How to Create a Cozy Sunroom
If you're looking for inspiration for how to create a cozy sunroom, look to the Danes. Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word that means "a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment." Since the idea has gained popularity here in America in the last five years, many decorators have taken it to mean creating a cozy and inviting space. So, whether you're hoping to create a cozy porch or sunroom, here are some hygge-inspired ideas.
Consider your lighting.
It may seem counterintuitive to want to add shade to a sunroom, but if your room receives glaring sunlight at certain times of the day, it can dampen the coziness of the space. To give you more control of the amount of light in your sunroom, we created Sunshades that can be raised and lowered as needed and fit perfectly into a Sunspace sunroom.
Once you've controlled the glare of the day, you may want to think about how you'll use the room after sunset. For ambient lighting around the ceiling of the room, a Sunlight Illuminated Valence will give the space a warm glow. If you'd rather have your lighting closer to eye level, consider candles – real or simulated – or fairy lights in select places in the room to create focal points. Keep in mind, though, if you're planning on reading or playing board games with your family late into the evening, you'll want enough lighting to make those tasks easy on the eyes without creating a harsh glare.
Choose soft fabric accents.
Whether you're adding an area rug to your floor or throw blankets and pillows to your seating area, go for the soft, luxurious fabrics like chenille, faux fur, and sherpa fleece. If they make you think of bundling up against cold nights, then they're the right ones for hygge. The style is focused on functional warmth because it originated in a colder climate. But even if you'll be spending more time in your sunroom in the warmer months than the winter season, plush fabrics create an inviting space for relaxing.
Focus on natural materials.
Furniture crafted of simple designs (as opposed to ornately carved) and natural materials like wood and bamboo work well for creating a cozy sunroom. Part of the hygge lifestyle is a feeling of contentment by way of minimalist décor. There's no need for formality and gilded ornamentation when your focus is on wellness and contentment. Let your goal of enjoying the simple things in life be reflected in your furnishings.
Keep the colors neutral.
To be true to hygge, select neutral colors for your sunroom. Cream, white, ivory, gray, and tan develop a clean palette and easy-going atmosphere. It also makes matching those soft fabrics and accent pieces much easier. However, we understand that not everyone can stand an all-neutral room. In fact, some people may consider the idea too strict, so as a compromise, create a focal point with a bright pop of color – whether it be a vivid vase with your favorite flowers on the coffee table or a piece of art hanging on the wall, we won't judge. After all, the idea is to make this cozy space your favorite room in the house, and that means it needs to reflect your personality as much as it embraces that warm and welcoming feeling you're searching for.
Put it all together.
Taking these rules for creating a cozy sunroom, you can design a space that you and your family will truly enjoy spending time in. Imagine a faux fur rug underneath beautiful wooden furniture with ivory cushions and cream-colored and gray pillows topped by chunky woven chenille throw blankets. Add soft lighting and minimalist accent pieces to give the space a warm glow and a feeling of balance.
Now that you know the basics of hygge, you can take these cozy sunroom ideas and apply them to your porch or any other space inside your home. If you're interested in adding Sunshades or the Sunlight Illuminated Valance to your sunroom, contact us for more information.
