Sunrooms can be a welcome addition to your home because they make leisurely living possible all year long. Whether you already have a sunroom–or are considering adding a sunny retreat to your floor plan–here are 9 key elements to consider when decorating it.

Comfortable seating. The perfect sunroom acts as a second living room so it should be treated as such. Some popular materials of furniture include wicker, rattan, and other natural items. Thanks to the abundance of indoor-outdoor textiles, however, you can use any type of seating that suits your space, including upholstered pieces complete with plush pillows. Be sure to include electrical outlets to support floor and table lamps that will pair with your seating.
Window treatments. Even the highest quality floor-to-ceiling windows can’t completely safeguard a sunroom from overheating. Therefore, curtains or shades are must-haves for the times it gets too warm. To keep it light and airy, opt for something like bamboo shades, linen curtains, or sheers.
Beautiful colors. Punching up the palette will make your sunroom vibrant and welcoming. And one of the easiest ways you can set that cheery mood is by fitting it with colorful rugs, pillows, upholstery, and window treatments. Keep in mind that UV rays can fade fabrics–so, to avoid this, stick with indoor-outdoor fabrics and rugs that will stand up to the sun. Paint is another way you can bring in more color. Whites are common, but colors such as turquoise, orange, yellow, and even pink also make wonderful choices.
Environmental controls. Sunrooms typically don’t have heating or air conditioning. If possible, add a ceiling fan for air circulation and a fireplace to bring in extra warmth on cold nights.
Multiple purposes. If the sunroom is big enough, consider adding a dining table to the design. This will also come in handy if you’re short on outdoor space or have no formal dining room. Not only will it give you more room to entertain friends and family, it’ll give you more excuses to hang out in there. Have enough entertaining space? Maybe using part of the sunroom as a home office or adding a window bench would be helpful.
Decorations. The sunroom gives you the opportunity to display anything you may not have room for, or even want to display, in the more formal rooms of your home. As long as your windows are sealed properly, there is no reason for you to hold back from decorating the sunroom with your favorite accessories. Go as elegant or as whimsical as you want!
Greenery. Turn your sunroom into a greenroom! If you’ve ever had a desire to maintain an herb or container garden, a sunroom provides you with the opportunity to do so. Not only will there be ample sunshine in the space, the temperature will be relatively consistent, making it easy to grow pretty much whatever you want. Not looking to garden? Consider scattering some simple houseplants in decorative pots around the room. They’ll give you a splash of color and serve as a nice connecting element between the indoors and outdoors.
Rugs. Sunrooms typically have hard, moisture-resistant flooring such as tile, stone, or concrete. To add some softness, don’t skimp on the rug(s). Natural rugs like jute, and even cowhide, will hold up very well in a sunroom environment. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t throw down something more decorative and plush.
Simplicity. There’s no reason to overthink the design or accessorizing of your sunroom. Overall, it’s meant to be a space for fun and relaxation, so make sure that you keep that focus as you put it all together.

What’s Trending in Sunroom Decor

Now that we’ve covered some important elements when decorating a sunroom, let’s talk about what’s trending. While the Florida style sunroom, complete with tropical prints and rattan or bamboo furniture is a classic–and for a reason–there’s nothing wrong with branching out.

Here are 5 big trends to look out for: