While both have you soak up the sun indoors , they are not the same affair .

Solariums and sunrooms are good sunlight gob that set aside you to savour in the light beam of the Dominicus year - round , summertime through winter , engulf the sunshine ’s warmth even on the crispest of days . Both options are an even bigger winnings if you ’re surrounded by scenic landscape , as one of these window - lined room will leave you with an impressive panoramic view , not to mention that spare infinite .

There ’s no doubt that one of these suite can make a capital add-on to your menage , but which one to choose ? sun parlor and sunrooms are n’t the same , so your decision will impact the last appearance and function of your space . To help oneself you make the right choice for your space , Sunday lovers , we ’ve break down the key difference between a solarium and a sun parlor .

Porch with striped rug, two couches, and wooden table

Credit: Nathan Kirkman

What Is a Solarium?

A sun parlour is a way with a preponderantly drinking glass design and can be either a freestanding structure or an fond regard to a home . Also referred to as a conservatoire , a sun porch has field glass wall and a field glass ceiling that maximize the intake of natural sunshine and provide talkative horizon of the straightaway milieu .

The shut walls of a sun parlor permit you to sense immersed in the outside earthly concern from the comforter of your home , taking in the pleasures of the four seasons while being sheltered from those less - pleasant issue , such as chilly winters , inviolable wind , and pour rain . The same benefits apply to works : plant growing in a solarium are sheltered year - round , pass water solariums a popular option among gardeners .

Bear in judgment that , without caliber ( and pricey ) three-fold - pane insulated glass , sun parlour can be open to utmost temperatures , being frosty in the winter and baking spicy in the summertime . As a result , they are not the most energy - efficient pick . Aceiling fancan assistance mobilize the air and shades will keep the coarse sun rays out on hot sidereal day , but the temperature inside a solarium will fluctuate with the temperature outside more than it will in other suite of your home — something to consider when deciding how your solarium is attached to the relaxation of your theater .

open, vaulted sunroom ceiling and large corner sectional

Credit: Stacey Branford

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What Is a Sunroom?

Sunrooms are rooms with many window , though unlike solariums , they are not made entirely of trash . Sunrooms are an extension of the family , and as such they have a solid roof that put up a more enclosed environment . fanlight and enceinte windows let plenty of sun into a sun parlor , allowing you to enjoy the views and connect with the external world from the comfort and shelter of your climate - control home . Many solarium have doors lead to a garden or patio , so you’re able to easy maltreat outside and embrace the elements should you care to do so .

There are two types of sunrooms : three - time of year and four - time of year . As the name implies , three - season sunrooms are designed for utilisation during three seasons of the year : bounce , summertime , and fall . As they are physically sort out from the relaxation of the house by sliding patio doors or Gallic doors and are not climate - see , they are typically not used in the chilly winter calendar month . These types of sunrooms are simple to install , as they are typically built over an existing deck of cards or patio .

Four - season sunrooms , in equivalence , are integrate into the structure of the home and its existing HVAC system . They are not break up by a threshold , but rather dish as an extension of the animation quad , and can function as a dining way , playroom , or canvas . Insulated roofing , flooring , and wall command the elbow room ’s temperature so the space can be enjoyed year - round . Four - time of year rooms lean to be more expensive and time - consuming to build , but they ’re available all class long .

Should You Pick a Solarium or a Sunroom?

While solariums and sunrooms may expect exchangeable , they are very different . Ultimately , the correct decisiveness number down to personal taste , budget , privacy preferences , and what you mean to use the extra quad for .

Solariums are a better choice for anyone attend to maximise their clip under the sun and connect with nature as , on top of the expansive eyeshot , they also provide the staring sun trap for civilise an inside garden . A sunroom is the path to goif you have the budgetand are looking to invest in your nursing home . If you have a turn folk and need additional , light-colored - filled space to utilize yr - rhythm as a game room , living elbow room , rest home office , or guest bedchamber , you may also pick the pragmatic sun porch over a sunporch .