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. AsApartment Therapy suggest, a linen shoe rack makes an excellent herb planter that can hang on the wall, perfect for herbs and salad leaves.
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 the warmer days. Get some cheap foldable garden furniture and seat cushions to create a lovely space for a morning coffee or evening glass of wine. 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. 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. Finally, a small chest doubles as an ottoman and provides some waterproof storage for cushions and blankets.
