There’s no doubt that you have an entire house filled with perfect Florida rooms because you live here! Did you know that because outdoor living areas are so popular here, people across the nation are starting to refer to their sunrooms, patios, and back porches as the “Florida room?”
They are.
We can’t hold it against them though because having a little slice of paradise all to ourselves is why we bought homes here!
We’ll let them dream their little dreams.
Have you transformed your outdoor living area into a space that you and your family can enjoy year-round, rain or shine? If it looks a little rough around the edges right now, we’ve got some tips that can inspire you to take drab to fab without breaking the bank.
First things first
If you haven’t enclosed your outside space yet, you need to consider doing it. You’ll begin enjoying the benefits immediately—and there are many when you think about it!
The main reason that we enclose our outdoor spaces is to create a sense of privacy. That’s true whether you decide to install a glass or mesh screen enclosure.
We believe mesh screen privacy enclosures are the best choice because glass enclosures block free airflow. It turns out that triggers feelings of claustrophobia in some people. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, glass enclosures are prone to mold and mildew because no airflow means that damp corners and crevices become the perfect breeding ground for it.
Left unchecked, it continues to spread and eventually can become harmful to your health—it affects animal health too.
Blocks bugs and debris
As soon as your Florida room is enclosed, you’re going to experience living life in paradise bug-free!
Imagine that for a second—
No more constant swatting when a swarm of insects invades your party. You won’t need to keep a supply of flyswatters on hand to fight off the flies for outdoor get-togethers either. Nor will you need to fill the air with the pungent aroma of insect repellant and citronella in hopes of getting in a night swim with the family.
When it storms outside, you can sit inside and enjoy the rain instead of dreading the mess left behind when it ends. Yard debris becomes nearly nonexistent… we won’t wipe out the possibility entirely because odds are that you have kids enjoying your Florida room. It tends to find its way in from time to time then for sure.
UV protection
Glass enclosures can actually provide a degree of UV protection thanks to the wonder of treated glass. The cost goes up depending on the degree of protection, of course.
Mesh screen enclosures provide a degree of UV protection too. The sun filters through but not at full strength. That means you won’t need to apply sunscreen nearly as often when you’re enjoying time outdoors.
The kids are going to love to hear that news, aren’t they?
Map out your design
Take time to think about how you will utilize your Florida room because it will help you determine what furnishings to purchase to enrich your space. For instance, if you rarely dine outdoors, clusters of seating areas would work better for your family than having a dining table and chairs.
Your lighting choices should reflect how you plan to use the space as well. If you’re creating a reading nook, you’ll want to provide enough lighting to read late into the night. You just never know when you’ll feel compelled to discover how it all turns out in the end.
Accessorizing your furniture with pillows and throws brings an element of comfort and serenity to the room.
Water features add aesthetic pleasure, but you must admit that humans are just as attracted to the sound of running water. It creates a sense of peace within us. Implementing a water feature in your design could be as easy as placing a very small one on a table top!
If you use plants in your design plan, giant urns filled with dried branches and ferns are a popular option. However, if you have a green thumb, having a variety of greenery surrounding you probably sounds more appealing.
Some people add drapery so they can completely close off the area from the outside world. Mesh screen enclosures could solve that issue because some companies, like ours, for instance, offer customers an option to customize their privacy screen using digital imagery.
The transformation is amazing. You won’t ever want to cover it up!
Lounging in paradise
If you haven’t got a Florida room yet, we’re pretty sure you would never regret adding one to your home. In addition to the benefits we listed above, they actually increase your property value to some degree.
If your home has a patio or back porch, enclosing it will likely cause you to hang out there even more than you do now. In fact, the new Florida room may instantly become your family’s favorite room in the entire house.
It will be a cozy place to hang out rain or shine. Play games, talk, create a chorus of snores when you all drift off on a lazy Sunday afternoon… you know, family stuff!
Enjoy it while you can because time passes quickly—and, the passing of time brings change. Before you know it, the kids will be growing up and off to spend time with their friends more than they’re at home.
That’s not all bad, of course. Eventually, there will be new memories in the making. Like, when you plan that small outdoor wedding, perhaps. Or, maybe even better yet, when you snuggle up with a grandchild on the chaise for the very first time…
Whatever it is that you find yourself doing out in the Florida room, enjoy it!