All-season rooms – whether they’re heated, fully insulated sunrooms or enclosed patios with an independent heating source – provide the perfect bridge between indoor and outdoor living spaces. But many homeowners aren’t quite sure what to do with this sunny space.

If you’ve got an all-season room, take advantage of its potential. Determine your best use for the room and then think outside the glass box – perhaps you need a home office or a transition area from outside to inside to leave muddy clogs and jackets.

All-season rooms make great party spaces, family hangouts … even mud rooms.

Greenhouse. A glass-enclosed sunroom provides lots of natural light for plants all year long. Use tile flooring for easy cleanup. A sink or easy access to a hose will make watering a breeze, and don’t forget a small storage unit to hold fertilizer, pots and other plant paraphernalia. Add a comfy wicker chair and table so you can sit and enjoy the greenery.

Home office. With the addition of bookshelves and a desk, an insulated sunroom can be perfect for working at home. While the idea of a home office filled with light appeals, blinds or curtains are essential for making it work for work. Choose light furniture and sunny paint colours. 

Mud room. An enclosed patio is perfect for storing shoes, jackets and seasonal items. Pick easy-to-clean, scratch-resistant flooring. Add mats for muddy boots, stand-up coat storage or pegs and a bench for removing your shoes.

Party room. A sunroom can be party central. Wicker furniture and light-coloured cushions keep the look airy and light, and bright flowers in small glass vases add punches of colour. Use a bar cart to store tableware and glassware. Portable speakers or an iPod dock add music without taking up too much space, and they can be tucked away when not in use.