Modern life has become more and more frantic in recent years. The availability of high speed internet and smart connected devices means that home and work life often becomes blended and it’s hard to truly disconnect and find time for yourself. Even in those supposedly unplugged times, there are still the in person distractions of family and relationships which while nourishing can also be exhausting if there’s no time to truly recharge your batteries.
In most homes, there is nowhere to call your own; every space, even your bedroom, has alternative purposes and is often shared with other members of your household. This where you need to think about adding a new space to your home for some alone time, a This is where you need to think about installing a sunroom this year.
What is a sunroom?
A sunroom is a home extension project like no other. Because of the way it’s constructed and attaches to your home, a sunroom is quick to install and considerably cheaper than a full room extension. There’s often no foundations to dig, especially if you’re building it on top of an existing deck, and it requires only cosmetic patching to create a weatherproof seal to your home. Most sunroom constructions use an existing external door frame as the entrance to the sunroom but you can also convert a window frame if there’s no door in the exact location you want.
Features of a sunroom
Typical features of a sunroom include large windows on all sides to let the maximum amount of light in, gable ceilings to allow air to circulate (though studio roofs are a good option too) and comfy furniture to relax on. You will need to decide whether to go for a three season sunroom, which tend to be cheaper because they don’t connect to your home’s heating and cooling systems, or a four season sunroom which are more energy efficient and can be heated and cooled from the inside meaning you can use them year round.
A space for alone time
Unlike other home extensions or room conversions, a sunroom represents the best way to get some space to work on yourself or simply find some quiet times in your hectic schedule. A sunroom is a great space for alone time in these ways:
- It’s a separate room – it sounds strange, but the physical barrier to a new room means that you can really shut yourself off from the rest of the world. It can be hard to change how different spaces are used and respected around the house after many years of use, but the newness of a sunroom means that you can set rules and boundaries, including making sure that you are left in peace when you’re in there. You should also think about installing soundproof insulation around the doors and walls connected to the house so that you can fully shut out all distractions.
- The views are peaceful – one of the big selling features of a sunroom is the large windows that give unparalleled views out into your garden and the world beyond. It’s been scientifically proven that interacting and even just viewing nature has a calming effect on the brain, so your sunroom provides the optimal space to fill your senses without any distractions. You can enhance these with pictures of your favourite places or inspirational paintings from around the world.
- It’s a blank canvas – redecorating an existing room in your house is a hassle. You have to effectively close down the room, clear all the stuff out and find somewhere else to store them, and then go through the whole painting and decorating process. A sunroom will act as a blank canvas for your inspiration, meaning that you can set it up in any way you want. If you’re truly focused on developing it as a space for alone time, you can make it feel like a home spa, with soft furniture, cozy light fixtures and a soothing colour palette. Your entire family will benefit from this relaxing atmosphere but you can also use the decorating process as a way to make the space yours.
Soundproofing the sunroom
The final step in creating a safe haven for some alone time in your sunroom is make some soundproofing modifications, including:
- Thick drapes on the internal doors – thick curtains and drapes will serve a double purpose here. Firstly, they will absorb sounds from the rest of the house, creating a more peaceful atmosphere inside your sunroom. Secondly they will add a layer of warmth to the room as they will trap heat during the day and slowly release it in the evening.
- Soundproof material on the internal walls – long gone are the days of nailing egg cartons to your walls to dampen the sounds. You can now buy soundproof materials that look like either wallpaper or textile hangings which will capture sound waves and allow you to fully relax in peace and quiet.
- Foam seals around the door frames – finally, sound travels most easily through open air, and there’s always a few millimetres of gap around the doorframes that lead into your sunroom. Simply sticking a thin layer of foam around. the edge of the door frame will make a tight seal. Not only will this dampen the sounds coming into the room but it will also retain the heat from the warmth of the day.
Making the sunroom all about you may feel selfish, but this fast paced world, we need to be able to take some for ourselves so that we can be the best version of us for other people. Finding a quiet space to relax and recharge is a great first step, and a sunroom represents an affordable and quick option to start your new self-care regime.
