a real wood floor in a conservatory? The answer is yes, but be careful to opt for Engineered Wood over solid wood. The reason being: real wood is more prone to warping when exposed to heat, light and moisture - all of which come out in force within the conservatory environment. Engineered wood is designed to be more stable and can cope with changes in temperature. We love Abbey Malling 20mm Harvest Oak Brushed Matt Lacquer Engineered Floor for a classy, modern look that’ll hide the dirt for longer. Let’s face it: who has time to mop the conservatory every time the dog’s been in and out?

The Worst Flooring For Conservatories

So LVT, Laminate and Engineered Wood are all your friends when it comes to buying the best conservatory flooring. Conversely: which floorings should you definitely avoid - and why?

Solid wood is a no-no for conservatories

Air heating up in your conservatory has a drying effect, causing the wood to give up moisture.  As the temperature drops, and it gets colder, the wood takes moisture back, a little like a sponge being squeezed dry and then wet. The overall impact of these fluctuations is that the floor will expand and contract, something that is most noticeable in real wood floors. So, if you want to keep a stable surface in your conservatory, best to opt for Engineered Wood, rather than the real deal.

Carpet - best avoided in conservatory designs

Carpets aren’t commonly used in conservatories, mainly because most carpets aren’t suitable for high footfall areas that are frequently exposed to moisture and sunlight. Carpets are generally harder to clean than other flooring types. That said, carpet tiles can be an option. If you are looking to floor your conservatory on a budget, then we’d recommend our Conservatory Vinyl Flooring, which gives you many more colours, styles and finishes to choose from while also being water resistant and super easy to clean.

Consideration for your Conservatory Flooring

Here’s our quick run-down of the factors to consider when choosing the right flooring for your conservatory:

• Monitoring: can you control the heat going in and out?
• Traffic: how many people go in and out of the door every day?
• Usage: is your conservatory off-limits in the winter, or a regular family space?
• Budget: is there the option of installing underfloor heating / cooling systems to create a constant temperature that makes it suitable for all-year round use?
• Aesthetic: is your conservatory purely functional, for storing appliances and kids’ stuff? Or could you style it effectively to create an attractive area that can be used for dining and entertaining?

What Room Is Your Conservatory Attached To?

One important thing to consider is how people get in and out of your conservatory. Its location and usage can really impact the best flooring for your new conservatory. For example:

Conservatory Near Kitchen

If your conservatory is adjacent to the kitchen, then it makes sense to use the extra space for dining. You’ll want a waterproof floor that’s capable of withstanding liquid spills, such as LVT. Opt for the same floor style and finish to create a seamless flow from your kitchen to your dining area.

Conservatory near playroom

Turn your family room into an all-encompassing play/gaming/party zone for the kids with a conservatory that blends seamlessly from playroom to game room. A hardwearing floor that can withstand bikes and tikes being wheeled from one to the other is a must; and a funky, patterned Vinyl can up the style aesthetic!

Underfloor Heating in a Conservatory

Conservatories are not known for being welcoming spaces in the winter months. However, adding underfloor heating to the suitable choice of flooring can turn it into a usable room all year round. The main thing to remember is: check that the flooring type is compatible with underfloor heating systems. Our floors are clearly marked with ‘Suitable for Underfloor Heating’ in their product specification to make this clear when selecting the best underfloor heating for your conservatory design.

Budget Friendly Conservatory Flooring Guide - Why Choose Factory Direct Flooring?

A conservatory is reported to add 5% to your home overall, but the benefits go far beyond resale value. A conservatory with the right flooring choice can create a space that’s enjoyable to use all year round, turning something that’s traditionally used as a summer entertaining space into a functional work-from-home office, extra playroom for a growing family. 

When choosing your floor, you want to be sure that it offers quality at the best price. The FDF Price Promise gives you this reassurance. Regardless of the flooring that you choose, you can rest assured that your floor will be hard-wearing and durable. Plus, with our low and affordable prices, you are sure to be getting a great deal all round. Moreover, we also offer a price match guarantee. Learn more about our Price Promise.

Installing Your Conservatory Flooring in 6 steps

We understand that laying a conservatory floor can feel a daunting task. We’re here to help guide you at every step:

1. Choose the most suitable conservatory flooring using this guide.
2. Visualise how the floor will look in your house using our room visualiser.
3. Measure your floor using our How to Measure Your Floor guide.
4. Figure out what accessories you need.
5. Check out our guides to laying your floor, for example: How to Lay Laminate Floor and How To Lay Vinyl Floor.
6. Purchase your floor online at the best price here at the FDF website.
7. Enjoy your conservatory and don’t forget to send us your pictures by following factorydirectflooring on Instagram and tagging your project!