How do I make my sun room feel finished?

The darker furniture pieces help anchor this large sunroom

Dear Dawn,
I have a sun room that was added on to my home several years ago. Once all the work was done I realized it was a challenge to not only decorate, but for some reason it still feels like it is in a state of transition, and not a finished room. Where am I going wrong?
Leslie, Ft. Wayne

Dear Leslie,
One mistake a lot of people make with their sun rooms is making them too different from the rest of the home. If you want your sun room to feel more integrated and finished, you should try a few of the tips listed below:

Pull color from adjoining rooms 
A sun room feels less like an addition when you pull color from the rest of your home into the space. This doesn't mean you have to use the exact color, but using lighter shades in an existing color already present in the home should help the room feel integrated. Try to find furniture that is similar to what your already have and love as well. Don't be lured into buying furniture that looks like "sun room furniture" that looks picture perfect but isn't user friendly or comfortable. This could keep the room feeling not only unwelcoming, but disconnected from the home.

Anchor the room
So many times, we see sun rooms that are light and lovely to look at, but they still feel like a glorified enclosed porch. While sun rooms should be filled with light many times people forget that a few visually heavy pieces can be just the anchor a sun room needs. So what exactly are visually heavy pieces? This can be items with strong presence in the room either in size, color, or texture. With all the strong light usually present in a sun room, you may feel the room has a light, ethereal, floaty feeling that doesn't really say, come on in and get comfortable. Adding a few dark furniture pieces, a bold print rug, or some texturally interesting pieces should help "settle the room down" and make it feel like it has substance.

Make sure the temperature is under control
Believe it or not, humans are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in temperature. A few degrees in either direction can be all it takes to make a room less appealing. Sun rooms that tend to be too warm in summer and too cold in winter will not be utilized to the fullest. If you haven't done so yet, look into adding heating and air conditioning to the space. Light control is important in keeping a room from feeling too warm during peak sunlight hours. Investing in window blinds may be a way to help stabilize the temperature in the room. Consider adding additional sources of heat  and air with electric fireplaces, and ceiling fans as well. 

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Project: Sunroom Addition

Is it worth it?
Definition: A Sun room, also known as Florida room, and in some cases, a 3 season room is defined as a structure which is constructed onto the side of a house, usually, to allow enjoyment of the surrounding landscape while being sheltered from adverse weather conditions such as rain and wind. However, today Sun rooms are so much more than a mere structure to enjoy the exterior landscaping. Many are also all purpose rooms, family rooms and double as a place to entertain or house overnight guests if it is properly heated and cooled. Sun rooms are seen primarily in southern regions of the United States, but they are starting to emerge elsewhere too. Many of the origins associated with sun rooms, began in Europe.
Adding a sun room on to an existing home, especially if using an existing enclosed porch is a great way to expand square footage and add much needed space. With the addition of heating and cooling capabilities a sun room can often add value to a home. How much value differs depending on what area of the country you live in, and also to what extent your addition is made livable. Sun rooms that are not heated or cooled are often called 3 season rooms and in most cases must have the ability to be closed off during certain times of the year when temperatures are too hot, or too cold to enjoy the room. Adding electric fireplaces, or window unit air conditioning may be an option to get the most use out of a sun room, provided it is well insulated and built to code.

If you are willing to do most of the work yourself, with the proper building permits obtained, enclosing a porch and making it into a sun room can be done relatively inexpensively. Do not skimp on the materials however, if you plan on this being a year around addition, as you will only add to your heating and cooling costs in the long run. If you are considering a three season room, make sure to have the ability to fully close the room off when not in use. Do not expect to receive the same return on your investment for a 3 season room. In some states, the added square footage is not included in the homes appraisal, and this could affect your ability to recoup any costs associated with it. In some states, a sun room yields far less of a return on the home value than a family room addition, so consider carefully  the definition of both before adding it on. Building inspectors and appraisers have different criteria involved for both and knowing this in advance may make a difference in what you label your room.

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