Monday 26 December 2011

The Truth About Sunroom Decorating

Sunroom decorating sounds like an easy task, but if not done properly, it can mar the whole beauty of the sunroom. Thus, it is essential to give due attention to the type of furniture your sunroom need, the color you need to splash it with, the ventilating style of doors and windows and the overall look and feel of the room. Two sunroom built in the same way may not look alike due to the sunroom décor items and colors used. Moreover, while decorating sunrooms, you must keep in mind the style of the room.

It can be designed in a number of ways including Straight, Curved, Cathedral and Conservatory. You can decorate the Straight sunrooms properly to convert it into a patio room with wooden beams and aluminum exterior and interior finish. You can even clad it with vinyl to lend it a wood like finish on the exterior. If the inside structure is made of wood, it is best to decorate the room with Wicker and Rattan furniture items to lend a natural touch to the room. These furniture items, made out of plant fibers, are stained to match the color of any room and make it look beautiful. The first place you can start decorating from is the porch. You can decorate it with vintage tables and cushions, mosaic items like vase and cans, bird tea cups, small fountains, racks for placing decorative items, colorful carpets, and flowers. You can add padded cubes having bright colored designed or plain fabric to match the color of the room.
You can even decorate the sunrooms with appropriate wallpaper designs. According to the style and structure of the sunroom, you can select from a range of wall covers. They are available in shades of crème, gold, wood, white, grey, blue, and many more colors. You can even select wallpapers that appear like tiles, mosaic, rubber, wood, and metal. You can opt from a range of wallpapers that have various patterns drawn inside including leaves, flowers, dots, diamonds and more.

Sunroom decorating Idea


You build sunrooms to serve different purposes. If it is built to serve the purpose of an attic or a dormer, you have to consider placing soft cushions, exercise equipments, music system, and colorful rugs, pots of flowers and soothing color and wall hangings. When you are using the sunroom as a bathroom to get the fell of a spa, you can use a tub beside the glass, warm carpets, potted plants on the edges, aromatic candles on sides, racks and closed shelves to store the towels and bath items. If you are using it as your bedroom, you can place a master bed, the size of which will be according to the size of the room. Surround the bed with soft carpet, cushions, plants, wall hangings.
Make use of light color to paint the room and use soft lights to create the perfect environment for relaxation. Select lighter shades not only makes the sunroom appear big, but also enhances the energy efficiency of the room. This controls the room temperature and keeps the sunroom cool during summer months and warm during winters. Moreover, the amount of ray filtering inside the sunroom need to be neutralized by placing some aquatic elements. You can place small fountains of water or an aquarium containing gold fish and duckweeds. The fountain will created a musical sound and also increases the energy efficiency of the room. If the sunroom has a mat finish, you can make use of Wicker and Rattan furniture items to lend an earthy look to the room.

If your
sunroom is your study or den, you can decorate it with soft colors and rows of hidden or exposed shelves, with soft cushions, lamp stand, rocking chairs and picture frames. If it is your dining room, you need not worry about placement of tables as the outdoor environment will be visible from all angles. Place a center table made of wood and surround it by similar looking chairs.

The furniture items can be made from wood or wrought iron according to the style and design of the sunroom. If you are using the sunroom as your kitchen, you can place a small table facing the glass for chopping and cooking purposes. Place drawers beside the table and decorate the walls beside it with racks of shelves for placing the oven and the cutleries. Make use of embedded lights focusing on the table and decorate the room with plants.

Sunroom DIY
Decoration

If you are opting for sunroom diy (do-it-yourself) kits, then you need not worry of employing a contractor to decorate the room. You have free reign to buy and place the furniture items yourself according to your own taste. But, before doing so, give a thought to the budget. decorating the room is important, so is keeping track of your budget, thus, before you go shopping for sunroom décor, you need to first strike the perfect balance between budget and your need. A perfectly
decorated sunroom provides the ideal place to relax and enjoy outside landscape with your family members.

Thursday 22 December 2011

Sunroom Ideas - Let the Sunshine In!

Sunrooms are as popular as ever which makes for a multitude of sunroom ideas. Not to be confused with a four season room, sunroom designs rely on the sun for warmth and they lack air conditioning as a general rule. Like any room addition, sunrooms can be as simple or elegant as finances allow. Our sunroom ideas may offer options you had not previously considered.

Sunroom Designs


Sunrooms can be custom-built or purchased as prefabricated sunrooms. Either way, you will want to choose a sunroom design that blends in with the architecture of your home. Options range from traditional designs that use a shed-type roof (usually the least expensive), cathedrals that have a gable-style roof, split-roof designs for a more contemporary look and a dramatic roof line, to curved designs with curved glass roofs.


Windows for sunrooms


Since sunrooms are all about the glass, choose windows for a sunroom that have a high R-value, are tempered for safety, have draft-proof seals, and have the American Architectural Manufacturers Association approval. Triple pane low e-glass windows are perhaps the best windows for sunrooms and will provide the best energy efficiencies. However, double pane windows that are argon-filled will provide substantial energy efficiency as well. Single pane windows are the most economical but least energy-efficient.

Another window option is single solex glass which is tinted green and designed to minimize heat absorption into the room. Solex glass reflects ultraviolet rays to protect skin, furnishings, and floor coverings. It is more expensive than other glass types.


Window Treatments


Window treatments for sunrooms are much like those for any room in your home. Plantation shutters are a popular option as are sunroom blinds. Wood blinds are very popular and are available as real wood or as faux wood which look great and are less expensive. Aluminum blinds are also less expensive and the no holes option is recommended for better light control.


Don't forget about shades. These are ideal no matter your window design. Coolaroo shades block 90% of harmful UV rays yet allow air flow to reduce inside temperatures. These are perfect for porches too! Roman shades are sophisticated and elegant while simultaneously being sleek and very functional. Cordless top up bottom down shades allow you to raise or lower them from the bottom or from the top. You have the option of privacy without losing sunlight or your view! Silhouette window shades suspend fabric vanes between two sheers creating an exquisite lighting effect in your room.


Sunroom Flooring


There are several
sunroom ideas for sunroom flooring. Choose from the least expensive, yet beautiful, vinyl products. You can mix and match vinyl to create a unique yet very functional look. Wood is a favorite for sunrooms as is stone or brick. Interlocking deck tiles come in a wide variety of colors and styles, can be positioned on top of almost any surface, and look fantastic. There are also modular tile floor systems for the do-it-yourself enthusiasts. Carpet is another option along with outdoor area rugs.

Decorating with Plants


For sunroom décor, consider using your wonderful space for plants. They tend to thrive in sunroom environments. Plants like abutilon, allamanda, and dianthus are all good plant varieties and will give you space color and fragrance. Mix flowering plants with greenery and you can create an oasis of foliage.


Electrical Needs


Lastly, consider other factors like your electrical and lighting needs. Plan for additional outlets along all interior and exterior walls, in your ceiling for holiday lighting, and perhaps a few in the floor placed strategically for popcorn machines or arcade-type games. Use hanging lights, chandeliers, and spots throughout your
sunroom as needed. And don't forget the ceiling fans - a must on those hot summer days.

These are but a few
sunroom ideas to ponder. Sunrooms are fun spaces not matter if using them as family rooms or a quiet respite from a hectic day. Sunrooms - capture the sun and have some fun!

Monday 12 December 2011

Sunrooms: A Top Summer Home Improvement Project

Drive around any neighborhood in your hometown and chances are good you’ll see work trucks in your neighbors’ yards. With the kids home from school and life at a more casual pace, summer is one of the most popular times of year to take on a home improvement project.

According to Remodeling Magazine, during the summer months, the most popular projects are those that expand and enhance living space. Looking for a project that will achieve both objectives? How about adding on a
sunroom?

“A sunroom offers a unique experience in your home. It allows you to enjoy all the positive aspects of your backyard – the flowers, trees, birds and other wildlife – without having to deal with the negatives such as rain, bugs and heat,” says Brian Pitman, spokesman for the National Sunroom Association (NSA).


Over the years, people’s perception of what constitutes a sunroom have changed dramatically. They’ve gone from being simple screen or glass enclosures to grand rooms that add living space and enhance the architectural design of a
home.

The variety of what’s available today is evident in the results of the NSA’s 4th annual design awards competition. A panel consisting of judges from the architecture/interior design field chose six winners from a pool of nearly 100 entries.
Sunrooms were categorized by the type of roof they had – glazed or opaque, and how much they cost to construct: less than $15,000, $15,000 to $30,000 and $30,000 and over.

“We are very pleased with the quality of entries we received this year,” said Pitman. "The winners represent the very best in sunroom design."


Roger Foote, a do-it-yourselfer from Minnesota won the Glazed Roof Sunroom Less than $15,000 category. He put a do-it-yourself kit up on an existing deck. “The do-it-yourself kit we used was wonderful," says Foote. "We used the sunporch at Christmas and put our Christmas tree out here. It has actually been a godsend. This is our place where we come and relax."


Bob and Judy Culli of Sullivan, Ill., winners of the Opaque Roof Sunroom $30,000 and Over, consider their
sunroom a godsend too. "I had always wanted a back porch," explains Judy, "but we didn't get a back porch when we built the house. With allergies during the springtime, I figured an all-season room would be nice."

The Culli’s sunroom features windows all around, wood paneling inside and a cathedral ceiling roof, also with paneling. Outside, it is fully finished with siding, and has a backdoor leading inside.