Home Improvement Ideas Porches & Outdoor Rooms 18 Sunroom Decorating Ideas for a Bright, Relaxing Space Your sunroom should be the place everyone wants to sit when the weather is nice. Here's how to make it look and feel as welcoming as can be. By Jessica Bennett Jessica Bennett Jessica Bennett is an editor, writer, and former digital assistant home editor at BHG. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on March 26, 2024 Close Photo: Kritsada Panichgul Sunroom decorating ideas should always consider the natural light and views this open space offers. When designing a sunroom, include interior comforts to bridge the gap between indoors and out, making it the perfect spot to kick back with a book or sip your morning coffee. On warm evenings, you can sit in a cozy place and watch the light fade as night falls, and if you have a four-season sunroom, you'll spend time there watching the snowfall in the winter. A sunroom isn't a porch with entirely open and screened windows and walls. It has a proper ceiling and windows that open and close. There will be heating and insulation in a four-season sunroom, unlike a three-season sunroom that isn't used during cold months. Think of a sunroom as a view-focused living room where enjoying the outdoors while protected from the elements is the priority. With clever sunroom decorating ideas, including a functional layout and pretty accents, you can transform it into the most-used space in your home. Use these suggestions to create your ideal relaxation room. What's a Solarium, and How's It Different from a Sunroom? 01 of 18 How to Decorate a Sunroom Karin Lidbeck Brent Consider how you plan to use your space before deciding on sunroom decorating ideas. The room can serve as an extra living area, a light-filled dining space, or a quiet spot for relaxing. Outfit the area with furniture that suits your desired purpose, such as a table with bench seating for casual dining or a hanging rattan chair as a comfy reading nook. If you plan to use the room at night, consider mounting string lights overhead for a cozy glow. How to Install a Hanging Chair for Retro-Style Seating 02 of 18 Cozy Sunroom Ideas Nathan Kirkman Sunrooms offer an opportunity to extend your living and entertaining space, so make sure it's a comfortable area where you and your guests will enjoy spending time. For cozy furniture, consider a sizeable upholstered sectional that provides several seats and facilitates conversation. Employ sunroom decorating ideas to create an inviting feel. Decorate with plush throw pillows, potted plants, and a coffee table laden with books. 03 of 18 Sunroom Decorating Ideas Lincoln Barbour Here's the perfect place to play with bright colors and patterns. Start with a few simple pieces of sunroom furniture that will work with various styles and color schemes. Layer in a complementary collection of upholstered cushions, pillows, area rugs, and other accents. As a benefit, if you tire of a color, having used it on a rug, pillow, or throw, it's simple to swap out. 04 of 18 Sunroom Living Space Kritsada Panichgul This sunroom, flooded with natural light from large sliding doors and transom windows, breaks down the barriers between inside and outside. Even so, its modern farmhouse design keeps with the rest of the home. A comfy gray sofa, leather chairs, and wood coffee table pick up on neutral colors and materials used elsewhere. A Complete Guide to Sunroom Costs and Construction Options 05 of 18 Modern Sunroom Decorating Ideas Kim Cornelison Draw inspiration from the design style and color schemes throughout the rest of your home. For a modern sunroom, for example, choose sleek furnishings made from contemporary materials such as blond wood and painted metal. Keep the color palette constrained to neutral shades of cream, gray, and black with a few subtle notes of added color. 06 of 18 Bold Sunroom Decorating Kim Cornelison These bright, airy sunroom decorating ideas demonstrate a savvy mix of patterns and colors. Upholstered rattan chairs counterpoint the white slipcovered sofa, which is decorated with an eclectic mix of textured pillows. Underfoot, a geometric area rug splashes bold colors across dark-painted floors. 07 of 18 Sunroom Entertainment Zone Lauren Krysti If your sunroom is fully protected from the elements, you can include indoor-only items such as lamps, stereos, and TVs. In fact, installing the latter two can help draw family and friends to the room at night. Here, an eclectic mix of black-and-white patterns in the sofa and ottomans brings visual interest to the subdued gray walls and window treatments. 08 of 18 Sunroom Dining Area Werner Straube Many sunrooms have multiple entryways. If some of those are used less often, stealing space for a divided activity zone is OK. Here, most of the sunroom is used for living space, but a small, classical-style table and chairs offer a shady spot for dining. The 17 Best Small Dining Tables 09 of 18 Creative Sunroom Decorating Ideas John Bessler This home's sunroom has two entries, one of which was rarely used. However, it lacked wall space for a sofa or artwork. The homeowners co-opted one of the doors for a creative sunroom decorating idea: to hang artwork and orient the furniture. The cushion on a narrow storage bench picks up the pattern in the graphic throw. 10 of 18 Built-In Sunroom Seating John Bessler Typical corner furniture in sunrooms is a table and a chair. But consider adding a built-in corner bench to take advantage of every square inch, particularly in smaller spaces. These cabinets also provide extra storage. Fabrics on pillows and cushions tie together the turquoise, yellow, and orange color scheme. 11 of 18 Sunroom Layout Ideas Greg Schiedemann Long and relatively narrow, this sunroom could have quickly become a mishmash of furniture and materials. Instead, the homeowner divided it nearly in half, creating living and dining zones in a tropical-influenced space. Using wicker and dark-stained wood coordinates with the textural wallpaper, while patterned pillows on the seating add bright color. 12 of 18 Traditional Sunroom Decorating Ideas Werner Straube A casual sunroom might feel out of place in more traditionally styled homes. Instead, it is best to continue the same sensibility in finishes and fixtures. With large banks of windows, this sunroom is awash in light. Classic furniture lines and patterns, as well as the chandelier, maintain the formal feel. 19 Impactful Ways to Dress Multiple Windows in a Row 13 of 18 Sunroom Design Tips James Yochum Sunrooms are often oriented inward around comfortable seating areas, dining spaces, or other living arrangements. But you might want to rethink that if you have a view. Take this sunroom, for example. Its furniture arrangement ensures homeowners can enjoy the striking, uninterrupted sightline. Simple accents, including a few pillows, a decorative rug, and a nautical-themed statue, keep distractions to a minimum. 14 of 18 Colorful Sunroom Decor Michael Partenio Hardy elements, such as the slate floor and exterior shingles, seamlessly connect this space to the home's exterior. To add interest, the homeowners dressed up the dark wicker furniture with bright colors, including turquoise, orange, and yellow. The lively colors contrast the darker elements and help create a cozy, inviting space. 15 of 18 Small Sunroom Decorating Ideas James Yochum While mirrors are used in home decor for practical reasons, they also serve another purpose: to bring light into a room and eliminate shadows. Although sunrooms usually get plenty of sunshine, corners might appear dark. Here, the white color scheme keeps the sunroom bright during the day, and at night, the mirror bounces light from the lamp around the space to make it appear larger and well-lit. Pretty details on the mirror and console table add visual interest. 16 of 18 Casual Sunroom Design Stacey Branford Many sunrooms resemble finished interior rooms more than outdoor structures. This is a nice melding of the two, with a vaulted, beamed ceiling and unfinished walls accented by homey touches, including pretty window treatments and a contemporary sectional sofa. To add practical storage, consider baskets (which also serve as decorating accents) under furniture. 20 Smart Ways to Organize with Baskets for a Less Cluttered Home 17 of 18 Sunroom Furniture Ideas Gordon Beall Although most sunrooms are centered around seating, a pretty piece of furniture, such as a sideboard or dresser, can be a great design focal point. Here, a dramatic chest offers storage and a jumping-off point for the room's eclectic style. Graphic-painted flooring, an area rug, and island-inspired rattan seating turn this sunroom into an escape. 18 of 18 Indoor-Outdoor Sunroom Furniture Richard Leo Johnson In less temperate climates, sunrooms may be used only during warmer weather, particularly if windows are screened. That means you must ensure that fabric, furniture, and accents can withstand moisture, wind, or sun. The wicker furniture used here will stand up well, and the graphic pattern on the sunroom's floor offers inspiration for the patterns on the pillows and the rug. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit