We’re back to share phase two of our sunroom mini makeover. After painting the dark daybed white and bringing in our old guest room dresser and mirror during phase one (our “work-with-what-you-have” stage), we focused on two updates to enhance what was already working in the room: paint and curtain rods. First up, paint.
We’d wanted to paint the sunroom ceiling an inviting aqua for a while. In the South it’s traditional to have a light blue porch ceiling, and we thought the shade would feel just as fresh indoors in our sunroom. The ceiling had been the same warm tan as the walls since we moved in, so the change was overdue.
When choosing a color, we always tape a few swatches onto the plane we’ll paint so we can view them in morning, noon, and evening light. After observing the swatches for a few days we settled on Tide Pools by Behr. It’s bright enough to read as blue in any light but not so intense that it overwhelms the room. We bought a gallon in exterior satin semi-gloss for a slightly glossy, pool-like finish—ideal for a sunroom that functions as an indoor/outdoor space and isn’t regularly heated or cooled.
John tackled the painting while I was on baby duty. He taped the perimeter with Frog Tape to protect the wall color along the molding, used a brush to cut in around the edges, and finished with a roller. A pole extender helps reduce back strain, but John stretched his long arms and got the job done without one.
After two coats of the semi-gloss Tide Pools, the ceiling looked lush and the space felt instantly larger and airier—like removing the roof to reveal a clear blue sky. The sheen reflects light and adds life to the room without feeling glossy or fussy.
For crisp edges, remove painter’s tape as soon as you finish the last coat. Taking it off while the paint is still slightly wet prevents dried paint from peeling with the tape and gives a cleaner line. Also press tape down firmly when applying to avoid seepage along the edges.
Next was the curtain update, which made the room look polished and intentionally designed. The upgraded hardware brought both function and a cleaner aesthetic.
Previously, John had MacGyvered the curtains (Ikea Vivan panels) into each corner with twine and nails so they appeared to float. We knew that hanging slim, dark rods around the room would not only echo the deep door-frame color but also allow us to slide the curtains easily for light control—handy for things like photographing Clara for her weekly shots.
We used simple long curtain rods from Ikea and left the finials off for a cleaner look. The rods weren’t long enough to span the full 20-foot length, so we mounted two next to each other to create the appearance of one continuous rod that meets in the middle.
To make the corners look uninterrupted we installed two rods so their ends extended past the brackets and touched, mimicking the angle of the corner. Pulling the curtain panels along these extended rods gave us a seamless corner curtain.
We also hemmed the Vivan panels, which were too long out of the package. Instead of using Ikea’s webbed hem tape, we prefer iron-on Heavy Duty Heat N’ Bond from a craft store. First wash and dry the curtains so any shrinkage happens before hemming. Then hang them and decide the length you want—ours just graze the floor for a breezy, casual look rather than pooling or hovering above the floor.
That wraps up phase two of our three-part sunroom mini-makeover. The best part is the low cost so far: roughly $20 for ceiling paint and about $40 for four extra-long curtain rods, since most items were repurposed from other rooms.
Phase three will be the biggest change yet, so stay tuned. Do you tackle multi-phase projects? Breaking a job into manageable steps makes it less stressful and more doable—what projects are on your list?
Psst—We also shared a post on BabyCenter about the magnetic wall we created for Clara in our office/guest room/playroom. If you’re curious about alphabet magnets, check out our BabyCenter post for the full breakdown.
