Moving from a house into an apartment is always challenging, but what homeowners really need to get used to is the lack of outdoor space. The idea of having a small balcony that may or may not be west-facing might make you upset, especially if you were planning on growing plants, watching the sunset, or even hanging your clothes up to dry. You don’t need to worry, though. No matter how small the space may be, the creative decor ideas for a small balcony shared below will fit the bill and help you make the most of the available square footage.
Decor Ideas for a Small Balcony
Use the following ideas to decorate your balcony and utilise the outdoor space to the best of its abilities:
- Protect it from the elements
- Think about privacy
- Consider your safety
- Choose between tiles or paint
- Plan for your laundry
- Bring in some greenery
- Use the walls
- Set up a seating area
- Opt for outdoor lighting
Let’s discuss each of these ideas for decorating a balcony below.
Protect It from the Elements
Weather can be harsh in Pakistan, depending upon the city you choose for your abode. The metropolises which have the largest variety of apartments on sale are Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, and aside from the capital, the other two witness severe summer heat. You’ll also occasionally experience rain spells during the monsoon season in both cities. This is why it is crucial to safeguard your balcony from the heat and the rain before you begin decorating it.
Most people prefer to hang curtains in their balconies to perform a dual function. They prevent sunlight from reaching the interior of the flat and also ensure some much-needed privacy from the neighbours.
Think About Privacy
Apartment complexes, especially in older parts of the town, are often closely built, increasing the need for privacy. If your balcony is directly opposite your neighbour’s, you might feel like it violates your right for privacy, especially if you plan to decorate your balcony and spend some time in it regularly.
As mentioned above, many apartment dwellers love to hang light breezy cotton curtains in their balconies, which allow a soft breeze to flow into the home while keeping peeping eyes away. Some people also use wooden panels or blinds to cover their balcony entirely, especially if it faces the main road or gets excessive sunlight.
Consider Your Safety
Flats are generally considered safer than houses because, more often than not, it is harder for uninvited intruders to reach your home, especially if it’s located on one of the higher floors. But people living on the lower floors need to protect their balconies from thieves, particularly if electric poles or blooming trees adjacent to the building provide a convenient route to the balcony.
While many builders do take this factor into account and use floor-to-ceiling grills to secure the balconies, you might need to think about your own safety if that isn’t the case. Surrounding the balconies in a metal cage, with convenient padlocked windows that can be opened when needed, is usually recommended for flats in Pakistan, irrespective of how safe the society may be. Ensure that your apartment building or society does not have any building bylaws against modifying the exterior façade of the structure, though.
Choose Between Tiles or Paint
Once you’ve considered the above factors, it’s time to incorporate some of your best ideas for decorating a balcony. But first things first, figure out how you’ll cover the walls and floor. Most people choose to either paint or tile the balcony simply because outdoor paints and tiles are fairly durable and water-resistant, allowing you to enjoy a beautiful outdoor space for longer.
It is recommended that you avoid textured paint and tiles since the grooves will catch dust and dirt quickly and become a pain to keep clean over the years.
Plan for Your Laundry
A lot of people living in flats prefer to air-dry their laundry, and this means making space for the clothes in an already cramped space. From hanging washing lines outside or inside the balcony to installing racks for hanging up your washing, there’s a lot that you can do in a small space if you need to hang your clothes out to dry.
Bring In Some Greenery
You might miss having a large yard if you’ve recently moved into a flat with a tiny balcony, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t grow some plants in the limited space. One of our small balcony décor ideas is to grow a kitchen garden in your balcony so that you’ll have fresh produce to use in your meals. Alternatively, you can choose evergreen plants like money plants, Aloe Vera, and others, which will not require a lot of sunlight to stay fresh and healthy all year round.
Use the Walls
If you don’t want floor space to be restricted by clothes racks and potted plants, use your walls to the maximum. Consider hanging a clothes rack on the wall or opt for hanging pots that will add that touch of green without crowding the space in your balcony.
Set Up a Seating Area
If you want to enjoy your evening tea or the sound of the rain in the comfort of your balcony, you will need to set up a convenient seating space. This can be tricky with smaller balconies, but there are still a number of ways to achieve this goal.
First, before you place your furniture, check that there is proper drainage of rainwater on your balcony. Next, use outdoor-friendly furniture, which will not rot or fade under harsh weather conditions. While one way to create seating is to install a bench or chair into a groove in the wall, another method is to keep foldable plastic chairs inside the home that you can pull out to the balcony when needed.
Opt for Outdoor Lighting
Install lights that will brighten up your balcony at night. LEDs work best in an outdoor environment and are commonly available at hardware stores nowadays. Most people prefer to use white rather than warm lights for balconies. You can opt for a wall sconce, a ceiling light, or a hanging pendant, from among the many types of light fixtures used in Pakistani homes.
These décor ideas for a small balcony are just the start, though. If you’re eager to make the most of the space, you’ll need to determine how you want to use it and plan your décor accordingly.
Stay tuned to Zameen Blog for more home décor tips. Reach us at blog@zameen.com with your questions, queries, and suggestions.
