If you enjoy being in the warmth of the sun, winter is probably going to be your least-favorite season of the year. While winter certainly has its advantages, a lack of warm sunshine, and far too much bad weather can certainly put a dampener on things.
For those of you who wish to enjoy the warmth of the sun, without having to brave the elements, or the bugs and insects that tend to live outside, a sunroom is the perfect solution. Sunrooms allow you all the perks of being outdoors in your garden, basking in the sunshine, with the added bonus of being indoors, safe, and warm.
When choosing a sunroom, you can opt for an all-season sunroom, or a three-season sunroom. Three-season sunrooms do not offer the warmth and insulation that all-season sunrooms offer, meaning they’re usually unsuitable for winter. Even all-season sunrooms can get chilly in the winter, which is why winterizing is a good idea.
To help you enjoy your sunroom in the cooler months of the year, here are some affordable ways to winterize your sunroom.
Let There Be Light
As we’re looking at affordable ways to winterize your sunroom, this first tip is the most affordable of all, as it is completely free.
Sunrooms typically feature more glass windows than other rooms in the home. This is useful because it not only allows more light into the sunroom, but the glass also helps to magnify the sun’s rays, meaning it warms everything up.
On sunny winter days, if you really want to warm up your sunroom, go ahead and open up your curtains and/or blinds and let the sun flood inside. Not only are you heating your sunroom for free, but it also means there will be plenty of light inside, which will really help to lift the ambience.
Invest in a Portable Fireplace
If you live somewhere where the winters are generally mild, chances are you won’t have to deal with freezing temperatures for months on end. If this applies to you, a portable fireplace could be ideal.
Portable fireplaces runs off mains power and are designed to look just like real woodburning stoves or fireplaces. They’re electric heaters that even feature artificial flame effects for added realism.
If your sunroom has power, a portable fireplace is a great addition to any sunroom. There are plenty of economic models out there that use little power, plus if your sunroom is well insulated it means that it will hold the heat, so you won’t need to have the fireplace switched on for long.
As the weather warms up, simply store the fireplace away somewhere safe, and break it out when it gets colder again.
Get Cozy with Throws and Pillows
When it’s cold and dismal outside, it can be nice and relaxing to get comfortable, break out your favorite book, and have a good read in the warmth. A sunroom can be especially relaxing as you get such amazing views outside, with the added bonus of being safe and dry indoors.
Unfortunately, if it’s too cold, you’ll struggle to relax and unwind. One of the most effective and affordable ways to winterize a sunroom is to invest in throws and pillows.
Add some plump pillows, cushions, blankets and throws onto your sunroom furniture and you’ll be warmer and cozier than ever. When it gets chilly, wrap yourself in a nice blanket and you’ll be nice and warm in no time.
For an extra special look, go ahead and match your throws and pillows with your sunroom’s existing décor. That way it won’t look out of place when the weather warms up, and you won’t need to find somewhere to store them.
Insulate Your Sunroom
As we’re looking at affordable ways to winterize a sunroom, when we talk about insulation we’re talking simple hacks, not full insulation, which would cost a fair amount of money.
A well-insulated sunroom will not only trap in the heat during the winter, it will also help to keep it cool during the summer, and prevent cool air from escaping. Instead of a hardwood, tiled, or laminate flooring, opt for a thick carpet instead. This not only feels nice and homely, it also helps to keep the temperature warmer. For added heat, and luxury, don’t forget the underlay.
As well as your flooring, you can also focus on your windows. Window tinting film can be applied which prevents radiant heat loss. This means that it still allows heat from the sun to get inside, while simultaneously preventing radiant heat from escaping.
Thick curtains and drapes can also be used as they can help trap in warm air and prevent cool air from penetrating from outdoors.
On the subject of windows, you can also add weather stripping around the edges of your windows, as this too prevents warm air from escaping, while stopping cold air from coming in.
Use a Ceiling Fan
Using a ceiling fan to winterize your sunroom may seem counterintuitive, but in actuality ceiling fans can be great for keeping a sunroom warm during the winter.
As you may know, hot air rises, meaning most of the warmth in your sunroom will rise and escape through the roof. Most ceiling fans have switches which allow the blades to spin in the opposite direction. This in turn helps to circulate warm air around the room. Many woodburning stoves also come with portable fans which serve this very same purpose.
Instead of allowing warm air to escape, a ceiling fan in your sunroom will instead circulate warm air around the room. Used in conjunction with a low-power portable heater and the other steps listed above, this device will help keep your sunroom much warmer during the winter months.
Be Mindful of Furniture Arrangements
Finally, another very simple and affordable way to winterize your sunroom is to be mindful of how you arrange your furniture.
If you’ve large chairs, sofas, trunks, or other pieces of furniture blocking heaters, heat vents, or even the sun’s rays shining into the room, go ahead and move things around. Make sure warm air is allowed to circulate and cool air is allowed to escape.
To help keep you warmer as you relax, keep chairs and seating away from doors and windows, as these will be the coolest parts of the room.