If you are looking for a way you can bask in the sun without the excessive heat of the summer session, then the best way to make your wish come true is by looking for a way to add a sunroom to your home. Let’s first look at what a sunroom is before getting into depth about it.  

Understanding What Is a Sunroom

A sunroom is an indoor room with many large windows and, at times, has a glass roof that is designed to allow lots of sunlight in the room. It is also known as sun porch, solarium, garden rooms, or patio rooms. A sunroom makes you invite fresh air indoors and makes you stay away from bugs. Sunrooms are additions in your house since they can become additional living rooms, a home office to work.

Types of Sunrooms

There are two types of sunrooms, and they determine how long you can use the sunroom throughout the year.  

Three-Season Room

A three-season sunroom is designed and built to be occupied during spring, summer, and fall. It is constructed using lightweight and less expensive material that lets light in and keeps out wind and rain. It is also designed to produce shade from the sun and offer cooling during summer days. It isn’t climate-controlled, so there won’t be heating during the winter season and no air conditioning during the summer season. This makes it more affordable compared to the four-season room. The three-season sunroom has patio doors to keep outdoor air from affecting the rest of the house’s temperature. It also has a ceiling fan that keeps air moving during the warmer months.  

Four-Season Room

A four-season sunroom has HVAC ducts for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, so that makes you enjoy year-round. It has artificial heat for winter seasons and air conditioning for hotter days. It has no monthly barriers since it is built to take nature full force all year round. It is constructed with floor-to-ceiling glass material allowing you a view of the outdoors. The glass used to design four-season sunrooms is energy-efficient; it’s strong and stops heat transfer from the sunroom to the outdoors. Installation of a four-season room may be expensive; however, it’s worth the investment.  

Types of Sunroom Roofs

There are two types of sunroom roofs: gabled and single-sloped.  

Gable Roof

It’s a standard roof that is mainly used to construct sunrooms. It has two slopes that are angled at 40% on each side of the top, making snow and rainfall quickly.It allows proper ventilation and features vaulted ceilings.  

Single-slope Roof

It’s seen mostly in sunrooms that have recently been added to the home. It has one plane attached to the house at its highest point, and then it slopes down, allowing for good drainage. It is also known as a studio roof or a shed roof. It’s simple and affordable since it works with many different architectural styles.  

What is the Difference Between a Sunroom, Patio, And Conservatory

They are all linked with the outdoors; however, they each have a distinct function.

• Sunroom

It’s a room meant for lounging. you can grow potted plants and some fruits or even vegetables, but the space is a part of the house and thus its meant for leaving  

• Conservatory

A conservatory is strictly for growing plants. It will have glass walls and a roof just like the sunroom, but homeowners use the natural light to grow some plants. It is not attached to the main house, and it’s smaller, like a greenhouse.   Bigger conservatories can be used for cultivating foods for commercial purposes.  

• Patio

It’s an outdoor area just off a house for socializing. They are not enclosed; thus, they become outside areas you can enjoy during the summer season.    

9 Ways How You Can Use Your Sunroom

The uses of a sunroom vary depending on factors like your sunroom’s size. Below are 9 ways of how you can use your sunroom:

• Extended Living Room

You can use your sunroom as an extension of your living room. You can furnish the space to make it attractive and calming.  

• A Dining Space

If you are looking for a larger space for your dining room or an eat-in kitchen, you can extend your dining space into the sunroom.  

• As a Home Office

You can transform your sunroom into a home office for you to work from home. If you aren’t working from home, you can keep your computer, laptop, or tablet there and store important documents and office supplies.  

• A Laundry Room

A laundry room in the sunroom is a good idea since the sunroom will provide a bright and cheery atmosphere. Washers and dryers are of different shapes and sizes, so having them here will be in a flexible area. If you do laundry during the day, you will benefit from natural light.  

• As a Kitchen

If you wish to have a bigger kitchen, then the sunroom is the place to have your kitchen. Using the sunroom as your kitchen will help you utilize the space available. You make the sunroom extension where the kitchen is located or completely move the kitchen in the sunroom.  

• As an Extra Bedroom

If you need a spare bedroom for your guests, consider using the sunroom. If your sunroom is narrow, you can have a daybed at the end of the room; this helps you maximize space and enables you to use the room as a sitting room if you don’t have guests.  

• A Craft Room

Crafting requires natural light, and using a sunroom as a craft room is a great idea. You don’t have to worry about colors being distorted by fluorescent lights or squinting as you needle your work. Using the sunrooms as your craft room can be a good way of getting all your crafting supplies organized in one area without worrying about getting them out and putting them away when you borrow space from any part of your house.  

• As a Bar Or an Entertainment Room

If you have a sunroom and you’re interested in entertaining them, then you can use the sunroom. One of the advantages of using a sunroom as a Bart room is that you don’t have to keep running for drinks back and forth from the kitchen when you have guests. You can turn your sunroom into an entertainment room by adding a pool table or some table games that you and your guests will enjoy playing during the night.  

• As an Indoor Spa Area

IYou can have your own spa experience by using your sunroom as an indoor spa area. you can include hot tubs and small pools to make you enjoy regardless of the weather Add a relaxing massage chair and a Bluetooth speaker to enjoy your kind of massage and your soothing music.  

Ways in Which You Can Decorate Your Sunroom

The following tips will guide you on how to decorate your sunroom:

• Add Curtains or Shades

They block direct sunlight on a summer day and give you some privacy. You should use natural material or sheer fabrics when choosing your shades and curtains since sunrooms are supposed to be bright.   They block direct sunlight on a summer day and give you some privacy. You should use natural material or sheer fabrics when choosing your shades and curtains since sunrooms are supposed to be bright.  

• Add Some Light-Furnishing

Dark furniture colors detract from the sunny look, while white will air it. You can add a splash of colors in the form of accessories like flower vases.  

• You Can Add a Fireplace

A three-season sunroom and a fireplace go hand in hand, adding heat and comfort during the colder days and evenings.  

• Add Some Plants

Plants that vine like the bougainvillea or Mandevilla can be trained to climb the indoor trellis, and they will add a tropical feel to the room.

Factors to Consider When Building a Sunroom

There are several factors you need to consider before you build a sunroom, and they include;

• Location

  It is the most important factor to consider when adding a sunroom to your home. If you are from the north, you will have your sunroom on the house’s southern side. Its because the sun will be shining into the sunroom when you get from work If you live in the south, you will want to build your sunroom on the northern side of your home to prevent it from overheating in the afternoon, and you won’t make use of it, or you can install a cooling device like a fan.  

• Budget

Deciding to build the best sunroom will depend on your budget. With a reasonable budget, it will be simple for you to know the material you will use and the features you want to include in your sunroom, and those you don’t want to be included in your sunroom. With your budget, you will also know the type of sunroom you will build.  

• Purpose

You should know what purpose your sunroom will be serving, will it be an entertainment room, dining room, or living room. Understanding its purpose will make you see the amount of space the sunroom will require. You will also have the kind of furniture and decorations you will add to the sunroom.  

• Design

Since a sunroom is an addition to the house, it can alter its overall look and design. To avoid this, consider a design your home has and decide whether you want your sunroom to blend or contrast with that design.  

• Materials Used

Most sunroom owners have used vinyl with aluminum support, which may not match the rest of your house at times. You can use any material, but you should be careful with your window choice. The windows of sunrooms should have high UV ratings so that you won’t get any sunburns. Ensure you build with quality material so that your room will stand out.  

• Size of Your Sunroom

You should consider the size of your sunroom, since if you have a large sunroom, it may look out of space. If it is too small, you won’t enjoy the room, especially when it will be crowded. A 12 by 12 structure is the best size, especially if you heat the room during winter if it is a three-season room.  

• Outdoor View

Choose an area that gives you a good view of your outdoor space so that you may enjoy the view outside.

Locating a Sunroom will Suit Your Lifestyle.

  With a sunroom on the east side of your house, you will enjoy having breakfast while watching the sunrise, while a sunroom on the north side of your home will provide you with light throughout the day. While most of the sunrooms are located on the backs or the sides. You can have a sunroom in front of your home to match the design of your home.