In a concrete jungle, having any kind of balcony can be a great luxury. In summer, when those heatwave periods strike, having a place to spend your days can be a relief.
Summers in Sydney don’t come without several heatwaves, and in many cases, AC is not of much help during those periods. If you have even a small balcony, you are a lucky one.
There’s so much that can be done with it – with a couple of easy steps you can transform your tiny balcony into a summer retreat, a place to cool down and relax.
If you’re intrigued, keep on reading to find out what to do to make your tiny balcony a summer paradise.
1. Blank canvas
Start by cleaning everything out from your balcony. Many times, especially during the winter, balconies become catch-all spaces, everything that you don’t need ends up on the balcony. Now, it’s time to declutter, clean, and see what you’re working with.
When the balcony is finally empty, you’ll have a better idea of the actual size of it, measure for furniture, and decide the best and most functional floor plan.
2. Balcony flooring
Most balconies have boring concrete floors. If you don’t mind the concrete floors, then just let them be, but you should know that there are better and more comfortable solutions.
You have many options, from actual outdoor rugs and carpets to decking tiles and even painting your balcony floors – everything can look great on the balcony.
A fairly easy trick can be placing an outdoor rug or carpet. Outdoor area rugs and carpets are ideal for covering ugly floors. Plus, an outdoor carpet can make any space seem cozier, and stepping out on the balcony will be a pleasure. If you’re looking for carpets, a great carpet Sydney store offers a wide variety of different carpets ideal for your small balcony.
On the other hand, if you prefer something more modern, you can install decking tiles. Decking tiles come in different sizes and colours. The great thing about these tiles is the ease of installation, all you have to do is place the tiles on top of the existing surface and that’s it.
And finally, if you’re a DIY enthusiast, you’ll love this idea. If your balcony floor is in relatively good condition, you can paint it. You can either go simple or you can use a tile stencil. To finish off your painted floors, use a sealer and voila – new balcony floors!
3. Privacy screens and curtains
Living in a city, and especially living in an apartment block, means not having a lot of privacy on your balcony. Thankfully, there is something you can do about this, too.
Depending on what kind of look you’re going for, privacy screens come in various options. If you want to bring some life to your balcony, you can install a faux ivy screen to cover your balcony railings. If you prefer something simpler yet more tropical, then bamboo or cane privacy screens are for you.
Similarly, you can add both drama and privacy with curtains. Outdoor curtains are mildew- and fade-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about the maintenance much. You can create a dramatic yet tropical look on your balcony if you hang them from a rod and drape them around the railing.
These curtains come in different colours and sizes, so you can easily choose what best suits your needs.
4. Choosing the right furniture
Choosing the furniture for a tiny balcony can be tricky. You wouldn’t want to get anything huge and bulky because it will take up a lot of space, which you lack.
Instead, try looking for double-duty furniture that can act both as furniture and storage space. For example, benches a good idea for seating and storage. Carts can be used in several ways and they also provide a lot of storage. A poof that can be used both indoors and outdoors, stools that can also be used as side tables and seating options.
All in all, the point is to choose small furniture that can serve a variety of functions.
In case, you can’t find anything like that, you can DIY simple outdoor furniture with palettes.
5. Colours, patterns, and textures
What’s a tropical paradise without some colour in it? An easy and affordable way to create a cozy and bohemian vibe on your balcony is by layering colours, fabrics, and patterns.
An abundance of different cushions, pillows, and blankets will make any place look cozy, layering different pattern and texture rugs, decorating with bold colours, all this will create a tropical paradise feel you’re going for.
So, don’t be afraid to use colour, pattern, and different fabrics and textures.
6. Plants
Having at least one plant on your balcony can completely transform the space. However, it’s difficult to incorporate plants in your balcony décor when you lack space, or so you thought.
Nothing is difficult if you have the right idea. Just because you can put a planter with a big plant on the floor doesn’t mean that your balcony needs to be completely bare.
A vertical garden is a good option. You’ll have flowers and plants on your balcony without taking up much floor space. You can plant anything you want, from herbs to seasonal plants and flowers.
Who says that you can’t have an urban jungle on your tiny balcony?
7. Outdoor lighting
Nothing sets the mood like lighting, and that’s also a good reason to consider lighting options for your balcony. Options are many, from lanterns to actual floor laps whatever fits your space.
The typical and currently most popular lighting option is outdoor string lights (both solar-powered and plug-in). String lights are ideal ambient lighting, giving your balcony a whimsical, relaxing feel.
In addition to string lights, you can add lanterns of any kind or you can even an outdoor floor lamp. All these lighting options are designed to withstand extreme weather, so you won’t need to worry about them being exposed to sun or rain.
You can consider yourself lucky if you have even the tiniest of balconies during the summer months. Having a cozy and relaxing place to hang out and relax after a long day at work is a blessing.
Creating a summer paradise on your small balcony is not complicated at all, it simply requires a bit of creativity and some effort to pull it all off.