Once you’ve setup a new sunroom, the real fun comes in how to furnish it. Furnishing really is down to your own individual taste, the function of your room and your budget. However, if you’re looking for some ideas then we’ve put together a list to help you out:
Bringing the Outdoors Indoors
A very popular theme when it comes to furnishing sunrooms is to bring the outdoors indoors. This means that outdoor-style furniture is often used, which can help to give you the great feeling of stepping outdoors, every time you use your sunroom.
Wicker or rattan furniture is absolutely perfect for those who want this look for their sunroom. Lightweight furniture is generally important for your sunroom, not only to add to the atmosphere, but also to make it easier to move things around.
It can also help to add a number of plants, which is great for clearing the air and adding to the atmosphere. Not all plants are well-suited to high temperatures, so do a little research into plants that thrive in this environment. Tropical plants are absolutely perfect for your sunroom, just make sure that they won’t grow too big for the space you’ve got to use.
Fading and Damage from the Sun
One of the main problems in choosing items for your sunroom is that they may fade in time, due to the light of the sun constantly shining in. There are a number of furniture items designed to be fade resistant, and they will often be marked especially for sunroom use. You can still protect non-fade resistant items from the light of the sun by installing blinds and shades to keep the light out when the room isn’t in use.
Wicker and rattan are extremely resistant to the conditions in your sunroom, but if they aren’t to your tastes then wrought iron furniture also makes a great addition.
When purchasing anything for your sunroom, just remember to think about how it will fare in the heat and light. This doesn’t just mean your tables and chairs, it means your curtains, bookshelves, cushions and more.
Heating and Cooling
Your sunroom can get especially hot in the summer, and cold during the winter. Four season sunrooms are typically built with heating systems extended from the main home, though you may want to add a ceiling fan to help the air circulate during the warmest months. Vents are also a useful way of keeping your sunroom a little cooler.
If your sunroom wasn’t built for all seasons, you can also use portable heating units to keep it usable during the winter. Shades and blinds are also an important way of retaining heat during the winter, as well as blocking the heat during the summer.
Some sunrooms really have a beautiful traditional look with the addition of a fireplace, but it’s important to factor in such an addition into your original plans before the sunroom is constructed.
Shades and Blinds
As well as the heating and cooling effect of shades and blinds, you may wish to install them simply as a way to block out light when you need to. They can give you the option of controlling just how much light enters the room, making it easier to read or see each other whilst eating dinner. Shades and blinds are also important for giving you privacy when you need it.
The Function of Your Sunroom
Above all, the way you furnish your sunroom will depend on the function it has in your home. If it’s simply there as a place to relax and enjoy the feeling of being outdoors, then light garden-style furniture will be perfect. However, many people also choose to furnish their sunroom with items such as dining tables and chairs, hot tubs, curtains, bookshelves, exercise equipment and more.
There really are no limits to the way in which you choose to furnish your sunroom, as long as you bear in mind the light conditions of the room. The main purpose of a sunroom is to add value to the space of your home, so make sure to furnish it in a way that you and your family can truly enjoy, and its cost will be more than made up for.
