Are you unsure about how to utilize your small balcony to its full potential? Experts provide a number of strategies to improve its functionality and design.
When you live in an apartment, even the smallest balcony can be an opulent haven. Though small in size, it provides a doorway to the outside world and a comfortable place to relax.
Even though they are little, balconies have a lot of uses. You may turn them into a tiny garden haven, a place to sit, or even a place to store things if you’re creative. Experts provide insightful balcony suggestions to help you make the most of it.
1. BUILD IN STORAGE
A well-planned balcony can offer useful extra room for storage, which is especially beneficial in smaller flats. Think about adding chic storage boxes that you can paint to match your outdoor décor. Furthermore, built-in seats with concealed storage spaces, such as those in this ingenious balcony design, provide a two-for-one option.
The idea behind this strategy is explained by Victoria Holly, principal and founder of Victoria Holly Interiors: “The goal was to maximize seating and storage for this particular area.” We made a custom banquette with lots of storage behind the seats to accommodate deep seating for all of us.”
2. CREATE PRIVACY
Because balconies are usually overlooked by adjacent locations, they don’t always provide privacy. But as this contemporary timber balcony design shows, there are creative ways to deal with this problem, such adding outdoor privacy screens or climbing plants on trellises.
The founders of AAHA Studio, Harper Halprin and Aaron Leshtz, outline their methodology as follows: “The wooden trellis is built of strong Ipe hardwood with a natural oil finish and hidden fasteners. Together with carefully considered landscape design, the structure is intended to offer a break from communal workplace spaces and create a cozy, welcoming, and eventually private area.”
3. MAKE THE SPACE GREEN
One easy method to maintain a connection to nature even in the center of the city is to keep plants on your balcony. Think about the ideal plants for your balcony that will thrive in the sun or the shade. Is it under cover or out in the weather?
4. MAKE YOUR SPACE FEEL COZY
Extend your living room and add low-level seaters, a small console, and chairs to create a cozy resting space on your balcony. Choose the greatest outdoor rugs to increase this space’s coziness and comfort.
Polypropylene is the best rug material, according to Brad Ramsey, president and founder of Brad Ramsey Interiors. This material is a plastic fiber that is stain- and color-safe and offers both durability and versatility. Polypropylene rugs come in a variety of textures, such as those that mimic natural and sisal materials, as well as supple and soft cut pile materials that imitate wool rugs.
It’s important to take the exposure to rain into account while choosing outdoor carpets. Despite their excellent performance, plush fabrics tend to retain moisture because of their thickness, which can lead to the growth of mildew. It is therefore advised to use thinner carpets without backing for locations that are prone to rain. These rugs make it easier for moisture to drain and dry off, which lowers the risk of mildew growth.
With the right polypropylene outdoor rugs, you may create a comfortable and tranquil space for relaxing on your balcony. With its cozy and welcoming ambiance, this area will be perfect for spending time with loved ones throughout the leisure season.
5. KEEP FURNITURE LIGHTWEIGHT
It’s critical to choose mobile, lightweight furniture when designing a tiny balcony so that you may rearrange the area to suit your needs and tastes. Because of its adaptability, you can rearrange the furniture to fit different events and store it away during the winter, especially if your balcony is outside.
This method proved essential in creating a visually arresting balcony with a bronze wall finish. Guillaume Coutheillas, the creator of frenchCALIFORNIA, says, “We chose lightweight furniture that can be effortlessly repositioned to accommodate various activities or to free up space as required.”
