How to Choose Sunroom Furniture
Live it up under the sun, indoors
Before you rush out to buy that fabulous set of white wicker chairs and matching table, stop and think outside the box a little. It's too easy to fall into the stereotypical trap of what you should add to sit on, lounge around on or eat at. There are so many other options that to choose sunroom furniture that looks like it came out of a bad old decorating magazine would not do it justice. One of the best ways to visualize the kind of furniture you'll enjoy using is to wait until the sunroom is built and then drag a couple of your existing chairs out there and just sit. Take in the view, feel how warm or cool the atmosphere is, listen for echo and gauge the amount of space. Once you know how it feels to be there, you'll have a better idea of the kind of sunroom furniture that will suit the ambience you'd like to achieve.
Busy entertainers will need plenty of chairs or other seating plus a table or two for food and drinks. Families with young children covet more space and some comfortable, pillowy options to sit on or flop around in. A keen gardener will love the opportunity to tend to his or her plants in the sunroom, so furniture will be kept to a minimum in favor of more space for plants, herbs, orchids and perhaps a bird cage with a singing canary or budgerigar. It's important to choose sunroom furniture that fits the intended use of the space and not merely extend the existing living rooms into an area that really deserves its own personality.
Sun exposure is nearly always a factor when looking for sunroom furniture. Unless you have high grade window tinting, it's vital that what you choose is capable of resisting UV rays and not fading over time. Some plastic and fiberglass molded furniture deteriorates due to exposure to the sun and can be very uncomfortable to use, particularly in the case of fiberglass chairs that can cause troublesome itching to bare skin. Choose items that won't 'wither' in high heat and that won't freeze your body when it makes contact.
Happy sunroom owners recommend using lightweight furniture for this special part of the house. It tends to be a place to where people are drawn to eat, relax, converse and chill out. Being able to move chairs around, sit on the floor, take a nap or get busy with a hobby is a valued virtue. Keep things simple and enjoy not having to sit up straight as you would in a more formal environment.
Your own sense of style will also help to dictate the sunroom furniture you choose. You might favor a western aesthetic and include beautiful old, rustic pieces made of wood and leather. Or the feminine touch might suit you better and your sunroom will reflect your love for all things floral and perhaps even shabby chic. A love for contemporary entertaining will call your attention to sleek, modern items that may tend towards modular. Some people go for a retro cool look. Whatever your style, as long as your sunroom furniture is UV-resistant to a degree - or you're prepared to change it around to avoid prolonged exposure - then the glass ceiling is the only limit to your imagination.