Orangery guides
Orangery vs extension: which is right for your home?
Both are brick-built, both need similar foundations, and both typically fall into a similar planning category — so the choice usually comes down to light, layout and how the room will be used.
Natural light
This is the clearest difference. An orangery's glazed roof lantern and full-height glazing bring in far more natural light than a standard extension with a solid roof and conventional windows, which is why orangeries are so often chosen for kitchen-diners and garden rooms where light matters more than privacy or wall space.
Layout and wall space
A traditional extension gives you more usable wall space for kitchen units, storage or furniture, since it isn't built around large areas of glazing. If your priority is a fully enclosed kitchen, utility room or bedroom rather than a bright, garden-facing living space, a standard extension is often the more practical choice.
Cost and thermal performance
A well-built orangery and a well-built extension tend to land in a similar cost bracket once you account for the orangery's glazing and roof lantern versus the extension's brickwork and roofing. Thermally, a solid-roofed extension is generally the more efficient of the two, though a properly specified orangery with good insulation and glazing isn't far behind.
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Frequently asked questions
FAQs.
Is an orangery cheaper than an extension?
Not necessarily — costs are broadly comparable once you account for the different mix of brickwork, glazing and roofing in each. See our orangery cost guidance for indicative ranges.
Which is better for a kitchen-diner, an orangery or an extension?
An orangery is often preferred for a kitchen-diner because of the extra natural light from the roof lantern, though this depends on your layout and how much wall space you need for units and storage.