Subtly Calm

40 Best Sunroom Ideas to Relax

Sunroom Ideas – When the weather outside is frightful, a sunroom can be quite a welcoming sight. As winter approaches, the days get shorter, temperatures drop and we spend a lot more time indoors than during other seasons.

A sunroom is a place that lets nature in through vast windows and blurs the lines between indoors and out. It’s a spot to enjoy the sun’s light, whether reading, gathering for a meal, or having a really good nap.

Now you can sit back, relax, and be inspired by the 40 best and most popular sunroom ideas photos so far in 2022.

1. Crisp Contrast

Crisp Contrast
Crisp Architects

Dark gray sofas offer a grounding contrast to white shiplap walls in this upstate New York sunroom by Crisp Architects.

The toss pillows on the sofas continue the black-and-white palette set up by the white walls and dark-frame windows.

2. Fall Foliage

Fall Foliage
Timberpeg

This covered porch in Ludlow, Vermont, by Timberpeg boasts gorgeous views of the mountains and fall foliage.

The toss pillows on the sofa pick up the reds and yellows of the leaves outdoors. The ceiling fan is a must-have for hot days.

3. Farmhouse Style

Farmhouse Style
lisa furey interiors

Shiplap walls, an inviting daybed with plenty of pillows, and side chairs arranged for conversation create a relaxed farmhouse feel in this Philadelphia sunroom by Lisa Furey Interiors.

Shutters can keep out the sun on hot days, while a blanket over the daybed can warm occupants on cool days.

4. Outdoor Feeling Indoors

Outdoor Feeling Indoors
Terry Architecture, LLC

Talk about a restful space. Ample greenery surrounding a chaise lounge brings an outdoor feeling to this sunroom by Terry Architecture in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Skylights pull more light into the room and help the space feel open. Natural textures via the two side tables — one a slice of log, the other a stump — and the jute rug and armchair further the connection to nature.

5. Beachy Boston

Beachy Boston
SLC Interiors

A vaulted ceiling covered in wood tops off this restful space by SLC Interiors.

Crisp white walls, blue-and-white upholstered furnishings, and art depicting water and whales lend a nautical note. Three hanging pendants draw the eye up and highlight the ceiling.

6. Subtly Calm

Subtly Calm
Ironwood Construction Group LLC

This covered porch and sunroom by Ironwood Construction Group has a serene feel, thanks to clean boards on the floor, ceiling, and walls, and a calming palette of wood, white, blues, greens, and pale yellow.

It’s a great space for getting away from Atlanta’s summer heat or enjoying outdoor views safely from indoors during the cooler months.

7. Sunroom Elegant Perspective

Elegant Perspective
Elizabeth Reich

Beautiful blue walls and furnishings with transitional lines bring sophistication to this Baltimore sunroom by designer Elizabeth Reich. Textures make the decor visually interesting.

The nailhead detailing on the bottom of the white sofa and perimeter of the two stools, the running lines of the natural-fiber rug, and the organic and graphic patterns on the toss pillows are just of the few textural details that make this room stand out.

8. Sunroom Tropical Treat

Tropical Treat
The Designory

This sunroom is part of a vacation cottage in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia, by interior design firm The Designory.

A neutral palette of white and gray with hints of green keeps the focus on the large windows and the restful outdoor scene of tropical foliage.

9. Woodsy and Warm

Woodsy and Warm
Cannarsa Structure and Design

This great room in a weekend home on the Kalamazoo River in Saugatuck, Michigan, features cedar walls and a pine ceiling. Designer John Cannarsa of Cannarsa Structure and Design helped decorate.

The home has become the holiday gathering spot for the owners and their extended family.

One of the owners enjoys hosting and wanted a table with seating for 12. Happily, they were able to purchase the large walnut dining table seen here from the previous homeowners. Cannarsa had it stained darker. The large rug is a family heirloom.

10. Coastal Delight

Coastal Delight
Lea St. Germain photography

The soft grays and blues of this sunroom’s decor echo the waterfront palette outside.

You can just catch a glimpse of the television at the top left of the photo — but who wants to watch it with those views to gaze at? Photographer Lea St. Germain captured this lovely Boston-area room.

11. Blurred Indoor-Outdoor Boundaries

Blurred Indoor Outdoor Boundaries
Fotograf Jonas Norén

The whole point of sunrooms is to have a room filled with sunlight and views of the outdoors. But the expanses of glass in this conservatory blur the indoor-outdoor boundary even further.

At first glance it’s hard to tell if this is an outdoor porch or an indoor room thanks to the high ceilings, walls completely composed of windows and brick wall.

Style note: Even just one geranium in an inexpensive terra-cotta pot adds loads of old-fashioned charm to a sunroom.

Blurred Indoor Outdoor Boundaries 2
Loloi Rugs

This sunroom also blurs the lines between indoors and out, thanks not only to the floor-to-ceiling windows but also to the copious use of plants. They add layers of color, texture, and life.

Style note: That thick rug is an unexpected move for space with an outdoor feel. It adds warmth, color, and visual interest.

12. Sun Control

Sun Control
Floyd Dean Inc

At certain times of day, the glare in a sunroom can be relentless. Houzzers were drawn to this sunroom’s bamboo blinds, which filter the light and add a natural texture to the room. The stained-glass transom windows, pendant lights, and round dining table were also a hit.

Style note: The cozy wide daybed in the corner is the perfect sunroom napping spot.

13. Sunroom Hamptons Style

Hamptons Style
Housing First Minnesota

This home is in Minnesota, but the color palette of light, creamy white and indigo, the coastal references and the chic use of patterns recalls the look that’s come to be known as Hamptons style. It gives this sunroom a sophisticated beach vacation vibe.

Style note: Midnight blue walls make the bright white trim paint pop.

14. Delightful Garden Inspiration

Delightful Garden Inspiration
Nifelle Design – Fine Interiors

The soft greens, botanical pillows, and trellis wallcovering pay homage to the garden outside the windows. The design pros at Nifelle Interiors incorporated natural textures like woven baskets, twigs on the lamps, and rush chair seats, which are a lovely complement to the greenery in the room.

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Style note: The use of symmetry makes this arrangement pleasing.

15. A Cozy Lake-Cabin Look

A Cozy Lake Cabin Look
Edgewater Design Group

Located on Burt Lake in Michigan, this sun porch by Edgewater Design Group contains features we’d expect to see in a lake cabin — knotty wood, a stone fireplace, even wooden water skis.

But lovely upholstery and modern windows elevate the typical rustic cabin look. The neutral color palette of the furniture maintains the relaxed feel and puts the focus on the blue of the water and the green trees outside.

Style note: The ceiling fan recalls a steamboat’s paddle wheel.

A Cozy Lake Cabin Look 2
Cielo Home Interior Design

This sunroom addition designed by Cielo Home Interior Design gave the homeowners a lake-cabin feel on the back of their suburban Colonial-style home.

Key cabin elements are the mix of woods and stains, the stacked stone fireplace, and the warm red-and-cream color palette.

Style note: The porthole window over the fireplace is a clever architectural move. Also, check out the room from another angle to see the handy passthrough to the kitchen.

16. Light Scandinavian Style

Light Scandinavian Style
Cynthia Hayes Interior Design

This space is representative of so many sunrooms. They are often long and narrow former side porches that have been enclosed and converted to indoor space. Here the beautiful wood on the ceiling and floor contrasts with the bright white walls.

Style note: Interior designer Cynthia Hayes’ use of a narrow sofa and coffee table suits the room’s proportions and keeps a path open.

17. Garage Door Opener

Garage Door Opener
Pillar Homes

In this house by Pillar Homes, the sunroom is wide open to the yard. Houzzers have commented on this glass garage door, but also on its optional screen to keep the bugs away.

Style note: While the garage door out to the yard catches our eye at this angle, there’s an opening of equal size on the opposite side that leads to the kitchen, outfitted with accordion doors. Get a better look at it.

Garage Door Opener 2
Rachel Wong

A similar garage door move had Houzzers saving just about every photo of this Michigan lake house sun porch addition.

Style note: Check out the way the tongue-and-groove paneling continues from the walls across the ceiling. This creates a neat and cohesive look.

18. Smile and Enjoy

Smile and Enjoy
Laura Lee Home

No matter how you use it, a sunroom should be a happy little spot — in this house, perhaps it’s the happiest. The homeowners love to step through the dining room’s French doors and down into this brightly lit room.

They use it for coffee with friends or just to relax. The kids even finish up homework in this space. Little details like the arched windows, pops of orange and pink, and vintage accessories make this sunroom induce smiles on the faces of everyone who visits.

19. Carve Out an Oasis

Carve Out an Oasis
Banner Day Interiors

This space encapsulates what a sunroom should be: an oasis for basking in natural light and cozying up for some relaxation and reading, says Clara Jung, principal at Banner Day Consulting.

The seating gave the design team some challenges, but in the end, these two chaise lounges offer ample lounging space while looking visually light in the narrow room. “The swinging chair adds whimsy and some fun,” Jung says.

20. Sunroom Sit Back and Relax

Sit Back and Relax
Lisa Teague Design Studios

“In all of my designs, I strive for a cozy, comfortable area where the sun shines in both summer and winter — a place for a cup of tea and a good book,” says Lisa Teague, owner of and principal designer at Lisa Teague Design Studios.

This sunroom is a great example of the space she tries to create. It’s saturated in a cool, serene gray paint, and offers multiple spots to curl up with a good book. After finishing the book, someone can turn the rocking chair and gaze at the quiet neighborhood below.

21. Welcome In the Fun Sunroom

Welcome In the Fun
Meghan Blum Interiors

Indoor-outdoor furnishings make this the perfect poolside sunroom. The family entertains frequently, and the room opens right out to the pool, which means not everyone will be completely dry as they come and go. This led the design team to put function first when choosing the layout and furnishings.

“It is an area that you can have the comforts of the interiors but also feel a part of a fun pool party,” says Meghan Blum, interior designer at and proprietor of Meghan Blum Interiors.

22. Create Drama With Materials

Create Drama With Materials

The reclaimed wood beams here draw the eye up. Then, the warm touch of the heated multicolored slate brings your eyes back down. And everything in between is also worth a look in this two-story sunroom filled with light.

“The eye moves around the large room, allowing you to discover objects of interest the further you look; the juxtapositions are interesting versus predictable,” says Jo Ann Stephens Alston, design director at J. Stephens Interiors.

The furniture allows for group gatherings. Behind the sofas, a window seat provides the perfect reading spot for lazy days. She chose each seating option based on its comfort, flexibility, aesthetics, and scale.

The curve of the sofa back provides interest as you walk into the room, she says. Additionally, two French bergère armchairs can be moved to join the central seating group if many people are being entertained. “I like mixing styles of furniture to create interest in space,” the designer says.

23. Go Green Sunroom

Go Green
RCL Development

Bright white walls let the lively green furniture grab attention as soon as someone walks into this tropical sunroom. The small details also pull in green tones, such as the emerald lamp on the side table and the patterned pillows on the chairs.

With so much to look at inside, you might almost miss the palm branches swaying in the breeze just beyond the doors’ glass panes.

READ:  12 Tried-and-True Paint Colors for Your Walls

24. Turn the Walls Into Windows

Turn the Walls Into Windows
The Mansion

When three sides of the room have almost floor-to-ceiling windows, you get a great view of the outdoors no matter where you look.

This sunroom has light coming in from the north, south, and east, says Lynn Neswold, interior designer at The Mansion. The design team made the room cozy by grouping the seating in the middle, and used a variety of options, from sofa to swivel chair, to accommodate a variety of guests.

“I also added textured drapery panels at the windows to play up the height and to keep your eye in the room at first before your eye moves to the outdoors,” Neswold says.

25. Bring In the Outside

Bring In the Outside
On Point Custom Homes

Windows that stretch to the ceiling make the natural light pour into this corner sunroom. So the homeowners could bask in the warm sun’s glow, the design team added a sectional and two ottomans.

“We wanted to create a comfortable and intimate seating area while avoiding cluttering the room with an abundance of stand-alone pieces,” says Tiffany Trask, selections coordinator at On Point Custom Homes.

The team also used the same Brazilian hardwood from the home’s exterior on the pop-down ceiling. “It gives you the feeling of being outside without actually braving the elements,” Trask says.

26. Punch Up the Color

Punch Up the Color
D.K. Boos Glass Inc

This sunroom doesn’t let dark flooring bring it down. The designers brightened up space and injected color at the same time by covering a dark wood floor with a large chevron rug.

Keeping to a cool color palette, they furnished the room with a green sofa and two light blue chairs. The gilded accessories also keep attention in the room, which can be hard to do when large windows are asking for attention.

27. Extend the Living Room

Extend the Living Room
Gray Walker Interiors

“This space isn’t decorated like a typical sunroom,” says Gray Walker, principal designer at Gray Walker Interiors. The client wanted the Knole sofa, so Walker designed the room around that.

She added comfortable chairs for reading, movable ottomans, and a coffee table for playing cards. Rich and textural fabrics cover each sitting spot, and a custom carpet pulls everything together. “The success in this space comes from our approach, creating a sitting room for all seasons,” Walker says.

28. Take In the Views Sunroom

Take In the Views
Wright Design

When you have panoramic views of a lake and mountains, position the sunroom for maximum viewing. Even if you don’t have that type of view, position the sunroom windows, and seating to take in your outdoor space.

This home sits on a hilltop, so it also gets great natural breezes, says Brad Wright, architect, and owner of Wright Design. On calmer days, the homeowners can create their own gusts, thanks to a ceiling fan.

Fan: Irene-5, Matthews Fan Co.; Original French Quarter light: Bevolo; mantel: reclaimed heart pine beam; fireplace stone: Doggett Mountain; flooring: gray Crab Orchard stone; ceiling: cypress wood with semitransparent Spanish Moss stain

29. Live on the Wild Side

Live on the Wild Side
Omni Photo Services

No matter where you look, vibrant colors and foliage come into view in this Texas sunroom. A jungle vibe starts underfoot with the rug and extends out beyond the glass walls and ceiling.

This sunroom also invites nature inside with different types of plants scattered around the room, shooting up toward the ceiling.

30. Treat the Windows

Treat the Windows
Galloway Family Homes

Windows play a big role in having the perfect sunroom. But don’t forget about the window treatments. These bamboo blinds add natural color to the top of the room and emphasize the height of each window.

If the homeowners need privacy, they can quickly let the natural material down. The natural textures and colors continue throughout the room, with a beachy light hovering above and wicker chairs clustered around a whitewashed table.

31. Fire Up the Sunroom

Fire Up the Sunroom
Wysteria Design

When you can’t avoid winter, combat it with a fireplace in the sunroom. That’s what the owners of this New Hampshire sunroom did.

The southwest-facing room gets plenty of light no matter the season, which highlights the Connecticut-blend stone fireplace and wood ceiling beams.

The homeowners had the beams milled from an oak tree that once stood on the property, says Becky Corringham, interior designer, and owner of Wysteria Design.

The design is dedicated to relaxing, watching shows, playing games and entertaining during every season. The fringed pillows, soft throws and large toss pillows in front of the fireplace make it a cozy extension of the home.

32. Use Exterior Materials

Use Exterior Materials
Schanstra Design Group

Fumed wood paneling fills this interior space, echoing the material found on the outside of the home. Gladys Schanstra, designer and president of Schanstra Design Group, says the wall material adds texture and warmth and maintains the contemporary look of the home.

For seating, the team opted to use two sofas to create an L shape, instead of a bulkier sectional. The two Leaf chairs add a sculptural look and more seating.

The family can use the space all year long, thanks to ceiling heaters and a fireplace (not shown).

Source: houzz.com/magazine

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