What is a Sunroom Used for?

A sunroom is like nearly any other living space, which means there are an unlimited number of ways to use it. Sunrooms can be:

• Secondary living rooms
• Playrooms
• Home offices
• Dining areas
• Family rooms to watch television
• Places where animals sun themselves
• Retreats for meditating or doing yoga
• Cozy areas for reading or studying
• Entertaining and socializing spaces
• Garden rooms for growing plants
• Observation rooms for looking at the night sky

Many homeowners find that retreating to a sunroom can help them relax, so they spend long hours in their sunroom just sitting, feeling calm and happy.

However, sunrooms generally do not make good bedrooms. They have too much light and not enough privacy. If you are in need of an extra bedroom, a more standard room addition might be a better choice for your family.

Do I Have the Right Setting for a Sunroom?

Whether you live in a hot climate or a milder climate, you can design and insulate your sunroom so that it’s comfortable all year-round. (See Section 2 to learn about three-season versus all-season, or four-season, sunrooms)

Climate aside, there are other considerations when adding a sunroom. Because it’s mostly glass, a sunroom offers a continual view of your surroundings. If you have a gorgeous view, a sunroom can maximize it. But not all views are created equal. Keep in mind that you’re going to be gazing upon whatever outdoor area surrounds your sunroom.

Sunrooms can also create a privacy dilemma. Just as you can see out, people can see in. For yards with privacy screens from fences, trees, or high hedges and bushes, this may not be an issue. You can also hang blinds inside your sunroom. Either way, when you’re thinking about where to situate your sunroom, make sure to consider privacy.

The sun itself can also be a determining factor. A sunroom is meant to take advantage of the sun! But the sun can be unrelenting in some environments. If you want to use your sunroom to work or to watch television with your family, for example, too much light might detract from that. Situating your sunroom on the northern side of your home is one way to limit brightness.

One other thing to consider: If you have an existing structure you'd like to build on, your sunroom contractor will have to thoroughly evaluate it for safety. If the structure (existing patio, deck, etc.) does not meet the requirements for the sunroom, your contractor will have to rebuild it.