Sun rooms, three-season rooms, Florida rooms, whatever you want to call them, more of us are finding ways to bring a little outdoors inside.
Fancy iron-work (think French cafe style) or comfy cottage wicker are popular furniture choices, with a pillow-heaped day bed for lounging with a lemonade on a hot summer day.
Now, imagine if you could extend the blend of outdoor-nature and interior style, to blur the line between home and garden. Add a jungle of potted house plants — over-sized, grouped in corners or on either side of the patio doors, with a single lovely piece of garden art nestled among the greenery.
Appeal to all the senses. Scented candles, or simply a few arrangements of aromatic herbs and flowers, are a soothing delight. And what about a delicate set of windchimes near an open window, or the soft water-music of an indoor fountain, perhaps wall-mounted if space is an issue?
Keep the colours light and airy, to continue the sense of space and freedom you draw from outside — with a rich splash of accent colour to mirror your favourite flowers.
The back wall, facing the garden, might feature a textured finish (faux stone?) or even a wall mural to continue the illusion.
Try a little trompe l’oeil painting if you’re artistically inclined. Or consider a pre-printed wall mural, as durable and easy to install as any good quality vinyl wallpaper. MuralsYourWay.com has a terrific selection from Monet’s poppy-splashed masterpieces to the frankly fantasy garden, and will also print custom murals from your own photographs or original artwork.