Guest post by Lea Schneider

If you have a sunroom, take advantage of all the light coming into your house and transform it into a winter-ready haven. After plenty of use from a busy summer and fall, early winter is the best time to give your room a deep cleaning and set it up for use in the coldest season. Try these tips to turn it into a winter retreat.

Clean and Bright

Make the space welcoming with a good scrub. With the windows closed for the winter, you can easily do some deep cleaning without breezes blowing dust around.

• Start by decluttering. Pack away warm-weather decor like seashells and outdoor toys for use next summer. Relocate any summer and fall plants that are now dormant.
• Use the top-down cleaning method. Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures with a microfiber duster or your vacuum dust attachment. A window cleaner makes short work of any grime left on glass light covers.
• Dust the walls with your microfiber duster and polish the windows with window cleaner.
• Vacuum baseboards, floors, chair cushions, and rugs.

Get Comfortable

In the summer, you may throw yourself on a mesh chaise lounge or Adirondack chair and let the breeze blow through the chair. In the cold months, cushions are a must. Find comfortable cushions for your outdoor furniture that you can snuggle up in.

If you’re in the market for new items, choose furniture that’s cozy enough for winter indoor use but can stand up to moisture and wind during the summer months when you leave the windows open. All-weather wicker, teak, and aluminum are inviting choices.

When it comes to choosing an aesthetic, think of your sunroom as an extension of the decor in your home.

• Select pieces that are in line with the styles you love in your main living areas so that your design flows from your other rooms into your sunroom.
• Arrange pieces to create comfortable conversation and easy flow in and out of the space.
• Find a focal point. In this case, take advantage of the sun streaming through the windows and showcase your view. The combination of snow and big bare trees against the sky is beautiful. Add a rocking chair where you can relax and enjoy the view.

Go for Cozy

The sun should bring in some heat during the day, but you’ll want to include other things that make you feel warmer.

• Install a space heater or electric fireplace if your sunroom is perpetually chilly.
• Layer the floor to block the cold. Put down a rug pad followed by an indoor-outdoor rug that you’ll be able to use all year long.
• Add throw pillows made with outdoor-grade fabric that can be used during winter and summer.
• Place plush throws over the back of the sofa and chairs so that they are easy to grab.
• Bring in winter decor. Small potted Norfolk pines, a tray of scented candles, a basket of pine cones, and a stack of books make the room feel welcoming.
• Finish your space with lighting. Place string lights around the room, then add a table lamp and floor lamp to make it easy to enjoy the space on gloomier days.

Don’t neglect your sunroom during winter. When the days get shorter and colder, take time to transform your home’s bright spaces into a relaxing winter escape.

Lea Schneider is a professional organizer who spends her spare time rehabbing her 1950s ranch. Lea writes for The Home Depot and provides advice on topics ranging from organizing your closet to updating your patio with furniture and accessories. Click here to find The Home Depot’s patio furniture options for your sunroom.

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