For city dwellers, having a balcony is often as close as you can get to having a garden of your very own. Sadly, many homeowners don’t consider how best to use a balcony, making do with a plant and a plastic chair or two. There’s no reason to be put off by how small the space is when it comes to decorating – after all, a balcony is a great way to let the great outdoors in and be enjoyed all year round.
Fix Up Your Railings
If your balcony wall railings are boring, you might want to spruce it up. Cast iron railings might only need a fresh lick of paint, and even changing the colour can add a whole new look – white railings against a red brick wall is a classic colour scheme. Alternatively, switch it out altogether – if your apartment is chic and modern,
For city dwellers, having a balcony is often as close as you can get to having a garden of your very own. Sadly, many homeowners don’t consider how best to use a balcony, making do with a plant and a plastic chair or two. There’s no reason to be put off by how small the space is when it comes to decorating – after all, a balcony is a great way to let the great outdoors in and be enjoyed all year round.
Fix Up Your Railings
If your balcony wall railings are boring, you might want to spruce it up. Cast iron railings might only need a fresh lick of paint, and even changing the colour can add a whole new look – white railings against a red brick wall is a classic colour scheme. Alternatively, switch it out altogether – if your apartment is chic and modern, why not update your balcony to match? Barrier Components stock a great range of glass fittings to make a trendy (and considerably safer) balcony wall. If glass fittings are new to your DIY repertoire, it’s worth hiring a professional to fit it for you.
Get Gardening
If you don’t have access to a garden of your own, a balcony is the perfect place to make one. Potted plants of all varieties can be placed in the small space, and you can mix up perennials and florals to ensure you have something pretty to look out in all seasons. You can even grow your own produce – strawberries, chillies, tomatoes, and potted herbs take up minimal space and are easy to grow in pots. As Apartment Therapy suggest, a linen shoe rack makes an excellent herb planter that can hang on the wall, perfect for herbs and salad leaves. All in all, a small balcony or patio can be transformed into a beautiful space with a few simple additions, such as potted plants and a vertical garden. It can become a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors, as well as grow your own produce.
Furnishings and Furniture
If your balcony has the space, it really does pay to make it into an area that you’ll spend lots of time in, especially on warmer days. Create a relaxing atmosphere for a morning coffee or evening glass of wine using beautiful unique garden furniture. You could even have something custom designed just for you, using supplies from sellers such as Alderfer Lumber Co. (www.alderferlumber.com). Adding furniture and décor to your balcony can help you create an inviting and enjoyable atmosphere. To further improve the ambience, why not add some outdoor plants or décor items to complement your chosen furniture pieces? Lanterns and tea lights allow you to make the most of the space in the evenings, as well as making the space nice and warm. For a truly magical experience, why not hang some fairy lights or string lights around the balcony to set a peaceful and romantic mood? Think about the colour scheme the same way you would design a living room, with one main colour and a contrasting shade to pop it with.
Overall, creating an enjoyable balcony space is not as difficult as it seems to be. With a little bit of planning and the right furniture, you can easily create a relaxing area that can be enjoyed at any time of day or night. Whether you choose to opt for lanterns and tea lights to light up the area in the evening, or you prefer to keep things simple with a few pieces of furniture, adding a few outdoor plants and décor items can really help to bring the space to life.