A sunroom is the perfect escape — a bridge between the indoors and outdoors that allows you to enjoy nature regardless of the weather. That’s why it is so important to include outdoor landscaping in your ultimate sunroom design. What is outside your windows will become a part of your interior decor when you are enjoying your sunroom addition. Here are a few tips to consider when making decisions on how to maximize your view from the sunroom.
Do
Spark visual interest by highlighting the landscape outside your sunroom windows. Integrate the patio or deck, paths, and ornamentation into your landscape design. Consider a stone path, or specific ornamentation that speaks to you like bird feeders, statues, fountains, or a garden. Use bright colors in your choice of plants, with interesting patterned leaves or blooming flowers.
Don’t
Don’t close in your view. The most visually appealing landscapes incorporate far as well as near. This is especially true if there is a view of water or mountains in the distance. Keep the landscaping open and flowing to highlight far-off elements, while still providing interest directly outside the windows with flowers, shrubs, walkways, or other objects.
Do
Use all five senses. Planting small fruit trees will bring the sound of songbirds outside your sunroom. This could, of course, go for other trees, too, and anything that they can gladly perch on. Bright flowers like hibiscus will attract hummingbirds, while many bright or sweet-smelling flowers like wildflowers and lavender will add the hum of nectar-gathering bees to your outdoor space. Roses, gardenia, and other sweet smelling vines and shrubs diffuse pleasant smells throughout your outdoor area.
Don’t
Don’t forget the tactile sense. Plants like those from the cacti family, agave, yucca, ornamental grass, aloe vera, saw palmetto, and holly may be native plants, but they also tend to poke, prod, and cut if you are working around them. Remember this when incorporating sharp plants into your landscape scheme.
Do
Maintain a sense of flow and balance. Although a sunroom is an ideal middle ground between indoors and outdoors, the structure has also cut into the existing landscape. To keep the space balanced, plant shrubs and trees that mature quickly, like crape myrtle, to enhance the area. Keep in mind how much space you have to work with when planning your landscape design. Vertical elements will work better for a small yard, while bushy shrubs and sprawling gardens and pathways are an option for larger yards.
Don’t
Avoid closing yourself in. This means you should keep the view from the sunroom open to maintain the feel of being outdoors in nature. Additionally, shrubs and trees planted too close to the structure can cause damage from branches to the paint and glass, or even damage from insects.
Sunshine Sunrooms offers help from beginning to end of the design and installation process for your sunroom. For a quote, call us at (972) 243-5390.
