Having an apartment balcony is always a bonus. Just think of the possibilities available to you! You can do so many different things in this space.
How big is the average apartment balcony?
The average balcony size is four feet, which means two or three people can sit comfortably on it. While that might not sound like a lot, you’ll be surprised by how much you can do with it.
From using the balcony to create a garden to having extra storage space, your balcony is often overlooked. Let’s take a look at 10 balcony decorating ideas to inject new life into this prime area of your apartment.
Create A Green Wall
If you don’t have enough space on your balcony to have an actual veggie garden, you can still bring greenery into it by having a green wall.
This is easier to achieve than you might think.
Hang baskets with overflowing plants and flowers on the balcony wall so that they will fill up the space, creating a beautiful accent wall. As the plants grow, they will fill the space even more, becoming a statement piece.
Bring In Pillows
You might not have space for loungers and large chairs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t turn your balcony into a social spot.
Place decorative cushions and pillows on the floor to create a comfortable sanctuary your guests will love chilling in when they come to visit you.
Make sure you choose oversized, comfortable pillows to make the spot extra appealing. In the colder months, decorate the place with beautiful blankets to create warmth.
Decorate With A Rug
You might not think of a rug for your balcony but this is a wonderful touch to add a bit of pattern and color to this spot.
In addition, it will create warmth on chilly evenings while you’re watching the sunset.
You must just be sure to purchase a rug that’s made of tight woven polypropylene that prevents the absorption of water.
This material also has UV stabilizers, meaning that the rug won’t end up fading from too much sun exposure.
Make It A Space For Your Plants
You can easily turn your balcony into a gorgeous garden by bringing in some potted plants.
Create a space in which to sit so you can feel like you’re outside in nature.
If you’re short on space, choose plants that are tall and sleek.
If your balcony gets a lot of light, it’s the perfect spot for sun-hungry plants.
Plants can also provide greater privacy.
Tall plants like bamboo are great because they create a natural type of wall, as Architectural Digest points out.
These are especially useful if your balcony is very close to your neighbor’s apartment so you won’t feel watched every time you step outside.
Don’t Forget About The Balcony Railing
The balcony railing of your apartment might be an eyesore, but you don’t have to be stuck with it.
Why not dress it up with pretty flowers or plants?
You can easily install planters along the railing to add some lovely color to your balcony with the use of hanging brackets.
This is also a good option if you’re renting and can’t change the railing yourself.
Hang Some Lights
You might not be allowed to hook up a new light if you’re renting, but you can make use of other types of lighting to make your balcony feel cozier and more inviting.
Solar lights are great and you can find sconces and lanterns in various designs to suit your mood and décor.
Even simple string lights can look beautiful when wrapped around your railing.
Make It Part Of Your Home
It’s easy to think that your balcony area is completely separate from the rest of your apartment, but when you realize that it’s like an extra room in your place this will open you up to creative balcony ideas.
To make your balcony more eye-catching, put in a pretty stool or small table on which you can place vases or ornaments.
This will give your balcony the feeling of being part of your bedroom or living room.
Create an Herb Garden
You might not have enough space on your apartment balcony to grow vegetables, but you can definitely grow herbs because they don’t take up a lot of space.
A few pots of basil, mint, and rosemary will look pretty and give you some lovely herbs to use in your cooking. In addition, they’ll smell wonderful.
Just make sure you water your herbs often as when they’re placed on the balcony they’ll be more exposed to elements such as heat and wind, causing them to dry out much faster.
Install A Swing
You might love the idea of installing a swing on your balcony.
This is a wonderful idea to add some extra charm to the space. In addition, you can find small swings that will fit.
You could even choose to have nothing but a swing out on the balcony, in which space won’t be a problem.
Pack the swing with cushions and pillows to make it a lovely seating area.
Really no space for a swing? Consider a rattan hanging chair instead that will free up some floor space.
Turn It Into Your Private Dining Area
Imagine if you could have a restaurant-style balcony on which to enjoy delicious, romantic dinners?
It’s really easy to achieve this, provided your balcony has enough space for two chairs and a small table.
Add extra elements, like fairy lights, hanging lanterns, small pots of flowers, and even a chalkboard on the wall.
You’ll feel like you’re dining out when you’re right at home.
How Can You Use Your Balcony For Storage?
If your apartment doesn’t have enough storage, you can certainly use the balcony to give yourself more space for your items.
The key is to avoid cluttering it, though.
Luckily, this can easily be prevented with the clever use of furniture that doubles up as storage.
Here are some balcony ideas to help you get it right.
Use Floating Shelves
You might not think of shelves and your balcony in the same sentence, but the two work like a dream!
If you need extra storage for items like vases, candles, or books, place some floating shelves on the balcony wall to store them efficiently.
Get Crates
Place crates on the floor, but make sure they’re on their sides – in this way, they can be sat on and their insides can be used as storage for books, magazines, and other items.
What’s so great about this is that you can even paint the crates so that they fit in with your balcony style.
Consider Baskets
Baskets are a highly versatile storage option and they’ll look charming when placed on your balcony.
You can even find wicker drawers that won’t take up a lot of space but give you lots of extra storage.
Hide Things In A Dresser
A dresser might not seem right on the balcony, but if you’ve designed your balcony so that it’s like an extension of your apartment, then a beautiful dresser can definitely work.
Of course, you must ensure that there’s enough shade on the balcony to prevent your dresser from getting damaged by the sun and rain.
Keep Your Ladder On The Balcony
A short ladder can come in handy on the balcony to give you extra storage space. Simply use the rungs for boxes, baskets, and more.
Again, it’s best to ensure that the ladder has some protection against the elements, such as with an awning, to prevent your goods from getting damaged.
Related Questions
How can you prevent furniture from looking strange on the balcony?
Focus on proportion. It’s important to make sure that the furniture on your small balcony doesn’t look too big for it.
Focus on smaller pieces. It’s also a good idea to use thinner furniture as this complements smaller-sized balconies much more than larger furniture.
If you’re renting and can’t make use of an awning, what are some alternative balcony ideas?
Consider attaching curtains to the top of the balcony and then attaching them to the balcony railing.
Large plants can also help to block out the sun.
Raise them up on boxes to make them have more of a towering effect.
Conclusion
You can easily transform your apartment balcony into a beautiful sanctuary, garden, and practical space for extra storage that you might need.
With the balcony ideas in this article, the small space of your balcony can easily become your favorite “room” in the apartment and you’ll certainly be inspired to spend even more time on it.
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