Lanai, Florida Room, Sunroom…. What is the difference?

Whether it is a lanai, a Florida room or simply the patio, I think where you live has a lot to do with what you call it!

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What the Lanai Looked like When We First Purchased the Florida House

There are many reasons why an outdoor living space is an attractive addition to one’s home.  What you call your outdoor living area probably depends a lot on what part of the country you live in.  Whether you call it the lanai, Florida room, sunroom or simply the porch the area can  expand your living area.   These outdoor areas can be the perfect spot for entertaining guests or just relaxing after a long day. They offer a great way to enjoy the outdoors while still having access to indoor amenities.

Let’s Start with a Few Definitions

Webster’s dictionary defines a lanai as an open-sided living room or a veranda.  The word lanai originated in Hawaii.  The term is widely used in tropical locations to describe a rear facing porch.  Flooring for the lanai will  typically be either concrete, stone or pavers.

A Florida Room is a room often found in the rear of the house and is designed to let in as much natural light and fresh air as possible.  The use of screens help to keep out as many bugs and other creatures as possible.  Sun Room is another term that can used for a Florida Room.  The term Sun Room is more commonly used in the Northern and Midwestern parts of the country.

Lanais as well as Florida Rooms and Sun Rooms will have a roof and permanent side enclosures of either screens or windows. A fancy word for a Sun Room is Garden Conservatory.  The term Garden Conservatory paints a picture of a room filled with plants, light and quiet places to rest.

The picture at the top is the lanai at our Florida house as it looked when we first bought the house from my Great Aunt in February 2018.  In late 2020, we  enhanced our lanai.   It really changed the look of our backyard.

Before

The Steps to the Pool

The Pool looking from the West

The “Kitchen” Area

More Terms for the Outdoor Area

 

Another word I like is Veranda.   A Veranda is a long, open porch with a roof and may be enclosed by a railing.  A Veranda is in the front of the house and may wrap around the sides of the house.  Veranda is a term commonly used in the Southern parts of the country.  Can’t you just picture sitting in a wicker rocker sipping lavender lemonade while sitting on your veranda?

The picture above depicts a typical Farmhouse front porch.  The front porch is another relaxing , peaceful spot to sit and reflect.

A patio is normally a spot in the back of the house that may or may not be covered.  The above picture is the patio of the house that Extreme Makeover Home Edition built in Philo, IL in 2009.  That was one of the most rewarding experiences I ever participated in.  Details about my experience can be found here:

No Matter What you Call it, your outdoor space is the the perfect place to:

 

Ways to Expand the Use of  Your Outdoor Living Area

There is a lot of  interest in expanding our living areas to the outdoors.   If you’re looking for ideas on how to add features to your outdoor living area, here are some things to consider. First, make sure you have enough room for seating. Coffee tables or side tables will give you somewhere to place your snacks and beverages. You could also think about adding a barbecue grill, fire pit, or other outdoor cooking equipment.  Another option would be to add a spa tub or hot tub. These additions will help you relax even more when you’re spending time outside.

Depending on the area of the country you  live, you might need to add a few things to make it more comfortable in the fall and winter.  Throws or blankets can help keep you  warm. For easy care, choose a throw that can be machine washed and dried like the one pictured below.

An outdoor heater might be handy too! I have included a link to one type but there are many options out there.  Please be sure to choose one that it rated for use outdoors.

Shopping Links:

There are many, many options for patio furniture.  This is only one of the options.  I like this one because it has several pieces.  The chairs could even work with a dining table.  The ottomans can serve as additional seating.

This table and chairs set has a hole for an umbrella.  I think the color would work with the pair of chairs and the ottomans.

This Acacia table looks very nice.  It would even work inside your home.  You would need to add your own chairs.

A full size wood burning fire pit

Table top S’mores kit

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