The balcony is your very own place in the fresh air, where you can relax and read a book, grill with friends or grow your own herbs. It should be a place where you feel comfortable and can come to rest. For this reason, it is all the more important to make the balcony cozy and appealing. We’ll tell you what you should look out for when designing your balcony, starting with the flooring and the greening to the right balcony decoration. Plus: tips for designing a balcony with a small area.
What do I have to consider when designing the balcony?
Table of Contents
In order for your balcony to be inviting and cozy, the design of the balcony must be carefully considered. The following elements should be considered when designing your balcony:
Floor covering for the balcony
One of the most important decisions in the design of your balcony is your choice of flooring. It influences the character of the balcony and forms the basis for further decisions. All floor coverings on the balcony must be weatherproof, robust and non-slip. The possible materials for the flooring on the balcony are diverse.
- Floor covering made of wood: A floor covering made of wood has a warm effect, creates a feeling of homeliness and feels particularly comfortable barefoot. So there is a reason why wood is the most popular material for outdoor use. Wooden floorboards look elegant and stylish and can be laid on the existing floor without any complications. So that the wooden planks can withstand rain, frost, UV rays and pests, you should use planks made of robust hardwood, thermo-wood or a composite made of wood and plastic (e.g. WPC).
Clickable wooden tiles are even easier to lay. These are small, square tiles made from a mixture of wood and plastic. You can lay these on the existing balcony floor by clicking them into each other. With this variant you get a balcony floor in wood look without much effort.
- Floor covering made of ceramic tiles: A balcony floor made of ceramic tiles looks simple, is particularly robust and very easy to care for. Since there are tiles in different colors and patterns, ceramic tiles can be used to create different styles according to your taste. If your balcony already has a balcony drainage, laying tiles on the balcony does not require any major preparatory work.
- Flooring made of natural stone or concrete: a balcony floor with natural stone or concrete slabs looks cool, modern and minimalist. It is the right flooring for you if you prefer simple designs and simple patterns. Depending on which flooring your balcony currently has, laying natural stone and concrete tiles is quite time-consuming and requires major renovation work. The existing floor covering must be removed and a suitable foundation created. A professional paver laying person is necessary for this.
- Outdoor carpet: Carpets for the outside are a practical and easy way to decorate the balcony more comfortably. Outdoor carpets are sturdy, waterproof and easy to clean. They are available in different sizes, colors and patterns and are therefore suitable for every balcony.
Balcony furniture: find the right furniture for your balcony
Which balcony furniture suits your balcony depends heavily on the size of your balcony. While there are many design options for a large balcony, space-saving solutions are required for a small balcony. When designing the balcony, you should also think about how you want to use the balcony. If you want to invite friends over often, a larger garden sofa that can seat several people is suitable. If you plan to eat more often on the balcony, a table with an armchair is required. If you want to grill on the balcony, you should leave a space free for the grill and possibly get a serving trolley or side table. If you like to sunbathe, a sun lounger is an important piece of furniture for your balcony.
In addition, when choosing balcony furniture, you should ask yourself what material the furniture should be made of:
- Wood: balcony furniture made of wood looks natural and cozy. They are available in different wood tones and different types of wood. The best thing to do is to use furniture made of weather-resistant hardwood such as teak or acacia. Wooden furniture requires special care and must be regularly sealed and treated with hard oils so that it maintains its protective layer against moisture, mold and pests.
- Rattan: The synthetic wicker poly rattan is very robust, weatherproof and easy to care for. The braided look makes it look natural and modern.
- Metal: Metal balcony furniture gives your balcony an elegant charm. Make sure the furniture is powder coated. This makes them weatherproof and can withstand any weather, so you can leave them out in the rain. Metal furniture can stay with you for years.
- Plastic: Balcony furniture made of plastic is particularly cheap to buy. They are easy to care for and have a low weight, which is why you can easily move them around. Unfortunately, plastic furniture becomes brittle or discolored when exposed to sunlight.
Balcony lighting: for atmospheric evenings
Especially on mild summer nights, people like to spend time on the balcony and let the day end comfortably. With the right balcony lighting you can create a pleasant atmosphere. For example, you can wrap fairy lights around the balcony railing or distribute small LED lamps on the balcony. With these lights you can set accents on the balcony and create a feeling of warmth and security. Floor lamps provide you with the light you need and bring the living room atmosphere outside.
Privacy protection and sun protection on the balcony
A balcony on the south side can get quite hot in summer. At the latest, when beads of sweat run down the balcony after just five minutes, you will be grateful for every patch of shade. If you have a south-facing balcony, the right sun protection must not be missing in your balcony design. Parasols are a practical and inexpensive way of creating shade on the balcony. A parasol with a folding function allows you to align the parasol with the sun.
Another way to protect yourself from the sun is with an awning. Although these are more expensive, they are more robust and durable than a parasol. An awning also scores points as a sun protection because it does not take up any space on the balcony, as it is mounted on the wall. Awnings are made of high quality materials, are weather-resistant and easy to care for. Another plus point: you can simply retract it when you don’t need it.
A shade sail can also provide shade for your balcony without taking up space. Sun sails are usually triangular or square and are attached to the house wall and the balcony railing with ropes.
Curious looks from neighbors or passers-by disturb you in your peace? Then a privacy screen should not be missing on your balcony. You can easily attach balcony coverings to your balcony railing and they keep unwanted looks away. With privacy mats made of natural materials such as B. bamboo or reeds you can create a natural atmosphere on the balcony.
Balcony decoration: set accents
With various accessories you can give your balcony that certain something and round off the overall picture of the balcony. Just a few cushions, flower pots and decorative accessories help make the balcony look more homely. You can set accents on your balcony with these things:
- Cushions: Cushions are not only comfortable, but also wonderful eye-catchers. They are available in all colors, patterns and shapes and they fit on every balcony.
- Ceilings: Ceilings also give your balcony a relaxed and cozy atmosphere.
- Flower boxes: Flower pots and flower boxes not only have to serve their purpose, they can also be used wonderfully as decorations.
- Watering can: There are also watering cans in a wide variety of shapes and colors and they are a practical decorative element for your balcony.
- Chest: You can use a decorative chest as storage space and as a seat.
- Wind lights: Small wind lights are not only excellent decorative elements, they also create a pleasant warmth in the evening.
- Lanterns: Solar-powered lanterns create a romantic atmosphere on the balcony.
- Insect hotel: A small insect hotel on the balcony offers insects shelter and contributes to a natural appearance.
Plants for the balcony: create a green oasis for yourself
Plants should not be missing on any balcony. They bring a piece of nature to your balcony and make it comfortable. When choosing the greening of your balcony, there are a few things to consider. You should choose the plants according to the orientation of your balcony:
South-facing balcony: For the south-facing balcony, sun-loving plants are suitable, which are not harmed by the hot midday sun. These include oleanders, petunias, dahlias, geraniums, lavender, daisies and olive trees.
East and west balcony: Partly shaded plants are z. B. box trees, bluebells, foxgloves, chrysanthemums, fuchsias and begonias.
North balcony: Plants on the north balcony have to get along without direct sunlight. Suitable plants for this are z. B. Fuchsias, hydrangeas, ferns and grasses.
A small herb garden for the balcony is also worth considering. Herbs provide a pleasant scent on the balcony, they have a particularly decorative effect with their fresh green and can be used in many ways in the kitchen. You can create a small herb bed for your herbs or plant them in flower pots or flower boxes. Make sure that you only plant herbs in one pot that go well together. A good couple are e.g. B. thyme and sage, dill and parsley, tarragon and lemon balm, chives and thyme. Lavender is also a popular balcony plant because of its lilac flowers and likes to stand in a sunny spot.
You should also think about which containers you want to use for your plants. The choice is huge. The pots should be uniform and visually match the rest of the balcony. Whether you want pots made of terracotta, plastic or stone is up to you. Other options are flower boxes that you can hang on the balcony railing or a small flower or herb bed. With a flower staircase you can accommodate several plants in a small space. We recommend vessels with water storage or built-in water tanks so that they do not dry out.
Designing balconies when space is limited: practical ideas
Making a small balcony cozy and comfortable is often a challenge. Every piece of furniture and every flower pot must be carefully considered here. But with a few tricks and the right planning, you can get the most out of your mini balcony:
- Sit on folding furniture: you can save a lot of space with folding chairs, folding tables and sun loungers.
- Multifunctionality: Use e.g. B. a chest as storage space and as a seat at the same time.
- Use the house wall: If there is no more space on the floor, you can also use the house wall for shelves or vertical gardens.
- Natural privacy: rely on natural privacy such as B. climbing plants. As a result, the small room does not appear as cramped as with an opaque balcony covering.
- Don’t just place plants on the ground: for a green balcony, you can hang plants in flower boxes on the balcony railing or hang them from the ceiling with plant hangers.
Do you have any other ideas to make a balcony cozy? Do you have your own cozy balcony? Please let us know in the comments and share your experience with the other readers.
