Create A Sunroom With A Clever Alternative To Walls

Sunshine is one of those magical feel-good elements that instantly adds warmth and ambience to a home. Through the ages, humans have manufactured areas inside the home to capture this bright nature-themed experience in the form of solariums, atriums, and conservatories. Now, many homes offer the same idea with sunrooms, and they're a great spot to curl up with a good book. But, what if you don't have a space you can dedicate to a wall of windows and cozy reading chairs? With a little creativity and a covered deck or patio, it turns out you can get the look without the walls. All you need to do is add curtains. 

A simple way to make this dream a reality is by hanging cord and eye hooks along the underside of your covered balcony or patio. Sheer curtains are hung around the perimeter on the cord, giving the illusion of windows. The best part about this project is that there are some gorgeous outdoor patio curtain ideas that work for any budget, so you can extend your indoors outdoors without breaking the bank.

There's no wrong way to get this faux sunroom look. You get to choose the type of curtains you use and the method of hanging the fabric. You can use rods, rope, or even staple fabric directly to a pergola roof. To decide what's right for you, try picturing outdoor living rooms you'd want to sit in, and use those as inspiration for your finished look. If you go with the wire method, you'll need some heavy-duty hooks like the Aovchei self-tapping eye bolts and rope or wire. You can use a clothes line or plastic-coated window line like the Kilymezh white curtain wire, which comes with hardware. You may want to invest in some fabric protectant to keep colors from fading and materials from mildewing. You can also choose outdoor curtains, which are designed to resist outdoor elements. Once you've got your selected supplies, it's time to install and enjoy.

The hooks screw into the wood around the top of your deck. You may need a drill to get the hook started. Thread your sheers or other curtains on the wire, and attach the wire onto the securely installed hooks. Let the curtains flow, or tie them in a decorative knot toward the bottom. To keep the fabric from blowing around in the wind, you can line the bottom hem with fishing weights or chain. 

If you're looking for more outdoor patio ideas that can revamp your space into a sunroom, consider hanging clear vinyl instead of drapes. The translucent plastic mimics the look of glass panes around your veranda for a surprisingly indoor experience. Whatever you use, you'll have a lovely extension of your indoor space outdoors to relax in.