No matter how long you’ve had your Desert Sun Patios sunroom, there will always come a time when you’re ready for something new, something fresh. Spring is the best time to take your sunroom to the next level as you’ll get the right sort of light levels to see the effects of the changes you’ve made, but the early nights and cool temperatures means that it’s a little while before it becomes the central focus of your home once again.
Small Changes
If you’re on a tight budget, or you’re just look for creative ways to spruce up your home, try some of these simple changes to give your sunroom a makeover:
- Add levelled lighting – when you installed your sunroom, it’s likely that you chose an overhead lighting option such as recessed LEDs or a light/fan fixture combo. You can get a brand new feel to your room by adding some low level lighting such as uplight stands, table lamps or even LED strips under the windowsills.
- Change the artwork – you can also bring big changes into your sunroom by swapping out the pictures you have on the walls and bookcases. If you have a lot of abstract art, try swapping them for pictures or realistic artwork, and vice versa. You can also make your sunroom feel a lot bigger by putting a big ornate mirror on the external wall of your house.
- Go green – finally, you can make good use of the long Calgary summer days and the insulated warmth that you get from your sunroom to grow tropical plants. Finding unique ways to display them, such as macrame hangers or elevated stools, will give your sunroom a jungle feel all summer long.
Large Scale Changes
On the other hand, if you’ve got more time and money available, you might want to think about one of these larger changes to really spruce up your home this summer:
- Change the flooring – swapping a hardwood floor for flagstone tiles might seem like an expensive move but you’ll be amazed at how much brighter your sunroom becomes. If the stones feel cold on your feet in the morning, try add a simple rug; this will also help keep your room longer in the evenings as it will trap the day time heat. You can achieve a similar effect with vinyl tiles for a much lower cost, or even a stone tile effect linoleum covering for the entire floor. Both of these options give you much more choice in terms of stone patterns and designs.
- Swap the seating – try something unusual like an indoor hammock or wicker seating to replace your original couch and armchairs. These alternative seating options change how you’ll use the room, and can often provide some extra space throughout the summer. You can also consider seating options that have multiple uses. For example, a sofa bed allows you to use the room as a luxurious guest bedroom without sacrificing a whole room, while a hollowed out ottoman gives you somewhere perch during parties as well as additional storage for blankets and pillows.
- Invest in lighting – how you light your sunroom can have a massive impact on how you view your room. If you don’t have any overhead lighting options, you can make the space feel bright and open by installing a single ceiling chandelier. Combine it with a fan to improve the air circulation. Adding small uplights where the roof starts to ascend will make your sunroom feel bigger, while placing tall lamps at the end of your couch and armchairs can make everything feel more intimate.
Change Your Purpose
If you’re truly invested in giving your sunroom a top to bottom makeover, then it’s time to consider changing what you use it for. If you’re like most Calgary homeowners, you’ll likely have turned your sunroom into an additional living room space, and it will have evolved over time to grow with your interests and your family. However, you can repurpose a sunroom into just about any space you can imagine: the following are few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- Home office – coming second only to the additional living space, turning your sunroom into a home office is an incredibly popular use for your new space. The big windows offer plenty of natural light and motivational views, and the fact that you can shut the doors to the rest of the house means that it’s easier to create a space which you can “commute” to each day and leave your work behind when you’re done. Depending on the size of the house, you may need to invest in an internet extender and power adapters to make sure you have everything you need to be productive in your new space.
- Home gym – the recent global pandemic changed the way in which we view just about every facet of our lives, and the shutdown of local gyms meant more of us turned to at-home workouts. Your sunroom can be an incredible home gym space if you want to keep that tradition going, and the floor space means that you can have a whole range of different equipment in there without it feeling crowded. If you’re more into yoga and pilates, you’ll be able to fit a few yoga mats in at once so you can invite friends round to share in your new home gym.
Guest bedroom – if you’ve always wanted to host the big parties but can’t provide places for people to sleep afterwards, then you need to consider turning your sunroom room into a guest bedroom. Your visitors won’t believe their luck as the big windows will give them unparalleled light and views over your garden, while the ability to shut the noise of the rest of the house means that they’ll always be guaranteed a good night’s sleep. Be sure to invest in black out blinds and thicker curtains to keep everything warm at night, and don’t forget some of clothes storage for those guests who might stay a little longer.
