Sunroom Sanctuaries To Swoon Over

Laurey W. Glenn

Imagine relaxing in a sunny spot, curled up with a good book or a beverage, that feels like you're enjoying the great outdoors without actually being in the great outdoors. Enter the sunroom, the ultimate sun-drenched retreat for soaking up some much-needed vitamin D.

What is a sunroom?

Also called a Florida room, a sunroom is a glass-enclosed porch or a living room. These spaces usually have large windows or glass walls on three sides (plus skylights, sometimes) to maximize natural light and show off outside views. Practicality reigns in these indoor-outdoor rooms; enjoy morning coffee or evening cocktails in these bug-free zones rain or shine. They're also a prime spot for houseplant collections. Three-season sunrooms are built without AC and are enjoyed in spring, summer, and fall (usually with a ceiling fan for cooling off during hotter months). Other four-season, insulated versions can be lived in year-round. Find inspiration for your home's next great escape with these five sunny sanctuaries.

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Wall-to-wall iron rods with rings allow the curtains to be pulled easily to reveal the full expanse of windows or block strong sunshine.

Because the front door opens to the sunroom in decorator Lindsey Ellis Beatty's Birmingham home, she needed it to make a splashy first impression. She transformed the former porch with plush upholstered pieces and a mix of vibrant textiles.

Laurey W. Glenn

Designer Grace Kaynor turned a dark office into a breezy solarium in this New Orleans home. She wrapped the space in sky blue latticework and installed black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring. Tidy topiaries connect the room to the courtyard outside.

Marili Forastieri; Styling: Barbara Schmidt

For her parents' Charleston, South Carolina, home, designer Jenny Keenan dressed up the sunny space with a geometric floor design and a quartet of comfy armchairs for cocktails and conversation.

Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kiera Coffee

The upstairs sunroom (set just off the primary bedroom in EJ Brown's Florence, Alabama, cabin) feels like a treehouse. She filled this cozy retreat with a collection of vintage and antique finds.

Laurey W. Glenn

In his New Orleans rancher, designer Shaun Smith swathed this sun-laden lounge in Farrow & Ball's Chappell Green (No. 83). With a seagrass carpet, woven shades, and a leafy green palette, the sunroom feels like an extension of the backyard.