Sunrooms

In regions where the climate is harsh for a significant part of the year, a sunroom can be used as an indoor-outdoor space. The sun room (which some people call a solarium) can be wide open during the warm weather, but closed up against the elements when the weather is cold or wet. During the winter, these sunrooms allow only the sunlight. The sunroom is the perfect place to retreat to on a frosty winter day.

Sunrooms were originally designed strictly as places in which plants could thrive during the cold season. Over the years, however, sun rooms, as well as atriums and conservatories, have gained in popularity and have become frequent features in the design of modern houses and even apartments and condominiums. People like the idea of a place where they can relax and enjoy nature without having to worry about the cold weather, rain or annoying insects. People are setting up solariums not only as a sort of enclosed patio or extra sitting room, but even as bedrooms. This is probably because they provide such a relaxing atmosphere. Also, many people like the idea of sleeping “under the stars” and waking up to spectacular dawns. Sunroom windows frequently provide magnificent views. Sunrooms also make great, cheerful play areas for children. The plants can be arranged in a manner that keeps them safe from harm while the children play. Of course, the sunroom is a terrific place to sit down with refreshments when visitors come calling. Sunrooms are for both urban and country dwellers. You can have a sunroom on the side of your cottage by the lake, or you can have a sunroom in an apartment where there would usually be a balcony. You can buy a pre-fabricated sunroom. Four Seasons Sunrooms, a leader in this field for almost thirty years, designs, builds and services sunrooms, solariums, conservatories, Florida rooms, enclosed patios and greenhouses. Four Seasons sunrooms provide comfort the year round. There is one type of sunroom, called a 3 season sunroom, that does not have the extra feature of thermal insulation that provides protection from the coldest weather. Besides Four Seasons, there are other sunroom dealers, such as Alberta Sunrooms. These companies also sell sunroom furniture and sun porch furniture.

If you are interested in building your own sunroom, you can find all of the materials you will need at your local building supply centre. You can even purchase sunroom kits, which come complete with sunroom plans. You can find interesting sunroom designs in books at the library, or online.