Over time, conservatories have evolved from their original use as elaborate, indoor gardens shielded from the elements. Private conservatories of the nineteenth century's wealthy elite impressed guests with exotic floral displays. The best designers were sought to build beautifully detailed structures for wealthy people who wanted attractive spaces for their prized specimens. In today's world, more affordable home conservatories are available to people who want to bring the beauty of nature indoors.

Home conservatories have experienced a great deal of change over time. Having been designed in the past from metal and glass, the creation of plastics offered more options. Today's homeowners can use a variety of materials to build less expensive versions that can serve as both greenhouses and extra living spaces. With many affordable choices in designs and materials available, today's homeowners can easily enjoy the pleasure and beauty of their own home conservatories.

Although home conservatories have developed over the years into living spaces, their main function has always been to bring nature indoors. Exotic flora and unique specimens can be cultivated in a nurturing environment protected from the outdoor elements. Conservatories provide verdant, sunlit gardens to people wanting to experience the beauty of blossoming flowers no matter the season.

Conservatories have a history of both public and private use. In public parks, they share a variety of unique specimens with the community. Public park conservatories serve as large greenhouses displaying botanists' work, and sometimes house the growing the plants that will eventually be displayed in the park. Public and home conservatories provide pleasure to both those who enjoy growing and those who enjoy viewing nature's horticultural beauty.

Today, conservatories are used as greenhouse to grow plants, as additional living spaces or as a combination of both. The home conservatory has evolved into the modern sunroom, where families can gather for relaxation or socializing. Some eco-friendly people today embrace these structures because they harness the sun's energy. Either way, people enjoy conservatories because they provide a year-round environment rich in light, heat and natural beauty.

Although the functions are similar, today's conservatories and those from years past are very different due to technological advancements. Now, gardeners and horticulturalists have more methods to provide growing plants with the environments they need to thrive. Because people can regulate air temperature and ventilation, as well as install plumbing and electrical systems, modern conservatories can provide optimal growing conditions for a variety of plants and flowers.

Throughout history, people have sought ways to shield plant life from harmful weather conditions. Conservatories were popular structures even during ancient times when people in the Chinese and Roman empires wanted to grow plants and flowers from distant lands that needed to be protected from the local climate. For as long as people have learned to grow plant life indoors, conservatories have allowed them to enjoy the living, growing beauty of nature.