The most basic, professionally-installed conservatory will set you back at least £5000, while even a DIY kit comes with a £1500 price tag. The cost of a larger, more extravagant conservatory can easily mount up to around £30,000.

As a general rule, you can expect to pay £500 for every square metre of a standard, no-frills conservatory. Expect this figure to double if you opt for a high-spec design with top quality materials. Beyond the basic installation, you will also have to consider the furnishing, decorating and heating / ventilation of your new conservatory, which can add up to several thousand pounds in itself.

Most of us don't have that kind of money lying around, but this has not prevented an annual 200,000 UK homeowners achieving their dream of a sunshine-filled domestic haven.

So just what options are available for financing your conservatory in the United Kingdom?

One of the more popular ways to fund a new conservatory is through a supplier's own financing scheme. The principal advantage of this method is convenience, offering as it does a "one-stop shopping" experience. It may also prove beneficial in the long term should problems arise down the line. For example, the suppliers are likely to be more flexible in the case of payment delays or problems with the conservatory itself. The downside of such financing schemes are the relatively higher interest rates and charges incurred by the borrower.

Another option for financing your conservatory is to take out a personal loan from your bank. Bear in mind, however, that banks tend to be much more selective when it comes to offering credit, since they operate according to much stricter guidelines. Nevertheless, if you can convince your bank to give you a loan for this purpose, you will likely benefit from a much lower interest rate than a supplier could offer. Many people also find they are more comfortable borrowing from a traditional, trusted source such as a bank.

Although they are financial institutions offering similar financial services, building societies differ slightly from banks in that they are owned by members and often do no not determine interest rates based on credit ratings. As such, they usually provide the best value for borrowers. Even if your credit is not so hot, you should still be able to secure a great value loan from one of the 60+ building societies operating in the UK.

Credit cards provide a further financing option for those with a sufficiently high credit limit. If the opportunity arises, it may be worth applying for a new card in order to benefit from a 0%APR introductory offer. This will allow you to finance your conservatory interest free! Most cards don't have such attractive APRs, however, and it will usually prove more economical to opt for an alternative financing method.

Whatever you decide, be smart about your financial choices. Always opt for the highest quality to which you can aspire in order to ensure that your conservatory is a long-lasting and profitable investment.