6 tips for creating a year-round Muskoka room

1 Light it up

Designer Colleen McGill was conscious of lighting in this 500-square-foot Muskoka room. The early setting sun is replaced by task lighting from chandeliers and sconces, while the fireplace and lit candles lend ambience.

6 tips for creating a year-round Muskoka room

2 Use fall's harvest

As the temperature changes, so do Mother Nature’s offerings. Follow her lead by swapping bright blooms for sprigs of berries and leafy branches with edible greens. White and blue pumpkins subtly usher in the season, while plums are a sweet reminder of bygone sunny days.

6 tips for creating a year-round Muskoka room

3 Colour outside the lines

You don’t have to use browns and reds for an autumnal look, says Colleen. Here, an indigo and cream palette – a summertime go-to – is augmented with shades of plum for an unexpected fall scheme. Weathered woods used throughout stay relevant year-round.

6 tips for creating a year-round Muskoka room

4 Get cozy

A screened-in room can get quite cool on an October evening, so the seating – from all weather wicker sofas to ceramic stools – is focused around the wood-burning fireplace. A sisal rug overtop the flagstone floor keeps feet warm, while tons of throws (including fleecy and furry options) and toss cushions allow the homeowners to get snug as they read a book or hang out – it’s the ideal setting for the season’s first hot chocolate.

6 tips for creating a year-round Muskoka room

5 Dine in comfort

A dedicated eating area makes it easy to take advantage of the enclosed room for both casual breakfasts and formal dinners. Plush seat cushions and throws offer the comforts of the indoors, ensuring the space functions for most of the cooler months, while verdant evergreens visible through the windows hint at the snowy scenes to come.

6 tips for creating a year-round Muskoka room

6 Set the scene

As the menu switches from light eats to hearty fare, the tablescape should follow suit. After all, as Colleen says, "it’s the decorative things that bring warmth and personality to a room.” Layers of materials like linen and rattan create a rustic display befitting a beef stew or warm apple cobbler. Birch branches and patinated silverware lend a relaxed air.

6 tips for creating a year-round Muskoka room

Table florals