There’s something about a sunroom that, when done correctly, creates a radiant and inviting space. As it stands, your sunroom is primed to become your favorite room in the house. But first, you have to take on the important task of designing and decorating it. Though it’s a big undertaking, it doesn’t have to be a difficult one. Pay attention to these tips to make sure you get exactly what you want out of your enclosed porch.
Focus on your intentions for the room
You added a sunroom to your home for a reason or you bought the house you did because the additional space spoke to you. Either way, the most important step to take before making any changes is to decide what you want the main use of the room to be. Perhaps you don’t have a formal dining room, so you want it to act as a place to eat when family and friends come over. Your sunroom could be another living space, one intended for calm Sunday morning moments to read the newspaper. Before you begin with any decisions about design and decoration, make sure you’ve tackled the big question of how you’ll be spending time in this room, as that will inform all of your other choices. Make sure this is your first step, as it will greatly help you down the road when you’re faced with making a series of smaller choices.
Let light be the main focal point
When it comes time to decorate your sunroom, keep in mind that the biggest benefit is built into its name: the sun. Decorating around the natural light you’ve invited into your home will allow you to maximize the enjoyment of this special space you’re creating. Windows by themselves are beautiful decorations, so remember that you may not need to add too much to your walls. When it comes to choosing colors for your walls and windowpanes, oftentimes shades of white and other natural colors end up being the best and most natural complement to the light coming into your space. You can even have fun planning for what you’ll see through your windows. Whether you have evergreen trees in your yard, or your windows look out onto a garden of colorful flowers, these are factors to consider when planning your space.
Make the addition feel like a natural fit
When adding any room to your house, it’s important to make design and decorating choices that make it feel like part of your home instead of an obvious extension. This is especially true of a sunroom, which has a different architectural feel to other rooms. Aim for design and decoration choices that compliment that of the rest of your house. Consider extending the color palette of your house’s trim or use the same flooring as the rooms adjacent to your sunroom. Small choices like this help create a seamless flow from room to room.
Choose a piece of furniture to act as a focal point
Depending on your intention for the room, it can be helpful to get your design and decoration juices flowing by choosing one piece of furniture or one design element to act as a focal point. A fireplace, for example, is a great addition that is sure to keep your sunroom as a cozy afternoon reading nook into the winter months. If you’re aiming more for relaxing outdoor patio space, a hanging bamboo swing or a hammock can be the perfect thing to plan your decoration around. If the room is meant to act as a dining room or office, find the perfect dining table or desk and build the rest of the room around that.
Decide how you want the space to feel
It may not be a surprise to you to consider how often abstract words such as “comfy,” “rustic” and “chic” are tied to design and decoration choices. In the end, you ultimately have an idea of what you want for the space, even if that is a broad one, such as “a classic space for entertaining.” Don’t forget to discount these abstract words, as they ultimately will act as a road map for how you should proceed. Comfy, for example, often means choosing couches and chairs in clean, natural colors and with cushion quality being the top priority. Rustic, on the other hand, often means focusing on furniture and decorations with prominent wood and metal and chic often translates to choosing one color scheme and largely sticking to it.