Sunrooms Let it SHINE

EVEN IN THE DEPTHS OF WINTER, A CLEVERLY DESIGNED AND STYLISH SUNROOM WILL ILLUMINATE YOUR HOME

- BRITTANY SMITH & VICTORIA KINGSBURY

Is there anything more delicious than finding a sunny spot to warm you in the depths of winter? Whether it's a sliver of sun in the bedroom, a skylight in an otherwise dark room, or a whole wall of windows to saturate a space with natural light.

Perhaps this is why the sunroom is a popular addition to homes in Australia, where the central heating favoured by countries in the northern hemisphere, is much less common. The addition of a sunroom will not only provide more heat and light, but it's also an extra living space, somewhere to relax and while away a few hours.

"I think the sunroom is all about enjoyment of life," says Melanie Parker, Ivy Piper co-founder and designer. "To sit and be present and enjoy the simple things. Typically, they don't have televisions so they're really family-focused - a space for stillness and conversation."

If you're lucky enough to have one, or you're thinking of adding one to your home, even if only in the form of adding more windows to a room, then read on for ideas and inspiration. From planning to decorating and even furnishing, we have all the secrets from the experts on how to create your very own light and bright sunroom.

Back to basics

If you're planning to build a sunroom, either as an addition or incorporated into the house, you will need DA approval from your local council. The main characteristic is an abundance of windows - it could even quite simply be a glassed-in living space. Usually a sunroom will have a solid roof, as a glass ceiling would be overwhelmingly hot in summer, except for those living in cooler climates like Victoria.