What to Do With the Balcony?
Here are 5 clever ways to get more out of your balcony
Not all of us are blessed with a balcony in our homes. And those of us who do have it, often relegate this space to the drying of all things laundry or the collecting of all things trash. The truth is, a balcony is your window to the world, and it’s easy to add heart to it. All it takes is a little whimsy, wonder and will.
On a deck where space is a constraint, designate a specific belt for your garden and allow the rest of your area to be free of clutter.
Portable natural elements can weave wonderful verdant threads through your balcony, like this layout by Jeffrey Erb Landscape Design. In this balcony, the giant pastel jardinières and deep-hued, burgeoning plants make for a marvellous medley of colours.
Portable natural elements can weave wonderful verdant threads through your balcony, like this layout by Jeffrey Erb Landscape Design. In this balcony, the giant pastel jardinières and deep-hued, burgeoning plants make for a marvellous medley of colours.
2. 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.
Find a designer near you to design your outdoor space
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.
Find a designer near you to design your outdoor space
Alternatively, augment your room by inviting your balcony indoors. This nautical bedroom opens seamlessly into a balcony extension that is a similar harbour of white and powder blue. While this extension serves as a spectacular sunroom furnished with periwinkle pillows and soft grey sectionals, you can use your space as a walk-in closet, a vanity area or even a hobby cubbyhole.
Seek inspiration from this room by creating a French window-style partition between your room and your balcony. That way, you can treat your extended space as a cut-away enclosure for additional privacy.
Seek inspiration from this room by creating a French window-style partition between your room and your balcony. That way, you can treat your extended space as a cut-away enclosure for additional privacy.
3. 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.
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.
4. Make it a spot for dining
The dining area in most Indian apartments is a neither-here-nor-there like situation, that works as a little overlap between the kitchen and the living room.
By converting your balcony into a relaxing dining space, like this one by Sarah Natsumi Moore, you’re left with more room indoors. Of course, balcony dining pivots on the type of climate in your city.
You could take a leaf out of Moore’s book, by creating a roof for your balcony through a series of aerial wooden overlays. Harsh summers and torrential monsoons may not be the best seasons for outdoor dining, so creating an overhead shield for your balcony is a good idea. The roof in this picture is a brilliant turquoise, a shade perfectly matched in spirit by the rest of the balcony décor. When deciding on a theme for your outdoor dining den, pick a colour palette that speaks to you; one that is an extension of your home and your personality.
The dining area in most Indian apartments is a neither-here-nor-there like situation, that works as a little overlap between the kitchen and the living room.
By converting your balcony into a relaxing dining space, like this one by Sarah Natsumi Moore, you’re left with more room indoors. Of course, balcony dining pivots on the type of climate in your city.
You could take a leaf out of Moore’s book, by creating a roof for your balcony through a series of aerial wooden overlays. Harsh summers and torrential monsoons may not be the best seasons for outdoor dining, so creating an overhead shield for your balcony is a good idea. The roof in this picture is a brilliant turquoise, a shade perfectly matched in spirit by the rest of the balcony décor. When deciding on a theme for your outdoor dining den, pick a colour palette that speaks to you; one that is an extension of your home and your personality.
This balcony by Celia James is a reflection of many homes in India’s metros. Diminutive yet functional, it can only hold a single compact table and a pair of petite wrought iron chairs.
5. Create a leisure oasis
This sun-splashed balcony offers the perfect ambience to unwind after a long, hard day. It features a potpourri of warm and golden elements like a cosy French floor cushion, a round wicker centre table and a giant square tow-coloured pillow. This leisure oasis holds little pockets of nature in its corners, with flourishing planters combining to form a dreamy greenscape.
This sun-splashed balcony offers the perfect ambience to unwind after a long, hard day. It features a potpourri of warm and golden elements like a cosy French floor cushion, a round wicker centre table and a giant square tow-coloured pillow. This leisure oasis holds little pockets of nature in its corners, with flourishing planters combining to form a dreamy greenscape.
Of course, if your balcony looks much like this one, where you have only a sliver of space to work on, a single seat. overarched by a vintage lamp, can work as a lovely sit-out. Make your seat the focal point by picking an ornate design in brass or wicker.
A little can go a long way in lifting your balcony and giving it personality. While a room extension or a sliding door installation may require heavy-duty masonry, some of these design ideas can work as fabulous weekend projects, for which you’ll get the materials at your local home improvement store.
You’ll find there’s no better way to add a little piece of the outdoors to your home.
Read more:
5 Ways to Live Large on a Small Balcony
Trending Now: 15 Balconies That Will Instantly Relax You
Tell us:
What ways have you used to transform the look of your balcony? Share tips, images in Comments below
A little can go a long way in lifting your balcony and giving it personality. While a room extension or a sliding door installation may require heavy-duty masonry, some of these design ideas can work as fabulous weekend projects, for which you’ll get the materials at your local home improvement store.
You’ll find there’s no better way to add a little piece of the outdoors to your home.
Read more:
5 Ways to Live Large on a Small Balcony
Trending Now: 15 Balconies That Will Instantly Relax You
Tell us:
What ways have you used to transform the look of your balcony? Share tips, images in Comments below
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.