We’re back to share phase two of our sunroom makeover. After painting the dark daybed white and bringing in an old guest room dresser and mirror for the first phase (our “work-with-what-you-have” stage), it was time to add two accents to enhance what was already in the room: paint and curtain rods. First up, paint.
We’d been eager to paint the sunroom ceiling an inviting aqua for a while. In the South it’s traditional to use a light blue ceiling on porches, and we figured we’d enjoy the effect even more in this indoor/outdoor sunroom. When we moved in the ceiling had the same tan tone as the walls, so it felt like a natural place to start a change.
Our color-selection process always begins the same way: tape a few swatches onto the plane we plan to paint and live with them in different lighting. After watching the swatches in morning, noon, and evening light for several days, we chose Tide Pools by Behr. It has enough brightness to read as fresh and watery without ever looking white. Because this sunroom is an unheated, uncooled indoor/outdoor space, we selected an exterior satin semi-gloss paint to give a slightly glossy, pool-like finish that resists moisture and cleans up easily.
John handled the whole ceiling project while I was on baby duty. He taped the perimeter with Frog Tape to protect the molding and prevent bleed-through, then used a brush for the edges and a roller for the field. A rod extender for the roller can reduce back strain, but John opted to rely on his reach and moved quickly through two coats.
After two coats the ceiling looked transformed. The semi-gloss sheen and color pop made the room feel larger and airier—as if the ceiling had opened up into a blue sky. For a crisp paint line we recommend removing painter’s tape as soon as the final coat is finished; removing it while the paint is still a little wet prevents dried paint from peeling back with the tape. Also, press tape down firmly during application to keep paint from seeping under the edge.
Next we updated the curtains—a change that made the space feel polished and much more functional. Previously, the Vivan curtains from Ikea were secured into the corners with twine and nails, which created a floating look but lacked utility. Installing dark, streamlined curtain rods not only introduced attractive hardware that ties into the door frames, it also added function: now we can easily slide the curtains to diffuse light or create privacy when needed.
We used simple long curtain rods from Ikea and left off the finials for a clean, modern look. The room is 20 feet long, so single rods weren’t quite long enough. Our solution was to mount two rods side by side so they meet in the middle and read as one continuous rod. To keep corners seamless, we mounted rods in such a way that their ends extend slightly past the brackets and touch, which creates the appearance of an uninterrupted corner rod.
When the rods were adjusted to meet at the corners and the panels were pulled along them, the result was a smooth, continuous curtain line. Two panels per corner hang neatly, and the overall effect is crisp and intentional compared with the previous improvised setup.
We also hemmed the Vivan panels since they were too long and looked sloppy at the bottom. Instead of the factory hem tape that ships with Ikea curtains, we prefer a heavier iron-on hem tape called Heavy Duty Heat N’ Bond, which we buy at a craft store. To get a reliable hem it’s important to wash and dry the curtains first so any shrinkage happens before you measure. Then hang the panels to determine the final length. We like a casual look where the curtains just graze the floor—not puddled but not hovering inches above it either.
So that’s phase two of our three-phase sunroom mini-makeover. So far the cost has been minimal: roughly $20 for the ceiling paint and about $40 for four extra-long curtain rods, since most of the other items were already on hand. The change feels big, bright, and fresh without a big price tag.
Phase three will be the most significant update yet, so stay tuned for that reveal. Meanwhile, have you tackled any multi-phase projects lately? Breaking a project into manageable steps can make it less overwhelming and more enjoyable. We’d love to hear about your experiences.