Our Best Tips on How to Keep Sunroom Warm in the Winter

how to keep sunroom warm in winterIf you have a sunroom or enclosed porch, you might struggle to ensure it is the right temperature all year long. However, you can learn how to keep sunroom warm in the winter with just a few simple tips. With our advice, your indoor/outdoor living space can be cozy and comfortable even during the dead of winter.

Start with a Well-Built Space

The best way to ensure your sunroom is usable all year long is to work with a high-quality contractor to create your custom space. Here at Structurally Speaking, our clients love spending time in their sunrooms. Yes, even during the winter. Here are some of the ways we build sunrooms you can use all year:

  • We use energy-efficient materials, especially windows, which will preserve heat in the winter and keep your space as cool as possible in the summer.
  • As we design your space, we’ll consider the position of the sun. With a sunroom, we want to take advantage of the sun so you get as much sunlight as possible. This helps not only with heat in the winter, but also ensure that plants in the room get the light they need.
  • We outline your heat options (electricity, gas, etc.) during the design presentation, along with our recommendations for what we believe will work best in your home.

If you are thinking about adding a sunroom or want to expand or remodel your current space, give us a call. We’d love to set up a free initial consultation to talk to you about your options and give you a quote.

Use Supplemental Heat Sources

It’s not unusual for sunrooms, especially older sunrooms, to need some extra heat during the winter. Here in North Carolina, our winters don’t last as long or get as cold as they do in some states. However, we still have some days where the temperature dips below freezing. Sometimes, we even get cold snaps where we’ll have several very cold days in a row. When that happens, your sunroom might feel uncomfortable without supplemental heat sources.

Even without major renovations, here are a few ways on how to keep sunroom warm in winter by adding some extra heat:

  • Wall-mounted space heaters
  • Electric fireplaces
  • Free-standing stoves or wood-burning outdoor fireplaces
  • Vented fireplaces that use gas or propane

This article has some great information about the pros and cons of different space heater options, so you can choose the best type for your space.

Add Fabrics to Keep the Space Cozy

Still wondering about other methods of how to keep sunroom warm in winter? Even if you don’t want to renovate your space or add supplemental heat, you can easily make a few changes to make your sunroom warmer. Adding fabric surfaces is relatively inexpensive and can make a huge difference.

Start with a big rug if your space isn’t carpeted (most sunrooms aren’t). You can roll up the carpet during the warmer months if you wish. We recommend an outdoor carpet. They come in beautiful styles and are easier to clean if your sunroom gets a lot of traffic.

You’ll also find that your sunroom feels warmer if you add soft-surfaced furniture. Instead of metal or even plastic furniture, choose furniture covered in fabric. If it’s not possible to replace the furniture, consider instead adding cushions or pillows. You can even keep them inside your main house where it is warmer overnight.

Last but not least, add some curtains. During the coldest days, you can close the curtains to add an extra barrier. Closing your curtains at night can also help the room retain heat. Heavier curtains work best, but you may wish to switch to lighter, airier curtains during the summer.

Make the Best of Your Sunroom’s Position

One of the biggest advantages to having a sunroom is that it can feel like you’re enjoying the outdoors even when you’re inside. Sunrooms, enclosed porches, and other indoor/outdoor living spaces use walls of windows that allow you to enjoy your backyard. As we discussed with our previous tips, closed curtains can help keep your space warm. However, you can also keep your curtains open when it is to your advantage.

Depending on the position of your home and your sunroom, it might make sense to keep your curtains open during the morning or during the afternoon. Then, close your curtains as the sun’s position changes to retain that heat.

If you don’t like the look of curtains, you can also use shutters to keep your sunroom warm in winter. Some homeowners find shutters easier to clean and more durable. However, they are not as easy to install or change as your decor changes. Keep in mind that you can use both curtains and shutters

FAQs About How to Keep Sunroom Warm in Winter

Do you have more questions about making your sunroom more energy-efficient in the winter or expanding your current space? We’d love to speak with you. Our team would love to design a custom sunroom you can use all year long. Here are a few other questions we commonly hear from people who are wondering how to keep sunroom warm in winter:

Is a warm sunroom best for plants?

It depends on the plant. Some plants do best in direct sunlight with a lot of heat. Others do better with indirect sunlight. We recommend choosing plants for your sunroom based on the position of the room in your home. Most plants do best if they are not directly in front of a vent or other artificial heat source.

Can I more easily heat a sunroom or screened-in porch?

Sunrooms are generally easier to heat because they have built-in heat sources through your normal heating system or a stand-alone unit. However, an enclosed porch might make more sense for your specific situation. Contact us for a full explanation of these options and which is best for you.

Do you have other quick hacks for keeping a sunroom warm?

Along with adding fabric, another quick hack you can use to keep your sunroom warm is to add film-style window insulation during the winter. This product is easy to install and relatively inexpensive. Even with double-pane insulated glass, plastic insulation can make the room warmer.

Click here to contact us today. We’d love to answer your other sunroom questions or get you set up with a free consultation to talk about upgrading your outdoor living space.