Have you been dreaming about a sunroom addition to your home? Are you anxious to start taking advantage of the additional living space, and the sense of the outdoors without actually being open to the elements and weather conditions?
Sunrooms can be a wonderful addition to any home, but with that said, they shouldn’t be seen as a cookie-cutter room. Sunrooms can actually be personalized to fit your needs, your design style, and be as unique as the rest of your home.
So, before you go ahead with the addition, here’s a look at nine tips that will ensure you’re able to design the ultimate sunroom.
9How Do You Plan to Use It?
The first tip is to think about how you plan to use the sunroom. Will it be a living room type of space with seating for relaxing and entertaining? Will it become your official dining room? Perhaps it will act as your own personal home office. Sunrooms can also be popular with families who are in need of an additional play area for the kids.
Once you figure out how you plan to use the space, the design will come to you in a more natural way.
8Choosing the Right Size
The next step in the design process is to think about the size. Experts tend to suggest going for the largest design your home and garden will allow, and of course, that your budget will allow. You don’t want to find yourself regretting the lack of space down the road. Also, imagine the furnishings that you’ll want to add to your sunroom.
This will considerably reduce the available “moving around” space. You don’t want to trip over furniture because of needing to squeeze past it; this is something to consider for your family, especially if there are elderly relatives who like to visit.
7Opt for Bright and Airy Décor and Colours
It’s also a good idea to opt for bright and airy décor pieces, materials, and a bright color palette. Colors that you can find in nature, such as soft greens, yellows, blues, and tans often work best.
This will ensure the space feels bright and welcoming, no matter the weather. If you’re planning on relaxing there on lazy weekend afternoons, calming colors will get you into a more relaxed state of mind.
6Give Thought to the Flooring
The flooring will also play a big role in the overall design. Typically, there are a number of options you can choose from; each will impact the overall feel and look of the space. In general, the flooring options that work best are hardwood, laminate, carpet, concrete, and tile. Think about potential scuff marks from foot traffic and sun damage in the parts that catch the rays, which could leave to discoloration.
It’s also worth factoring in whether you’ll want the reassurance of a woven rug, sheepskin rug, or another kind. It can lend a different feeling underfoot or simply provide a contrast to the pastel color palette.
5Hire a Professional Designer
If you’ve looked over the tips and either decided you don’t have the time, creativity, or know-how to use them, then the best bet is to hire a professional designer. Look for one that has experience with sunrooms, as they can offer tips and advice as to what works and what to stay away from, not just in design but also materials.
Take The Home Design Group as an example. This company has experience in a number of different sunroom styles. They understand how to design comfortable and stylish living spaces that can be used year-round, regardless of the weather.
4Don’t Ignore Fall and Winter Use
Whilst it’s most common to enjoy spending time in a sunroom during the spring and especially the summer months, there’s nothing to stop you planning for use in the fall or winter months too. With comfortable seating and an electric heater, it’s possible to create a cozy spot for bookworms to devour a book or to watch some YouTube videos on a tablet.
Being a little bit away from the main living areas, the room provides an oasis of quiet and privacy for restless minds. Adding a throw over the armchair or sofa for the colder months makes the space more liveable for insulated sunrooms too.
3Plants Provide an Earthy, Lived-in Feel
Plants add a different element that’s absent without them. There’s a sense of life and vibrancy when adding greenery, which feels wonderful, especially when sitting under fluorescent lights in the office all week.
Choosing flowers that blossom annually, introduce fresh colors, and aren’t difficult to manage is best. Begonias is certainly a perennial species that comes to mind, but others would be suitable too. Also, consider how tall and substantial the plant will become over time to avoid it overwhelming the space.
2Include Your Pets in Your Planning
If you own one or more pets, then it’s best to plan for them too. They, too, will desire a comfortable place to curl up near you (if they’re not small enough to rest in your lap). Also, when decorating, is there anything they could potentially knock over? Bear in mind that in sunrooms, furnishings are at a lower height level to prevent the sun’s rays being blocked out.
How will your cat or dog get in and out of the sunroom? Does there need to be a cat flap or a convenient way to let them in and out without needing to get up from your lounger each time?
1Any Need for Electricity?
Whilst you may only plan to use the sunroom in the daytime, it’s still useful to have electricity set up there too. This way, you can include discrete lighting, power a portable heater if you plan to include heating for later in the year, and even a mini-fridge for drinks or snacks too as said by civilizedhealth.com.
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By taking each of these tips into account, you’ll be able to design the sunroom of your dreams.
