I have always said that if I could live in a glass house, I would. I know that could be a bit awkward for both me and my neighbours, but think of the natural light!
So, it’s likely no surprise to learn that I have always wanted a sunroom. I loooove screened in porches and sunrooms!
Over the years I have honestly thought about every possible way to add on a sunroom to our home. But I live in a backsplit house and they are super difficult to expand because of the layout.
Then one day a friend came over and she said these magical words… “Well, if you were to move your kitchen over there, you could put a sunroom here.”
I bet you know where this is headed. I shared this incredibly amazing idea with my husband about how we could simply move our kitchen to the other side of the house, bust through the brick wall to the outside deck, and slap on a sunroom. Easy.
Some husbands might be shocked by this suggestion but I always have a project on the go and a paintbrush in hand so he took it in stride. It’s not like he had sunroom renovation on his mind but he’s very handy and loves a challenge so I think he was intrigued. Let’s just say that he became intrigued enough that the kitchen was moved and I am sitting in my new sunroom as I type this.
Finding Sunroom Decor Ideas
I did a lot of searching for sunroom design and decor inspiration but I was surprised to find that I had a bit of a hard time finding what I wanted.
Don’t get me wrong, I found some absolutely incredible photos, but most were from luxurious cottages and chalets on lakes, oceans or mountains. They were far bigger and more expensive than what we were planning and able to do.
Regardless, I am beyond thrilled with how my sunroom turned out. It is my happy place. I love to blog in here, read in here and play board games with the kids in here. Right now my daughter has her easel set up next to me and she loves to paint in the natural light.
Building a sunroom was definitely a big project and a pile of work (remember, we moved a kitchen!) but I couldn’t be happier.
So for anyone who is looking to design and decorate a sunroom on a budget, this article is for you!
Light, Airy & Natural – Sunroom Design and Decor Ideas
1. Sunroom Windows – Lots & Lots of Windows!
The dimensions of the sunroom are 12.5 ft by 14 ft. The back wall is brick. It was the exterior wall for the garage. Of the other three walls, one side wall is open to the house through a full set of glass sliding doors so I can see into the sunroom from the kitchen and living room. This allows all of the natural light from the sunroom to flow throughout the rest of the house. Love!
That leaves two walls of windows open to the outside. One of these walls has four large exterior windows that slide up from the bottom or down from the top, and the front wall of the sunroom consists of a three panel glass sliding door that overlooks the backyard. Ahhhh, my house of glass!
2. Window Coverings For Sunrooms & Maximizing Natural Light
I love my home to be airy and filled with natural light. I get a bit itchy when I drive by homes with big, heavy curtains drawn or blinds shut tight. So when I was deciding on window coverings for the sunroom, I wanted something as minimal (and inexpensive!) as possible.
I ended up choosing cordless cellular shades. I had a lot of windows to outfit and window coverings can be so expensive so I ended up buying off-the-shelf blinds from Lowe’s that they cut to size in the store. Even better, they were on sale!
I know that the words off-the-shelf sounds a bit risky but the price was fantastic. Most importantly, they are exactly what I wanted because I can hardly tell they’re there when they are up. I will only ever need them for the few weeks in the summer when it gets very hot and I need to block the sun. Other than that, who needs blinds?!
3. Sunroom Design and Texture – A Painted Brick Wall
Another favourite feature of my sunroom is the painted brick wall that was previously part of the exterior. It adds great texture to the room and it looks amazing.
It would have been costly to cover it so I painted it white! Not just any white, but my favourite white paint colour – Benjamin Moore Simply White.
I started with two coats of primer and followed it up with two coats of Simply White. I hadn’t painted a brick wall before and although I tried rolling it, I found the paint applied and covered much better by using a large brush. That may sound daunting but it was actually quite easy and quick to paint.
4. Sunroom Paint Colour & Finish
Speaking of paint colours, I painted the entire interior Benjamin Moore Simply White in an eggshell finish, trim included (except the ceiling which is a flat finish). I’ve never really been a fan of using semi-gloss paint for trim (or for anything really), although I do get the point of it. However, I decided to go eggshell throughout and if I ever find some dirt on the trim that I can’t wipe away, all it takes is a bit of touch up paint slapped on and you’re good to go.
The reason I love Simply White for this room is that the colour is light and airy, yet it has a softness to it too so the room doesn’t feel cold. It also pairs really well with warm wood tones and natural decor. Most importantly, I didn’t want anything that distracted from the view outside!
5. Sunroom Decor – Light & Warm Wood Tones
I love warm and light toned wood elements. This sunroom decor look helps to make the room feel relaxing and cozy.
The floor has a very natural white oak appearance. Not only that, but it was on sale at Home Depot and we only paid 99 cents per square foot. Perfect.
I also found two cute side tables at HomeSense (not matching), a little three-tiered trolley (also from HomeSense) to hold my books and magazines, and a coffee table from a local Amish furniture store. I ordered the coffee table unfinished and I painted the bottom white (with chalk paint… another post to come!) and stained the top so it had the look I wanted.
What I love about all of these items is that they have similar wood tones but none of them are matching pieces.
6. Sunroom Design – Wood Beams & Hanging Light Fixture
Although they seem to be everywhere right now, I love the look of wood beams. Even better, a vaulted ceiling with wood beams is always amazing. My husband built these “faux beams” from the same budget-friendly Home Depot wood that I used to make the floating shelves on the brick wall. The beams look so lovely against the white ceiling.
I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted for a light fixture (just ask my husband as he initially hung a ceiling fan for me… oops) and then I saw this lovely fixture hanging from the ceiling in Canadian Tire. I loved it but started to walk away because the price tag wasn’t a budget price. But… a happy ending was had after I noticed the 50% off sale tag on the shelf!
7. Sunroom Decor – Wall Art & DIY Shelves
Long before the room was finished, I had purchased these pictures from Winners. I love them. They have a relaxing, natural vibe and most importantly, they make me smile.
However, the pictures also aren’t very big and the white brick wall was too large for the size of the pictures. Solution – DIY shelving!
I built these shelves to help fill the space while still being able to display the pictures. My shelves just might be my most favourite thing in the sunroom.
I made them from simple 1”x4”x6’ barn board from Home Depot that comes pre-stained in three colours – driftwood brown, white wash and weathered grey. They have a simple and rustic look that I love and they were super cheap to make!
8. Sunroom Furniture – Include a Bistro Set
12.5 ft by 14 ft is not a lot of space but I knew I also wanted to include a small bistro set so that I could have somewhere to sit and write, or have some breakfast and watch the sun come up.
I shopped around a lot! Bistro sets are not well known for having comfortable chairs yet comfy seating was important to me because I knew I would need it for when my gigantic family comes to visit.
As soon as I saw this one I knew it looked perfect (the woven chairs have a nice texture while still being neutral), but when I sat in the chairs, I knew it actually was perfect. The chairs swivel and are very, very comfortable. I bought the bistro set at Rona (a home store owned by Lowe’s).
9. Sunroom Decor – Plants Bring a Room to Life!
You can’t have a sunroom without plants! I am proud to say that it has been over a year now and my plants seem to be growing strong.
Our winters are cold and snowy so having a tropical plant and a huge, emerald green fern, are little reminders of summer when the outside is chilly and gray.
We have a wonderful local greenhouse nearby but I also have had good luck buying plants from home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s.
And that, my friends is, the best of my sunroom design and decor!
Keep in mind, you don’t have to actually have a sunroom in your home to create a sunroom feel in another room in your house. Just think minimal window coverings, natural light, light and airy decor, and plants!
Follow me on Pinterest and check out my Pinterest boards on Home Decor and DIY Home for more inspiration while you create your happy place too.
In the meantime, you know where you’ll find me. KJ 😉
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