skip to main content
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
PHOTOS
KITCHEN & DININGKitchenModular Kitchen Dining RoomHome Bar
LIVINGLiving RoomHome TheaterHome Office Staircase
BED & BATHBedroomNurseryKid's RoomBathroom
OUTDOORGardenPatioTerrace & BalconyCourtyard
MORE ROOMSPuja Room Wardrobe ExteriorSwimming PoolView All
FIND PROFESSIONALS
DESIGN & RENOVATIONArchitects & Building Designers Interior Designers & Decorators Civil Engineers & Contractors Design-Build Firms Kitchen & Bath Designers Landscape Architects & Contractors Home Builders & Construction CompaniesPhotographersSpecialty Contractors
View All Pros
HOME IMPROVEMENT Furniture & AccessoriesFlooring & CarpetTile, Stone & CountertopBedding & Bath
View All Services
STORIES
LATEST FROM HOUZZ
Houzz ToursKitchen GuidesBathroom Guides Bedroom Guides
Decorating Guides Outdoors Architecture
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
ADVICE
HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
Design DilemmaBefore & After PollsHome Decorating KitchensLiving Rooms
Bedrooms Dining RoomsExterior Lighting PaintBuilding a Home
Houzz Logo Print
Outdoors
Outdoors
7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace Garden
Top Ideabooks
7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace Garden5 Best Outdoor Floor Tiles for Homes21 Roof Gardens That Are Heaven on Earth8 Climbing Plants Great for Indian Balconies & Gardens
Appears in
Recent Ideabooks
See also
BalconiesPoolsGarden Guides
Balconies
Balconies
7 Ways to Create a Heavenly Balcony Garden
Top Ideabooks
7 Ways to Create a Heavenly Balcony Garden21 Roof Gardens That Are Heaven on Earth7 Super Stylish Ways to Shade Your Balcony8 Climbing Plants Great for Indian Balconies & Gardens
Appears in
Outdoors
Small Spaces
Small Spaces
7 Stylish Ways to Dry Your Laundry In a Small Apartment
Top Ideabooks
7 Stylish Ways to Dry Your Laundry In a Small Apartment4 Amazing Indian Homes Less Than 1000 Sq FtHouzz Tour: A Tiny, 600-Sq-Ft House Sits by the River9 Seating Arrangement Ideas for Small Living Rooms
Appears in
Decorating Guides

16 Great Ideas for World-Class, Pocket-Sized Balconies

Get more from your compact outdoor space with the right plants, furniture and accessories

Becky Harris
Becky Harris19 June 2021
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected." I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
More
If you’ve ever lived in a high-rise with no access to outdoor space, you know the value of even the smallest of balconies. Letting a good balcony go to waste is a shame. If you have one but find you never go out there, ask yourself why. Uncomfortable furniture? Claustrophobic privacy wall? No privacy? Lack of plant life? If you still can’t put your finger on it, take a look at the following list – hopefully it will help you figure out what you need and inspire you to make the most of this coveted outdoor space.
Kasha Paris
1. Find a way to use it
This Parisian balcony is picture-perfect – and, more importantly, functional – thanks to a small red cafe table and chairs. Modern grey planters keep the palette pleasingly simple.
Alair Homes Decatur
2. Think of a balcony as an extension of the adjacent room
One of the most enviable places to have a balcony is off a bedroom. Here it adds a bedroom reading nook, a place upstairs for morning coffee and a breezy napping spot.
Baxter Creative Limited
3. Use walls
Privacy walls along tight urban balconies can make the space feel confining. Here a privacy wall from the neighbouring balcony has been outfitted to add interest via shelves and plant boxes. Objects and plants can be added to bring in colour, shapes and pattern, making the wall a design asset.
Cheryl Ketner Interiors
4. 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.

Learn more about vertical gardens
TAUTEM Architecture
5. Show off your personal style
You can still put your design stamp on even the smallest of spaces. This colourful balcony is full of eclectic touches, like a variety of bright pots, a boldly patterned tablecloth, a mix of chairs and even a pink flamingo.
Sue Eller of RSIR
6. Find a place for plants
Even if you have a microbalcony, you can make room for plants. Whether you’re looking for colour or a spot to pluck fresh rosemary, there is a way. If you have only a few inches on a Juliet balcony, consider securing pots to the outside of the railing or adding a window box.

These plants are suited for Indian homes
Steve Masley Consulting and Design
Here a simple window box offers fresh basil and lettuce.
User
7. Keep balcony supplies and accessories handy
Cushions, throw pillows, tablecloths, extra folding chairs, vases and trays all stashed together somewhere close to the balcony can enable you to gussy it up for tea in a matter of minutes. Find a designated balcony cabinet or a spot in a closet, or place a trunk near the balcony door.

Find a designer to design your home
Rachael Smith Photography Ltd
Here sheepskins stored in the adjacent bedroom can comfy up the Acapulco chairs with ease.
Studio Morton
8. Use lightweight furniture
When space is tight, you may need to move chairs around just to slip by, or may want to turn them to enjoy different views. The Acapulco chairs seen here are a good option – they are comfy and easy to pick up and move around.

Check out these materials for patio furniture
Cathy Schwabe Architecture
9. Look for potential built-in spots
On this balcony, a privacy wall doubles as the back of a long bench for gathering with friends or lounging in the sun.
Meyer & Meyer, Inc. Architecture and Interiors
This balcony’s minimalist built-ins fit right into the roofline and provide a wonderful spot for sunning.
10. Add pleasing aromas
Lavender provides a wonderful aroma on this urban balcony. Other plants like jasmine, honeysuckle, roses, clematis, thyme and many more balcony-friendly plants can fill the area with delightful scents.
11. 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.
TG-Studio
12. Think about how the furnishings look from indoors
If another room has big views of the balcony, you want to enhance them rather than block them. Here an artful statement chair by Patricia Urquiola adds a sculptural touch, while low tables keep the main view open.
Designed To Appeal
13. Conversely, think about the views from the balcony to the inside
The colourful glass bottles tucked along the window can be enjoyed from this balcony.
MIG Design
14. Try clear railings
If you’re building new or renovating the balcony, consider railings that will maximise the views when you are seated. Glass panels or steel cable rails are good options for this.
Gaile Guevara
15. Consider a long, narrow console table
Designed to fit in the most slender of entryways, these tables can be a good spot for storing gardening supplies, can serve as a bar or can display decorative objects and plants on a balcony. You can also tuck seating underneath to keep a tight space uncluttered and organised.
MIG Design
16. Find artful ways to create privacy
Intricate screens let in dappled light and air while creating a sense of intimacy on this urban balcony.
Frank Shirley Architects
Read more:
10 Big Ideas for Small Balconies

Tell us:
What’s your favourite thing about your small balcony? Please let us know in the Comments below –we’d love to see photos.
Explore Related Topics
OutdoorsBalconiesSmall Spaces
Read Related Stories
7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace Garden7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace Garden
By Archana Rajendran·6
Decorating Guides
5 Best Outdoor Floor Tiles for Homes5 Best Outdoor Floor Tiles for Homes
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·1
Decorating Guides
21 Roof Gardens That Are Heaven on Earth21 Roof Gardens That Are Heaven on Earth
By Aditi Sharma Maheshwari·4
Decorating Guides
8 Climbing Plants Great for Indian Balconies & Gardens8 Climbing Plants Great for Indian Balconies & Gardens
By Shristi Nangalia·31
Garden Guides
8 Most Effective Water-Saving Techniques for Your Garden8 Most Effective Water-Saving Techniques for Your Garden
By Shristi Nangalia·1
Garden Guides
Delhi Houzz: This Rooftop Barsati Has a Front-Row View to the StarsDelhi Houzz: This Rooftop Barsati Has a Front-Row View to the Stars
By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar·9
Houzz Tours
Outdoor Plant: A Guide to Growing the Golden BambooOutdoor Plant: A Guide to Growing the Golden Bamboo
By Ketaki Godbole Randiwe·4
Garden Guides
28 Beautiful Entrances That Make a Big Statement Too28 Beautiful Entrances That Make a Big Statement Too
By Joanna Tovia·8
Decorating Ideas
10 Ideas for a Terrace Makeover10 Ideas for a Terrace Makeover
By Rashmi Haralalka·10
Decorating Ideas
For the Love of Wooden Battens: Why Your Home Needs ThemFor the Love of Wooden Battens: Why Your Home Needs Them
By Rebecca Gross·16
Architecture
Covered Terraces, Patios & Balconies: 10 Outdoor Ceilings to LoveCovered Terraces, Patios & Balconies: 10 Outdoor Ceilings to Love
By Annie Thornton·18
Garden Guides
7 Magical Ways to Enhance Your Garden With Orbs & Mirrors7 Magical Ways to Enhance Your Garden With Orbs & Mirrors
By Ketaki Godbole Randiwe·0
Garden Guides
Add Volume to Your Garden With These Fast-Growing, Hassle-Free PlantsAdd Volume to Your Garden With These Fast-Growing, Hassle-Free Plants
By Ketaki Godbole Randiwe·5
Garden Guides
A Guide to Landscaping With 5 Types of Gravel & StonesA Guide to Landscaping With 5 Types of Gravel & Stones
By Jenny Peterson·88
Garden Guides
6 Perfect Materials for Beautiful Compound Wall Designs6 Perfect Materials for Beautiful Compound Wall Designs
By Shristi Nangalia·1
Decorating Guides
People who liked this story also liked
7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace Garden
7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace GardenFull Story
5 Best Outdoor Floor Tiles for Homes
5 Best Outdoor Floor Tiles for HomesFull Story
21 Roof Gardens That Are Heaven on Earth
21 Roof Gardens That Are Heaven on EarthFull Story
8 Climbing Plants Great for Indian Balconies & Gardens
8 Climbing Plants Great for Indian Balconies & GardensFull Story
8 Most Effective Water-Saving Techniques for Your Garden
8 Most Effective Water-Saving Techniques for Your GardenFull Story
Delhi Houzz: This Rooftop Barsati Has a Front-Row View to the Stars
Delhi Houzz: This Rooftop Barsati Has a Front-Row View to the StarsFull Story
Outdoor Plant: A Guide to Growing the Golden Bamboo
Outdoor Plant: A Guide to Growing the Golden BambooFull Story
28 Beautiful Entrances That Make a Big Statement Too
28 Beautiful Entrances That Make a Big Statement TooFull Story
10 Ideas for a Terrace Makeover
10 Ideas for a Terrace MakeoverFull Story
For the Love of Wooden Battens: Why Your Home Needs Them
For the Love of Wooden Battens: Why Your Home Needs ThemFull Story
  • India
  • ABOUT
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FAQs
  • CAREERS
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms
  • © 2023 Houzz Inc.