Choosing to install a sunroom is one of the best home improvement projects that you can ever undertake. The overall cost is relatively small compared to a full house extension while covering a similar floor area, and the fact that they can sit on top of existing decks and patios means you won’t lose much footprint in your yard either. The return on investment is incredible, and in the years before you sell your house, you and your family will get so much use from the new space that you’ll wonder why you waited so long to make the decision.
A Room That Runs On Sunlight
One of the best features of a sunroom is the incredible amount of natural light that comes into the room throughout the day. In a city like Calgary that receives over 300 sunny days every year, this can mean that you’ll spend every waking hour in your sunroom. This means that you need to focus on finding the perfect furniture and accessories to bring your space together to make use of all this natural lighting. You can try and blend the room with the rest of your house or make your sunroom a separate special place of its own. No matter your decision, we have some tips to get you started!
Dinner Party Central
Are you a host by heart? If yes, your sunroom is a great place to make dinner party central with a dining room-like setup. The dining area is a well-frequented space that can be utilized as a gathering point, as well as a sophisticated formal eating area. Since the table is the main focal point in this setup, try and choose a table that evokes the ambience you desire. If you want a rustic space, go for large sturdy items, whereas if you want a chic or sleek room, choose elegant more refined pieces. Tableware and accessories can transform a dull or uninspired space into an impressive and thoughtful area. To create an eye-catching dinner setting, the best thing you can do is carefully choose some bright, lively, or daring tableware.
Create Your Oasis
Stressful times and a busy family life can make it difficult to find tranquillity and relaxation in our lives; one of the few options is to create a peaceful haven in the comfort of your own home. A relaxing space is all about natural colours, in soft tones which have the power to induce a sense of relaxation and calmness. Furniture should be high quality, made of natural materials and décor items should be kept to a minimum. Linen spray, beeswax candles, and essential oils are all-natural ways to enhance your sunroom with fresh scents, which can not only be calming but invigorating as well. Bonsai trees or hanging terrariums make a good choice and are often included in Zen décor. Clear your sunroom of as many items as possible and keep only the essentials, but feel free to add whatever may bring you extra comfort.
Mancave or She-Shed
A sunroom is a great space to design your mancave or she-shed to work on or do whatever your heart desires. Whether it’s enjoying the Calgary Flames beating the Edmonton Oilers or practicing some yoga after a long day at work, focus on what makes you feel relaxed and plan the space accordingly. If it’s a space designed for one particular purpose or person, make sure that the decorative touches really bring that focus to the front. This could be paintings or pictures on the wall spaces in between the windows, or particular objects on the tables and shelves that lend themselves to the theme of the room.
At Home Wellness
In a world that is seemingly moving faster and faster, you can use your sunroom to bring some much needed wellness and relaxation to your life. For a wellness vibe, consider converting your new space into a home gym; most sunroom floor plans are big enough to include a full size treadmill, an exercise bike and a weight lifting bench to help you get your full gym experience at home. Add in a small refrigerator and a blender and you’ve got yourself a homemade smoothie bar.
For a more relaxing approach to at home wellness, your sunroom makes for an ideal home spa. It is closed off from the rest of the house, meaning you can set up some comfortable lounging furniture, close the doors and put on a face mask, all while relaxing in the copious natural sunlight. Make sure that you’ve got storage space for your robes and blankets, and bring a buddy for gossip!
Repurpose Furniture and Décor
If you happen to have some older pieces of furniture in storage or like to browse local thrift shops, repurposing is a great and affordable way to furnish and turn unwanted junk into décor for your new sunroom. Old crates are great for building side and coffee tables. Trunks come in many sizes, shapes and colours and the best part: they’re great for additional storage, seating and work well as side and coffee tables too.
Get some DIY inspiration.
Statement Piece
If you got your eye on a piece of furniture you absolutely love even though it’s a bit of a statement-maker, don’t be afraid to buy it. There’s always a way to make even the most eye-catching pieces work in your new sunroom. Figure out what type of piece it is and combine it with its opposite. For example; organic with geometric. Dark with light. Busy with simple. That is what will make your room interesting.
Seasonal Touches
Changing seasons outside is the perfect reason to change your decor inside. Nothing is prettier than a little bit of the season mixed with what you have. The key is to be tasteful and edited. A little bit goes a long, long way. Add colours that represent the season. Buy pillow covers in seasonal colours and change out using the same down pillow.
The Theme of Your Dreams
Most people have those idle conversations with their partner that go “wouldn’t it be wild if we decorated this room like…”. These tend to be followed by a laugh and get dismissed. However, your new sunroom is the ideal space for these dream themes to become a reality. A room devoted to Dungeons and Dragons and role playing games, complete with swords on the wall and candles everwhere? Go for it! A child’s play space with candy in every drawer and pastel colors throughout? Now’s the time to make it happen. With a sunroom, there’s no limit to what you can imagine, and the way that the room sits in it’s own space means that you don’t have to worry about making it match the rest of your home
Tell us: What have you done to spruce up your sunroom? Do you have a special theme or cool idea to share with us?
I would love to build a sunroom for my house. I like the idea of turning it into an oasis. I want it to become a relaxing place. It would be nice to use some zen decor and bonsai trees, like you suggested.
I really like your writing style, good information, appreciate it for posting : D.