Balcony Ideas
The black French doors leading to the balcony are the signature element of the home. Stone-finish tiles laid in a herringbone pattern add a design motif, while teak-finish wooden panels for the ceiling tie the inside with the outside space. A vertical garden and custom-made outdoor seating made of bamboo give an organic feel to the space.
Since the balcony forms an excellent indoor-outdoor space, it should be used for different functions. Create a nice shaded seating area so that one can enjoy the outdoors and rejuvenate while having one’s morning or evening tea, reading or even working on the laptop. Create a balcony garden and beautify the space with a lot of potted plants and garden accessories such as railing planters, a birdhouse and so on. Illuminate the balcony with soft lighting – string lights, recessed lights, rope lights and lanterns create a relaxing ambience so the balcony can be efficiently used in the evening, too.
This is the master bedroom balcony with ceramic tile flooring. Chaitali says, “One of the pieces here is the metal shelving unit that the clients had bought during their stay in London. It was originally a bread display stand, which we converted into a potted plant and book display unit. A tall wing chair in the corner and plenty of natural light makes this a good reading spot for the couple.
Add sparkle with lights String or fairy lights make every day a celebration in this small and multi-functional balcony. Be it for a romantic dinner or for hanging out with friends, you can find what you want: string lights come in a plethora of shapes and sizes – just go to your local store and pick and choose. Strung on a simple cable, the bulbs lighten up this balcony to make the most of the evening view. The small lantern and couple of candles on the coffee table provide ambient lighting.
Let the garden be the backdrop Sure it’s nice to have a balcony garden but don’t let the pots and containers take up all of that precious space. Grow a vertical green fence of dainty bamboo like this, which can give you enough room to have a seating area and coffee table. The teapot and green cups definitely set the right mood for an inspired afternoon chitchatting.
Move the indoors out Set up a cosy nook in your balcony by getting weather-friendly furniture and furnishings. A rug, a comfy chair, vines growing on the railings and drapes for privacy make this narrow, covered balcony a me-time sanctuary. With the tavern lamp placed right above the chair, there’s plenty of light to read when it gets dark. Two miniature marble elephants glam up things with their intricate meenakari or enamelling, which is the art of colouring and ornamenting the surface of metals.
Decorate with pottery and statues Pottery and statues can enhance the decor of any space, both indoors and outdoors. For the balcony area, you can pick small artefacts, planters or pottery made from weather-friendly materials like stone, terracotta or ceramic. Take a hint from this balcony, where an earth-coloured statue, a carved terracotta pot with its attractive natural colour and decorative stone slabs bring drama and rusticity to the space. The blooming sunflowers in a glass vase are a last-minute ‘styling up’ touch. Tip: Place the potted plants on individual saucers to ensure that water doesn’t leak onto the balcony floor.
Amp up with wood The natural and aesthetically pleasing combination of wood with green converts this tiny balcony into a charming retreat. Wood types like cedar and teak withstand high-humidity conditions and are also pest-proof, making them right for outdoor areas like the balcony or terrace. Wooden elements work beautifully with the green of the plants in this space, creating a charming rustic vibe. The slatted chest (which doubles as a bench), garden planters and square-latticed screens are all made from wood. Does the giant cowbell hanging from the latticed panel ring a DDLJ bell? (For the uninitiated, the eponymous scene in the Bollywood hit Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge.) Love the two traditional muddas for added seating.
Introduce a pergola A pergola is an open roof system which comprises slats of wood (or metal) spaced equidistant from each other or in a lattice, often with plants trailing over it. It is an effective way to provide shade without blocking the light and warmth of the sun. The pergola also works as a design feature that enhances the overall look of the balcony.
“The ceiling is filled with starry lights to bring in the effect of sitting under the stars in evenings,” says Prashant. “We also added a portable barbecue counter, custom-made to ensure it can be moved around when required.”
Most exterior wall tiles, made for use on the outer walls of houses, resist fading when exposed to sunlight, which means the balcony wall looks fresh and pretty for a long time.
Why stop at porcelain, ceramic or natural stone tiles? After all, your balcony should reflect your own personality and creativity. Take a look at this balcony; the installation of terracotta wall tiles infuses a warmth into the outdoors while the faded look of the reddish-brown terracotta tiles lends an earthy look to the space. Note: Terracotta tiles need to be sealed periodically to make it water resistant. These tiles are porous and have the tendency to retain moisture.
Isn’t this a great way to create a striking accent feature in the balcony? So chic. Tip: Natural stone is porous and needs to be sealed properly.
Wall tiles are one of the most versatile options available in the market in terms of colour, texture and design; they are available in materials such as porcelain, ceramic, natural stone and so on. These tiles can be designed to replicate the look of real stone or wood, as seen in the images here. Also, just see how the interplay of different materials on the floor, wall and ceiling, complemented by a vertical garden, looks so artistic.
Most builders provide plain anti-skid ceramic tiles for the balcony in neutral shades or darker tones of brown or terracotta. To upgrade the look of the balcony, replace these tiles with materials such as natural stone tiles that have a rough texture, or patterned cement tiles as seen in the image above. The balcony flooring is always fully visible, which makes it a great space to bring in more elaborate tile patterns.
Not outdoors but plenty of greenery, and space for a sofa too. The perfect pairing.
City balcony Every square foot has been put to good use on this New York balcony, with built-in planters and benches wrapping around the tight corner. A restrained palette of weathered wood and green is simple and elegant.
Vertical garden Rows of planters, stacked in sequence over each other, are a guaranteed way to liven up a balcony. This L-shaped vertical garden wall designed by The Orange Lane forms a striking backdrop to the two-seater swing in front of it. To the left, a pathway of wooden squares set in pebbles up to the wooden floor of the balcony. Moroccan pendant lamps light the way, their metallic sheen and intricate work set off splendidly by the greenery.
Eclectic sit-out Red, blue and white challenge the dark chestnut floor in this roofed sit-out at Parineeti Chopra’s Mumbai apartment. The dual-toned rug adds visual variety to the space and nature shines through at every level. The Orange Lane has chosen to envelope the space with greenery by lining the bottom ledge of the double-decker banister with tall trays of planters.
Seamless garden Knocked back and sleek, this enclosed Hyderabad balcony garden is a restful retreat in a room that is emblematic of urban chic. The round suspended lounger provides enough room for a lazy afternoon nap or a swing with someone special. A cutaway water feature towards the front is a tribute to the wall-lined cityscape, possibly representing an urban lake.
Geometric pop This balcony by Linear Concepts doesn’t need sunshine to pop with cheer. The orange and yellow here promise to brighten even the dullest day. Enclosed by a screen that locks an interconnected geometric design, the space exudes a contemporary vibe. See how the hanging planters offer bursts of colour as they sing to the colour palette created by the swing and wicker furniture. The balcony doubles as a sheltered sun room.
Go beyond typical lighting options You don’t have to stick with recessed lighting or outdoor sconces on a balcony. The outdoor-approved options are vast these days. Chandeliers, pendants, floor lamps, table lamps, portable glowing lanterns: Any of these choices can improve the ambience on a small balcony and encourage you to enjoy it after dark.
Consider a vertical garden Likewise, today’s vertical garden technology can allow you to bring in plants when there wouldn’t otherwise be room for them.
The window seat was originally a small balcony. “This is where we have our tea, listen to music and unwind. Above the sofa is a jali design with creepers all over it – it makes you feel like you’re sitting in the outdoors. The blue suspended goblets are from Bali; we fill these up with lights during festivals. Also, the vertical garden is maintained by my mother – she’s a landscapist,” Gupta says.
If a full-on living wall feels like too much work, go for the dialled-down version. Wall-mounted plant pots can add some refreshing colour to an otherwise plain scheme. Hanging several of them, as seen here, gives a great effect. They don’t need to be fancy either – simple spiders, ferns and ivy plants all look good.
Put in a bar A balcony minibar, like this one by Susan Diana Harris Interior Design, can be a welcome treat on sunlit evenings. As a first step, invest in a good refrigerator and install toughened glass shelves along one wall of your balcony, like those pictured here. In India, since monsoon strikes hard in virtually every city, and because grime and dirt are year-round visitors, it’s probably wise to enclose your bar to keep your accessories from falling prey to the elements. This can be done in several ways. If you prefer an enclosed space for your bar, consider turning your balcony into a screen room by investing in track-guided blinds to create a netted, airy partition over your balcony railing. Or, to retain an outdoorsy vibe, reserve only one wall of your balcony for a neat little enclosed bar cabinet, which will keep your crystal and spirits safe from the weather gods.
Make a balcony room extension Small spaces can be enchanting jewel boxes, and a balcony-turned-room is no exception. In India’s concrete jungles, matchbox-sized apartments offer overlapping, pressed-for-space layouts. Converting your balcony into a room extension (if building laws permit) can be a perfect way to extend your floor space and add much-needed utility. Turn your balcony into an indoor library or studio, or even a little hangout nook.
This elevated earth garden in Gurgaon by Studio Earthbox tips a hat to layered greens, beautiful blossoms and wooden partitions. With its railing lined with vibrant planter pots and its farthest wall sheathed in a wooden screen, this balcony garden showcases how one can craft a mini Eden against a wall-and-railing backdrop. Look closely, and you’ll see that the wood-panelled floor forms a neat deck just outside the balcony door. Flanked by an emerald square of faux grass on either side and fringed by ivory pebbles, this balcony offers considerable floor space. It even features a delicately upholstered stool, making for a charming little garden sit-out.
Don’t neglect dead leaves and worn out flowers. Keep an eye out for them and remove them immediately to keep your plants looking neat. Also, leaving dead leaves on the soil heightens the risk of diseases or insect infestation. Don’t let your plant remain in its pot if you see that it is outgrowing the pot’s size. You know it is time to shift your plant to a bigger container when your plant stops growing, when you have to keep watering it often and when the roots start coming out of the drainage hole in the pot.
Don’t crowd too many pots together. When put too close to each other, plants don’t grow as they should because they don’t get enough light and water. Also, it makes the balcony look cluttered. Don’t move a plant from its position if it is growing well. The fact that it is thriving in that spot means it is suitable for the plant
If you feel you’re short of floor space, look around you: there’s lots of vertical space! Think about a vertical garden. You can hang racks on the walls and railings to fill with pots overflowing with greenery or flowers, or even use a ladder like this one. The vertical garden and its unusual props create a unique little landscape, all your own. You can also make use of tiered holders in different designs to fit more plants in limited small space. Just like rooms, your garden also needs accessories. A few colourful pieces will bring variety and a touch of quirk to your balcony. It takes just a couple of chairs and a small tea table to transform it into a restful sitting area. If you have enough space put a wicker sofa and you have a reading nook. Add a few strategically placed lights and you have a great place to sit out in the evening.
Include evergreens in your garden. These plants stay green and leafy throughout the year, so your balcony garden is a green getaway all year round. Check for the presence of pests and diseases regularly so you can catch the problem as soon as it crops up.
It is better to start your garden with three or four each of annual and perennial plants. Plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season are called annuals. The flowers of this variety will bloom faster and remain in bloom for a longer time. So if you want a mass of flowers, get more annuals. However, you will have to plant new ones every year. Find out what species works best for your city’s climate and seasons. Perennials live for a few years after they’ve reached maturity. While a plant seems to die down in winter or whatever is its dormant period, it is still alive and will grow back the following spring or growing season. Unlike annuals, the flowers of perennial plants bloom for a short time. While annuals give you a chance to keep changing the look of your garden, perennials can form the basic structure of your balcony design.
Choose pots and planters according to the plants; it is better to start with containers that will be able to hold the plants till they are full grown. Go for planters made of porous materials, such as terra cotta, as they provide better drainage. However, even if you use planters of other materials, make sure they have holes at the bottom for drainage. Placing a pot on a saucer will ensure water doesn’t leak on to the balcony floor. Besides sunlight, your plants need the right amount of water. Water your plants according to their individual requirements. If the first inch of the soil is dry, your plant needs watering. When it is windy or too sunny, water your plants daily as the soil tends to dry out quickly under such weather conditions. Keep checking the soil’s moisture to know if a plant needs watering. A special variety of soil called potting soil or potting mix is available for potted plants. It has a better balance of drainage and moisture retention capacity than soil straight from the ground. So this is what you should get for your balcony garden.
While selecting the plants, factor in how big they’ll be when they are fully grown. You don’t want one plant monopolising most of the space and sunlight while the smaller ones struggle for attention. Place the plants that require similar amounts of light and moisture together.
Before you plan the layout for your balcony garden, observe how many hours of sunlight your balcony receives in a day. Also, find out whether the whole area receives an equal amount of sunlight throughout the day or there are some parts that are sunnier than others. This information will help you decide the placement of the pots because some plants need more sunlight to thrive while some prefer more shade.
Built-in bench A bench fused into the wall is a fabulous way to gain storage and comfortable seating. This layout grabs every inch available and makes good use of wall space. The wooden panels on this contemporary bench seat match those on the floor of the balcony, lending the zone a seamless appearance. Pros: Provides ample seating Makes use of wall space and otherwise unused corners
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