Sunroom Location 101: Choosing the Ideal Spot for Your New Living Space (Guide for Sunrooms)

Sunrooms are becoming an increasingly popular home addition and for good reason. These versatile spaces allow you to enjoy the outdoors and natural light year-round, while also providing extra living space and increasing the value of your home. But one of the most important decisions you’ll make when adding a sunroom is where to place it. Choosing the right location for your sunroom is crucial for maximizing its benefits and ensuring its success as a new living space in your home.

In this blog post, we’ll share our thoughts to help you decide where to build your new sunroom.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Sunroom Location

When selecting the location for your sunroom, there are several factors to consider. One of the most important is sun exposure. A sunroom should receive plenty of natural light, but not so much heat that it becomes uncomfortably warm. To find the right balance, consider the orientation of your home and the direction it faces. If your sunroom will receive direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day, you may want to consider shading options, such as curtains or shades.

Privacy is another important consideration when choosing a location for a sunroom. You want to be able to enjoy your new living space in peace, without feeling like you’re on display to the neighbors or passing traffic. At the same time, you don’t want to sacrifice a good view. To find the right balance, consider the location of surrounding buildings and trees, and choose a spot that provides the privacy you need while still allowing you to enjoy the outdoors.

Accessibility is also important when choosing a location for a sunroom. You want your new living space to be easily accessible from the main living areas of your home, without requiring you to go outside or navigate a maze of hallways. Consider the proximity of your sunroom to the kitchen, living room, and other areas where you’ll spend time.

Proximity to outdoor spaces is another factor to consider when choosing a location for a sunroom. A sunroom can serve as an extension of outdoor spaces like a patio or deck, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors even when the weather is less than ideal. Consider the location of your outdoor spaces and choose a spot that allows you to easily move between the sunroom and the outdoors.

custom stand alone sunroom used as a gazebo

custom stand alone sunroom used as a gazebo

Choosing the Best Location Based on Your Home’s Architecture

You should also choose a location for your sunroom that is compatible with your home’s existing architecture. The sunroom’s design should complement the existing style of your home, rather than looking out of place or detracting from its overall appearance.

Rooflines and eaves are important considerations when choosing a location for a sunroom. The sunroom’s roof should fit seamlessly with the existing rooflines and eaves of your home, creating a cohesive look. Consider the height and slope of your home’s roof when choosing a location, and choose a spot that allows the sunroom’s roof to blend in with the existing rooflines.

Window placement is another consideration when choosing a location for a sunroom. The sunroom’s windows should align with existing windows and doors to maintain a cohesive look. Consider the placement of windows in your home and choose a spot that allows the sunroom’s windows to blend in with the existing window placement.

Getting HOA Approval Three-Season Sunrooms

Many Home Owner Associations have far more strict rules when something can be visible from the road. This means it could be far more difficult to get approval for a sunroom on the front or sides of the house instead of the back.

In our current neighborhood, all changes to the front of the home must be approved in writing. The change requires completing an architectural review form, and the entire process can take months. In some cases, the change requests have even wound up in court due to the HOA board rejecting changes that are allowed by state law. If you’re curious, two examples were a satellite antenna and solar panels.

However, on the back of the home, we are given far more reign and many of our neighbors have added a sunroom or screened-in their back patio. When we added solar screens to the back of our home to help with cooling costs in the summer, we simply completed a basic form with a few pictures before, and the entire process took a couple of weeks.

Since the changes to our home couldn’t be seen by other people in the community and therefore wouldn’t impact their property value then they didn’t care. Also, we’ve never been one of the people who complained about other people’s changes meaning that they were less trying to troll us which has been the case for some people who wanted to make changes. You could also have a glass roof and use this as a dining room or living room. How you style the room can depend a lot on the furniture you choose.

sliding patio doors with a sunroom fully builtout house addition

sliding patio doors with a sunroom fully builtout house addition

Maximizing the Benefits of a Well-Placed Sunroom

By considering, you can maximize the benefits of your sunroom and ensure its success as a new living space in your home. One of the key benefits of a well-placed sunroom is improved energy efficiency. A sunroom that is placed in the right location can reduce heat loss and improve insulation, leading to lower energy bills and more comfortable living space.

Another benefit of a well-placed sunroom is increased property value. A well-designed and well-placed sunroom can increase the value of your home, making it a smart investment. When choosing a location, consider how the sunroom will impact the overall appearance of your home, and choose a spot that enhances its curb appeal.

a well-placed sunroom can enhance outdoor living. A sunroom can serve as a bridge between indoor and outdoor living spaces, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors year-round. Whether you’re relaxing with a book, entertaining guests, or simply enjoying the natural light, a sunroom can provide a comfortable and inviting space that feels like an extension of your home.

Securing Your Four-Season Sunroom

Another key consideration when adding a sunroom is that you may want to make it less visible to people who may be interested in breaking into your home. We’ve created a full guide on how to secure your sunroom, but the most important lessson is to keep it out of view so that you don’t seem like a house that will be an easy target for a burlary. We knew one person who went to the extreme level of putting cast iron rods over his windows and used a heavy duty storm door. Before making this change, his home was broken into twice, and he said never again. This isn’t a change we’d suggest for most homeowners, but in this case it was what he needed to do to feel safe.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, choosing the right location for your sunroom is crucial for maximizing its benefits and ensuring its success as a new living space in your home. When selecting a location, consider factors such as sun exposure, privacy, accessibility, and proximity to outdoor spaces. Additionally, choose a location that is compatible with your home’s existing architecture, and consider the impact the sunroom will have on your home’s energy efficiency, property value, and outdoor living. By carefully considering these factors, you can ensure that your sunroom is a well-placed and well-designed addition to your home.

Last Updated:September 26, 2023