How to Decorate a Sunroom?

by Velinda
(McDonough, GA)

I have a vaulted sunroom with thirteen 33½" (width) x 64" (length) windows along with transom windows. The room is more of a rectangle and the only wall space is the back of a fireplace and protrudes out.  How does anyone decorate this room? Other than wanting tile on the floor, what else do I do?

Giorgina's Answer: One of the first things to consider with decorating any room is color. Color affects how spacious and bright a room appears as well as our mood. A neutral color, such as a beige or light brown color will add coziness and warmth to the room. If you are interested in exploring other colors, please take a moment to read our Home Decorating Colors article.

Since you have a lot of windows, this does present some challenges in terms of placing art on those walls. However, having windows is great because it brings much needed light into a room and makes it appear more cheerful.

Some suggestions for decorating include taking advantage of the focal point in this room, which is the fireplace. You may wish to display a lovely painting above the fireplace. If your fireplace has a mantel, you may want to consider placing two small topiaries on each end with a wire basket containing decorative accent balls in the center of the mantel.

If this doesn’t appeal to you, you may place a few faux books stacked on top of one another, with the largest book sitting on the bottom, along with a figurine on top of the books (such as a bird sculpture) on the far end of the mantel. In the center, you may place a faux plant (such as a boxwood topiary) that is inside of an urn, with a matching sculpture on the other end of the mantel.

For a striking look, consider flanking each side of the fireplace on the floor with a finial. This brings interest to the overall fireplace. Another idea is to purchase a lovely fireplace screen to further enhance the look of the fireplace.

When positioning furniture, avoid blocking the fireplace. You may wish to position seating around the fireplace to create a conversation area that is intimate. Fireplaces are romantic, cozy, and make a fabulous area to gather around and converse.

You expressed that you will be incorporating tile flooring into this space. Consider going with larger tiles, such as 18 x 18 that are installed in a diagonal pattern to give the room the appearance that it is larger. In doing so, it will create the longest straight line in the room and the eye will focus on that.

You may also wish to include a rug. Rugs are a great way to help define the space while giving the room a cozy and inviting feel. The beauty about rugs is that they are easy to maintain, come in so many styles, and can be rearranged as desired. Consider using an area rug if you are interested in transforming your room quickly and economically. To give your room the appearance that it is larger, consider a light colored rug that is spacious in size.

Lastly, to add more color and bring the outdoors inside, place a large faux plant that is set in a beautiful plant container in a lonely corner.

For more decorating ideas, please see our Decorating Sunrooms article.