Lantern Roof
The central glazed lantern is the signature orangery feature. It brings daylight deep into the room while the surrounding solid roof keeps the space more settled and architectural than a fully glazed roof.
Traditional Elegance, Modern Comfort
Individually designed orangeries with lantern roofs, solid perimeter insulation and optional brick pillars. A permanent extension that feels like part of your home from day one.
Call 01243 538999. David, our digital assistant, can take a few details so the right Room Outside specialist follows up personally.
An orangery is a premium glass extension that combines the light of a conservatory with the permanence of a more traditional extension. The defining feature is a solid insulated perimeter roof with a central glazed lantern, giving overhead daylight while improving warmth, acoustics and the sense that the room belongs to the house.
Every Room Outside orangery is individually designed around your property, with options including brick or rendered pillars, internal pelmet lighting, wide sliding or bi-fold doors and New Generation Glass. If you are still comparing extension types, you can also review our bespoke conservatories and Glassbox extensions.
Room Outside has been designing and installing orangeries across the South of England since 1973. That experience shapes the planning advice, structural detailing, material specification and aftercare you receive.
Four things premium homeowners value: considered design, lantern roof detailing, clear guarantees and proper planning support.
Every orangery starts with a home visit and a blank sheet. We design around your architecture, proportions and how you want to use the space.
The lantern is sized and specified around the room, balancing overhead light with thermal performance, sightlines and the roof’s architectural weight.
Depending on product and location, up to a 10-year structural guarantee may apply, with separate warranties for glazing, roofing and components.
We assess Permitted Development, planning applications where required and Building Regulations routes so there are fewer surprises later.
Recent orangery projects across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Kent and London. Use the arrows to scroll through the gallery.
Every orangery is designed around the property. These are the details that shape how it looks, performs and feels day to day.
The central glazed lantern is the signature orangery feature. It brings daylight deep into the room while the surrounding solid roof keeps the space more settled and architectural than a fully glazed roof.
The insulated perimeter improves thermal performance, adds ceiling depth for lighting and helps the orangery feel like a permanent part of the home.
Pillars add structure and visual weight. They can be matched to existing brickwork or rendered to suit the architecture of the house.
Concealed lighting within the pelmet creates a warmer evening mood and gives a clean transition between the solid perimeter and the lantern roof.
New Generation Glass can help manage solar gain while preserving natural light, making the room easier to use through more of the year.
Wide-opening door systems connect the orangery to the garden and can make the room work as a kitchen-dining space, sitting room or entertaining area.
The material you choose affects how your orangery looks, performs and ages. We specify around the building, maintenance expectations and budget.
Timber gives warmth, depth and craftsmanship, making it especially strong for period homes, country properties and heritage settings. With proper maintenance, hardwood can last 50 years or more.
Best for character homesNatural warmthLong lifespanAluminium provides slim frames, strong spans and contemporary sightlines. Thermally broken profiles, powder-coated finishes and low maintenance make it a durable modern option.
Slimmest framesLow maintenanceModern lookPremium UPVC offers strong practicality, good thermal performance and easy ownership. Woodgrain and flush-style finishes can give a more refined appearance than older UPVC systems.
Practical choiceGood insulationEasy ownershipThe best orangery specification combines solid perimeter insulation, carefully chosen frames and New Generation Glass. This helps reduce unwanted heat gain in summer, retain warmth in winter and support a more consistent living space.
Indicative installed ranges. Final costs depend on project size, access, material, glazing, planning and site conditions.
| Size/Specification | Premium UPVC | Aluminium | Timber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small 3m x 4m | £35,000-£45,000 | £45,000-£55,000 | £50,000-£60,000 |
| Medium 4m x 5m | £55,000-£70,000 | £70,000-£85,000 | £75,000-£95,000 |
| Large 5m x 6m | £75,000-£95,000 | £95,000-£115,000 | £105,000-£135,000+ |
For wider extension budgeting, see our Glass Extensions Price Guide 2026.
Both create beautiful light-filled extensions, but they suit different priorities. This comparison covers the practical differences that matter most.
| Feature | Orangery | Conservatory |
|---|---|---|
| Roof | Solid perimeter with central glazed lantern | Fully glazed roof for maximum daylight |
| Thermal performance | Typically stronger due to more insulated roof structure | Strong when specified with New Generation Glass |
| Price from | £35,000 | £25,000 |
| Build time | Usually 10-14 weeks | Usually 8-12 weeks |
| Feel | More architectural and part of the house | Light, open and garden-connected |
| Best for | Warmth, solidity and a built-in feel | Maximum light and garden views |
Want the brighter garden-room option? See our bespoke conservatories.
A glass box gives a very different architectural effect. This comparison helps separate the warm, built-in room from the minimal glazed statement.
| Feature | Orangery | Glass Box |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Solid perimeter, lantern roof and optional pillars | Minimal structural glazing with frameless feel |
| Light | Overhead lantern plus glazed elevations | Maximum glass and widest garden views |
| Thermal feel | Warmer, more insulated room-like feel | Highly glazed, specification dependent |
| Best property fit | Traditional, period and classic contemporary homes | Modern homes and bold contrast extensions |
| Price route | Often more predictable through standard roof/pillar logic | Highly dependent on structural glass and opening sizes |
| Best for | A permanent living space with architectural warmth | A minimalist indoor-outdoor statement |
If you want the most contemporary glazed option, compare this with our Glassbox extensions.
Book a free home consultation. Or call 01243 538999 and David, our digital assistant, can take a few details so the right specialist follows up personally.
From first conversation to finished orangery, here is what to expect.
A specialist visits your home to understand your requirements, assess the site, take measurements and discuss options. There is no obligation and no pressure.
We produce drawings tailored to your architecture, preferences and budget, including roof form, lantern size, materials and opening systems.
Your orangery is built using the specified materials, then installed on site. We manage the project from groundworks through to glazing and finishing.
We do not consider a project complete until you are fully satisfied, with guarantee terms and aftercare guidance confirmed for your specification.
Independently verified reviews from Google. These are real homeowners sharing their experience of working with Room Outside.
“We are absolutely delighted with our experience with Room Outside and cannot recommend them highly enough. Richard Bennett guided us all through the design process with patience, professionalism and integrity.”
“After much research I chose Room Outside, I was not disappointed. From the start of the journey the service and attention was first class. Very impressed with the New Generation Glass.”
“Room Outside provided us with a first class level of service throughout. We are so pleased with the installation and love our new room immensely.”
Straightforward answers to the questions homeowners ask most often.
A bespoke orangery from Room Outside typically costs from £35,000 to £115,000+, depending on project size, materials, complexity and site requirements.
An orangery has a solid insulated perimeter roof with a central glazed lantern, optional brick or rendered pillars and a more permanent architectural feel. A conservatory has more fully glazed roof and wall area for maximum light.
An orangery gives a warmer, more built-in architectural room with a lantern roof and solid perimeter. A glass box extension is more minimal and contemporary, with larger areas of structural glazing.
Many orangeries can fall under Permitted Development Rights, provided they meet criteria around project size, height and boundaries. Listed buildings, conservation areas and larger schemes may need planning approval.
Orangeries are generally warmer than traditional conservatories because the solid insulated perimeter roof reduces heat loss while the lantern roof keeps overhead daylight.
A typical orangery project takes about 10 to 14 weeks from confirmed order to completion, with more complex or planning-led projects taking longer.
Room Outside can design orangeries in hardwood timber, thermally broken aluminium and premium UPVC, with each material chosen around the property style, maintenance expectations and budget.
Depending on product and location, Room Outside offers up to a 10-year structural guarantee alongside product-specific warranties for glazing, roofing and components.
Whether you are still exploring ideas or ready to move forward, we have the right next step for you.
Prefer to talk? Call 01243 538999. David, our digital assistant, can take a few details so the right Room Outside specialist follows up personally.