Not only will a sunroom increase the total amount of usable space in your home, but it could also help you reduce your heating bills and save money. Building and furnishing a winter garden doesn't necessarily have to cost a small fortune. With good planning and smart strategies for choosing materials, you can create a cozy and functional space. Read our design savings tips and be inspired by the great examples below.
1. A multi-purpose conservatory
The winter garden generally serves as a sunlight-filled place for reading, drinking coffee and caring for plants. But you can use it in even more versatile ways. BuildYour own herbs, sprouts and lettuce or other vegetables. This can reduce your food costs if you eat a lot of salads and fresh herbs. Create a dedicated yoga area with a mat, water bottles, relaxing music and a fountain. This way, you can cancel your expensive yoga studio membership or simply continue your exercise program at home. It can still function as a home office for your hobby or small business. Very often, this extension simply represents a second living room, where you can view and enjoy the garden even in winter and for which an appropriate design is chosen.
What else you should consider when designing
2. Financial benefits
Of course, it costs money to build and design, but in the long run this space can reduce household costs and save money. A sunroom increases the total square footage of a home and adds an attractive lifestyle element that would likely increase the home's sale value as well. A well-placed, well-insulated glazed extension can absorb significant amounts of solar heat and distribute this throughout the home, significantly reducing the amount of energy required for the household to heat the home in winter. And vice versa. Sunrooms also help keep homes cool in the summer.
3. Save money when building the winter garden
Save money when building your sunroom by using recycled, repurposed materials or those you already have on hand. For example, reclaimed architectural materials such as moldings from a junkyard or store. Use leftover tiles from kitchen or bathroom renovations. Choose the most durable materials and finishes for design that can withstand the local climate for many years.
4. Facility
The winter garden can be furnished in a cost-effective way by choosing inexpensive, durable furniture in a classic style. The furnishings include armchairs, side tables and shelves for plants. When decorating, stick to the timeless, functional style instead of buying trendy decorative items that will be passé in a few years and will have to be replaced by models that are now trendy. Paint the walls a neutral color such as white or taupe. Light colors will reflect sunlight and make the room appear more spacious. Avoid buying new furniture and choose high-quality furniture made from durable materials such as leather and solid wood. So it doesn't have to be a brand new facility to start with. Maybe you still have a few pieces of furniture in the attic, garage or basement, or perhaps a friend is currently replacing their furniture and could leave the old furniture to you. This is definitely suitable as a temporary option. Until you save money for new furniture.
Winter garden on the balcony
If you don't own a house, you don't have to do without the winter garden. Many people also convert the balcony of their condominium and simply turn it into a locked room. Sliding windows and doors make it possible to fully open the balcony in summer and use it as usual. In winter and on cold days, the room is simply closed again and can be heated and used. This type of redesign is of course particularly practical if the balcony is slightly larger and offers enough space for some furniture and plants.
Furniture with a timeless design
No matter whether your construction is made of metal, PVC or wood, timeless furniture designs fit every style. These do not necessarily have to be color-matched when choosing the construction. So you can design the interior according to your taste. It doesn't matter whether furniture is made of wood, rattan or metal, the main thing is that you feel comfortable in the new house extension and a harmonious ambience is created
Sliding doors for seamless transition
Folding doors or sliding doors made of glass are of course particularly attractive and practical as walls for design. With your help, the winter garden can be transformed into an open terrace particularly quickly and easily on warm days. But of course their use also involves large expenses. So consider whether you value such a wall design and want to invest in it or whether fixed glass walls with one or two patio doors that lead into the garden are not enough for you. The money you save can then be invested in something else, such as blinds or furniture.
Folding glass doors for terraces and winter gardens – 20 inspirations
Upcycling ideas
Here you can see again how you can put old pieces of furniture to practical use. An old dressing table, an antique sewing machine or a side table can be used as a plant table or used to set up flower pots and thus provide additional storage space. The same applies to chests of drawers or other cupboards, which you can also freshen up with new paint and adapt to the winter garden design.
Hammock in the winter garden
A small and narrow balcony that does not offer enough space for chairs, tables or even armchairs and a sofa, you can also consider a hammock or a lounger to relax, which are also narrow and do not take up much space. The plants can be placed at one end or hung to utilize the upper levels. Blinds guarantee you privacy and sun protection, so you can enjoy your nap in complete peace and quiet.
If your terrace already has a roof, you can save a lot of money if you glaze it, as the roof does not have to be built first. Of course, this also means that the new room won't be quite as bright. However, that doesn't mean he won'tsufficientwill be bright. In any case, this is a cheaper option than building an entire winter garden. In summer, use it again as an ordinary terrace by equipping it with sliding doors that can be fully opened.
