Spring is nearly here which means more time spent outdoors enjoying the green trees and flowering plants. Whether you have a solarium, sunroom, or enclosed patio, there’s countless ways to finish the space, from plants to furniture and more. So if you’re planning to enclose the patio in your San Diego, CA home this spring or are getting ready to add a sunroom to your home in Tampa, FL, there’s plenty of enclosed patio design ideas to choose from.

To help you get started, Redfin reached out to us and other experts from across the country to provide our best advice when completing your indoor-outdoor patio space. Check out what we had to say so you can begin enjoying the spring weather today!
From Plants to Furniture, Here’s 13 Enclosed Patio Design Ideas to Finish the Space

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Spring is nearly here which means more time spent outdoors enjoying the green trees and flowering plants. Whether you have a solarium, sunroom, or enclosed patio, there’s countless ways to finish the space, from plants to furniture and more. So if you’re planning to enclose the patio in your San Diego, CA home this spring or are getting ready to add a sunroom to your home in Tampa, FL, there’s plenty of enclosed patio design ideas to choose from.

To help you get started, we’ve consulted experts from across the country to provide their best advice when completing your indoor-outdoor patio space. Check out what they had to say so you can begin enjoying the spring weather today.

Think strategically when furnishing your enclosed patio

When it comes to decorating an outdoor space, things like patio furniture, indoor/outdoor rugs, and other decor accents can add up quickly when it comes to price. I always decorate slowly— I set my goal of when I’d like the look to be complete, then I hunt down exactly what furniture and décor I want for the space and price it all out. Then I assign each item a month (or a week- however long you want depending on your budget and timeline) and buy the items piece by piece. It makes it a fun process that I can fit into my monthly budget. Pro tip: October is the best month to get a deal on patio furniture. – Katie Hennessey, Champagne & Savings

Consider sun-resistant furniture

The ideal way to furnish a sunroom or any available patio space is with a sun-resistant luxury bed swing, outfitted with plenty of our handmade fade-resistant Sunbrella pillows, and surrounded by live plants, a natural fiber rug or two, and even a small water feature. A spacious, moving bed swing in the right room provides an “escape” for the whole family that is often a dynamic contrast to our daily routines. – Vintage Porch Swings LLC

Walking into a sunroom feels like walking into a secret garden 

Designed to feel like you are outside, the right decor is essential to its charm. For a space like this, it is important to choose furniture that is comfortable but also aesthetically pleasing. This could be anything from two cozy armchairs for reading, to a large conversation set to spend the day with your family depending on the size of the space. You’ll want to spend hours in this room, so make sure it is relaxing and inviting. Choosing outdoor furniture for your enclosed patio really keeps the spirit of the outdoors alive. We suggest wicker or more commonly known as PE rattan. Neutral colors complement the surrounding nature, so we suggest going with off-white, cream, or grey cushions. And as a final touch, personalized accent pillows or a throw rug can really complete the space. – Fabrika Outdoor Living

Make your enclosed patio a space for relaxation

Enclosed patios should be a space for family as well as a retreat to get away after a long day. Spice up any patio with a cozy space to relax, as well as a dining table to be able to view the outdoors. Sprucing up any patio with some strategically placed flowerpots and colorful hanging baskets with overflowing greenery, will help accent the natural feel. – CTW Home Collection

Your sunroom should feel like a vacation

When designing an enclosed patio or sunroom, you want to make your space comfortable and relaxing. Create a permanent getaway in your home that includes soft pillows, calming tones, lots of greenery, flowers, candles and books. When you enter your sunroom, it should feel like you have walked into a beautiful tranquil vacation. – Carise Harper, Style by Carise 

There are countless enclosed patio design ideas

When choosing furniture to configure your patio space – it’s a great idea to consider how many people you’d like to accommodate. Is there direct lighting or sunshine coming into this space? If so, do you want to face into it or will you require added shade options? A sectional sofa is highly configurable and maximizes seating as well as most corner spots on a patio or large balcony. You can even split the sectional into various seating arrangements when more guests arrive. Consider adding a footstool/ottoman to your existing patio. It can pair with a club chair or even a sectional sofa to turn any spot into a lounger or daybed. They are also an ideal solution for a table – simply add a tray and you’ve got the best of both worlds. Of course they are instant extra seating for guests too.

One final suggestion to update your living space – whether new or old – is to add some toss cushions. Their hits of colour and vibrance can completely rejuvenate your outdoor oasis and if you’d so desire you can change them seasonally for festive updates or even bring them indoors to enhance any living space – Wickertree Langley, We create dream living spaces. Indoor, outdoor & more. The Wickertree Home & Patio. Excellence in quality, style and service – since 1976. 

You have options from an enclosed patio to a sunroom

Gainesville Screen and Ocala screen patio remodeling/renovations has teamed up with Payne Construction Group to now offer room additions, sunrooms with LOW E vinyl windows with a 10 year warranty. Our exciting approach to remodeling and renovating your space is our passion. – Gainesville Screen & Ocala

Enclosing your patio gives you to opportunity to use it more often

Among other relevant benefits, enclosing your patio will extend the time that you will enjoy that special part of your home. No matter if it rains or it is too hot outside, current cutting-edge technology will provide the level of protection you and your family need against the main environmental risks, such as dangerous UV rays or excessive humidity. – Window World of Texarkana 

And it lets you enjoy the outdoors in less favorable weather

Enclosing an outdoor patio or porch can be a very cost saving addition to your living space. Bringing the outdoors in when the weather is not cooperating or the bugs are biting. The added square footage could also raise the value of your property. – Kerri Kerri Burk Designs, The Cob Collection Interior Design & Home Renovation

Help bring together the indoors and outdoors

Enclosing an existing porch can be a great option for adding additional enclosed square footage to your home and creating a transition from indoors to outdoors. There are many points to consider including adequate insulation in northern climates, the existing foundation and structure, and the cost of the renovation. Ensure the investment complements your lifestyle and enhances the value of your property. – Patrick Roche, Vintage Home Sanctuary

Choose the right plants for the amount of sunlight the space gets

A sunroom that receives a lot of direct sunlight is great for plants like hibiscus, snake plant, croton, succulents, and cacti. If your enclosed patio or covered porch doesn’t provide a lot of direct sun, you can decorate with fern, ivy, monstera, palm, or pothos. Plant flowering annuals to add color, and aromatic plants like rosemary or lavender to heighten the senses and make the area more relaxing. – Lanoha Nurseries

And vining plants are always a great option

Depending on if you have an indoor or outdoor space, vining plants create an effortless beauty in your space. Wherever they are climbing up or trailing down, they give an extra flare to the space, and are often easy to care for. – SWN Garden Center

Consider these three plants for your sunroom

If you’re new to plants, these three should help you get off to a good start. First choice is “The Cast Iron Plant.” It does not require a lot of sun, or anything else for that matter.  It grows long dark green leaves that can reach two feet in length. It does flower, but they are on the ground because in its native environment the plant relies on slugs rather than bees to pollinate.

Next is one you may have seen in the home of an extended family member – aloe vera. Aloe also does not need much sun. It does have medicinal purposes. We keep one in the kitchen in case we touch something hot, or get cut. You simply break off one of the thick leaves and squeeze the juice onto your skin.

The third plant to consider is Portulacaria afra, or “Elephant Plant.” This plant does like the sun, but does not get too big inside. Like all the plants listed, give it some water when you notice the soil is dry, and it’s “happy.”  

Potting tips: If you choose a pot made from terra cotta, remember that these pots dry out the soil in them quickly. I prefer to use pots with saucers for several reasons. One, it catches water that may run through the soil of your plant, which will allow the water in the saucer to keep the root tips moist. Two, housekeeping, they catch excess water that may run through the plants soil – Eric Hammond, Hammond’s Landscaping Corporation

Originally published by Redfin