Sunroom Design Ideas: Enjoy Four Seasons with Glorious Sunlight


Purpose of Sunroom

A sunroom is an additional space to enjoy natural light and relaxation in the house. When the weather is nice, a lot of people use the space as an extra living room. No matter what the weather is like outside, spending time in a sunroom can be the perfect way to feel more connected to nature.

There are several pros and cons regarding sunrooms. If you have not decided whether to make a sunroom or not in your house, read this article for an effective decision.

Pros

  • You can utilize the space as a home office for work.
  • It can be also excellent workout space
  • You can enjoy tea or coffee while reading a good book whenever you want during the day.
  • If you have children, this space can be utilized as a play area.
  • If you have an opportunity to invite guests, this area can be used as a guestroom or can be a cozy gathering place for family. 
  • You can install tv or games to play with your friends in the evening
  • You can grow plants to add a green view.

Cons

  • Construction expenses vary based on the size you want. Most of the time, the initial cost and maintenance costs are expensive
  • There may be property taxes or regulations that you need to follow depending on where you live. 

Three-seasons sunroom vs. four-seasons sunroom

There are usually two types of sunrooms; three-season and four-season sunrooms.
As the name suggests, the three-seasons sunroom is designed with minimal insulation and is typically constructed of glass that is not particularly specialized in energy efficiency. Therefore, it can be hot in summer and cold in winter. This type of sunroom is ideal for milder climates with little temperature fluctuation.

Four season room has a greater insulation level than three seasons room, similar to a typical room in your house. Therefore, it is easier to control the temperature as you like during the summer or winter.

Before Starts

Remember to check the regulations on building a sunroom in your house first. If you are living in a rented property, you should seek permission from your landlord. 

Materials

There are many options you can choose in materials, such as brick, timber, or uPVC. Aluminum also can be a good, strong alternative as it can offer sleek, and modern characteristics. Wood is a classic option that meets every personal taste and budget issue.

For the sunroom’s roof, it would be better if you can match material from the same or similar to your house. 

Lighting: For Evening Warmth

Pendant lights are commonly used and can be matched with wall lights or downlights around roof lanterns. It would be better if the lighting plan were decided at an earlier stage by consulting with professional designs.

When you want to keep the lights that are not too bright for your room, candles, tea lights or stringer bulbs can provide you enough glow to stay. Also, these elements can be a great decoration for your sunroom. 

Costs

The cost significantly varies depending on where you live, the size you want, and what materials you use for your room. You might have to pay a minimum value only for the frame, and it gets more expensive if you use oak or Accoya for the materials. However, it does not go to waste to invest much money in the first stage, because it also means that you can maintain your place for longer, and with better quality. Here are a few things you should know.

  • If you are doing construction with professionals, they might cover designing, project planning, management, and construction 
  • If you already have a sunroom, you may be able to cut expenses by renovating the old building, changing the frames, or rebuilding a new roof.
  • Usually, four-season sunrooms are more expensive than three-season sunrooms because they enable control of temperature more easily than three-season sunrooms.
  • According to the Research, (HomeGuide, 2020)
    • The three-season sunroom starts from an average cost of $15,000 to $50,000
    • The four-season sunroom starts from an average cost of $20,000 to $80,000.

Keep in mind that the cost can vary depending on how you design your room and what decorative elements you add. 

  • Additional costs (maintenance)
    • When planning the building of a sunroom, you will need to take into account certain additional costs, mostly dependent on your local climate and the typical weather pattern. If you are currently living in a cold climate, the cost of insulation may end up being more expensive for you. Because you might need to heat your home more than usual during the colder months, your monthly power bill, on average, will go up as a result. On the other hand, your utility bill during the mild months is likely to be lower as you will have more access to light.

Location

If you want to get sunlight throughout the day, build the sunroom on the south-facing side. The best choice would be your room at Southeast or Southwest. If you would like to see the sun rising in the morning, you can build a sunroom facing east, whereas you can enjoy sunset and afternoon sunlight in the west-facing room.

Furniture & Design 

The room can be a social space for people to gather, an additional living area, or a quiet place to relax and read as well. Install furniture that corresponds to its intended function, such as a table with bench seating for dining or a hanging rattan chair for reading time. However, when you choose furniture, try to choose furniture made from long-lasting materials.

Over time, prolonged exposure to the sun can cause delicate fabrics to become bleached, dried out, or shrunk. Materials including nylon or polyester can assist in the prevention of deterioration. Synthetics, on the other hand, have a natural resistance to water, which makes them resistant to stains and mildew caused by foggy mornings.

  • Patio doors or sliders
    • Many people choose the option of patio doors or sliders instead of the entrance. These are great to separate your house and your private room.
  • If you are thinking of spending time at night, you can also install string lights overhead for a warm glow.
  • window cover
    • Installing a curtain or window cover can help shield you from harsh sunlight in the afternoon.

Decoration

  • Candles
  • Plants
    • There is perhaps no better area in the house to take care of plants than in your sunroom, which can benefit from natural light and be kept at an ideal temperature and humidity level. Especially, if you are plant lovers, you may still get a sense of the outdoor gardens by bringing plants indoors even during the winter. 

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