3 Easy How To Decorate Small Apartment Balconies (Complete With Pictures)

How to Decorate Small Apartment Balconies - Does your small apartment balcony feel bare and uninspired? Knowing how to decorate small spaces can be difficult at times, but there are some easy ways you can spice up your apartment balcony. Add some simple seating, a variety of plants, and lots of accessories.

• Creating a seating area

Measure your space. Use a tape measure to find the width and length of your balcony. You can use these measurements to determine whether something will fit when you buy garden furniture.

Shop for bistro sets. If your balcony is square rather than long and thin, you might have enough space for a small table and a couple of chairs. Bistro sets are often designed for small spaces and have a small footprint.

Look for one with chairs that fit entirely under the table when not in use, or a set that folds down for easy storage.

A round table allows more people to gather around it than a square table.

Aim for a distance of 1 m (3 ft) around the edge of the table. This gives people enough space to pull out a chair and also to move freely behind the chairs. You can have less leeway as long as you can comfortably squeeze into a narrow space between your chair and the table.

Add a bank. If your balcony is more in the long and thin category, a bench is a great way to add seating without taking up all of the space. Look for a bench that has a storage compartment under the seat so you can store cushions, cushions, or other balcony accessories.

If you don't want to buy a bench, you can build one out of a few wooden crates placed side by side.

Combine a chair with a side table. If there is no space for a bistro set on your balcony, choose a garden chair and place a small side table next to it. This way you can have coffee or tea or even have a snack outside. Add pillows to make it a comfortable place to read a book.

Choose a folding chair to save space and make it easy to transport inside and outside.

Buy weather-resistant materials. Whether hot and dry, wet and muggy or cold and snowy, your balcony furniture has to withstand your climate. Look for metal, teak, cedar, and all-weather wicker in your furniture. These can withstand a wide range of weather conditions with little maintenance.

• Decorate with plants

See what kind of light your balcony gets. Is your balcony sunny all day or does it only have a few hours in the morning or afternoon? Different plants prefer different types of light. So find out how much sunlight your balcony gets and what time of day that is.

Geraniums, petunias, marigolds and most herbs love full sun.

Amethyst flowers, hostas, begonias, and hydrangeas like partial shade or filtered sun.

For a fun, hands-on project, try growing herbs on your balcony.

Buy plastic pots. Ceramic flower pots can be extremely heavy and add weight to your balcony. Ask your landlord if he knows the weight limit for your balcony. If unsure, skip the ceramic pots and palm trees and stick to small plastic pots with flowers or herbs.

Start with just a few plants. It's easy to get carried away with buying a whole bunch of beautiful plants and covering your balcony with them. But if you're just starting out with your balcony garden, you probably don't yet know what's going to thrive out there. Start with about three plants, and then add more as you find success.

Think of your balcony as an extension of your home. Choose plants and containers that match your personal style to make it feel truly personal.

Hang plants from above to maximize space. Potted plants can add a touch of cheer to your balcony, but they also take up valuable space. If there's a balcony or other structure above yours, figure out how to attach hanging plant baskets, either plastic or woven, to the underside of it.

Hanging plantar boxes can be a great space-saving option.

Check with your landlord first if this is okay.

Hang plants on railings. Buy special flower boxes that hang over the side of your railing. This is an easy way to add color and life to your balcony as you simply attach the hardware to the railing and then insert the plastic plant pot. Just make sure these boxes are securely mounted or you risk injuring someone underneath if they fall.

Create privacy with vertical plants. If your balcony is right next to your neighbor's, there are a few ways to create some privacy. Try buying large plants like bamboo plants and placing them in small pots around the edges of your balcony.

Create your own vertical garden by attaching small pots to a trellis. Then use the entire trellis to set yourself apart from your neighbors.

Plan your irrigation system. Your downstairs neighbors might not like it when you suddenly flush your plants with several liters of water that fall onto their balcony every day. If your watering schedule is likely to disturb someone downstairs, invest in a beach ball or plant reducer that includes a water reservoir for slow watering.

• Adding accessories to your balcony

Lay out an outdoor rug. A rug can tie an entire room together, so try placing one next to your bistro table or in front of your bench. Make sure the rug is labeled as either "outside" or "inside/outside." If it's going to be outside, it needs to be weatherproof or it will retain water and become moldy.

Add pillow. Add outdoor cushions and cushions wherever you can. Place them on your bistro chairs, bench or reading chair. You can even throw them on the floor for extra seating. They will soften the space and make it feel more inviting, making you actually want to go there.

Even if your cushions are weatherproof, it's still important to take them inside or put them in a storage bench before it rains. This will extend the life of your pillow.

Be bold with colour. You might want neutral tones for big things like tables and chairs, but accessories are your chance to add color. Choose blue and green for a beach or spa vibe, or opt for pink and purple for a vibrant Caribbean flair.

set up the grill. If you love barbecuing for your friends, you probably want to make this the highlight of your balcony. Check your lease to see if there are any restrictions on grills in your building. For example, some landlords do not allow charcoal grills.

If you don't have room for a large gas grill, look into a portable grill that you can store in the corner or in an indoor closet when not in use.

Add lighting. Wrapping a string of Christmas lights around your railing can add a charming touch to your balcony. If you don't have access to electricity outdoors, buy some solar powered string lights. You can also add some candles to your bistro or side table to create a more romantic atmosphere.