How to Turn a Tiny Home Balcony into a Favorite Retreat

A balcony can serve as one of the most enticing features of your home. These spaces afford you an aerial view of your neighborhood and give you a chance to enjoy the fresh air that comes with pleasant weather. Even if your balcony is on the smaller side, there are a few ways that you can enliven it. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a few of the best ways that you can turn a tiny balcony into your favorite retreat.  

Evaluate Your Space

For this guide, we’ll assume that your balcony is relatively small. However, you need a more precise idea of how small your balcony is before you begin the process of transformation. 

Take measurements of your balcony space before you decide to add anything to it. Those dimensions will be the main factor in determining what outdoor features you can add to your balcony.

After you know your measurements, you can proceed to the more exciting stages of creating a retreat on your balcony. Let’s continue to discuss some of the best tactics you can use to improve your balcony space.

Improve Privacy

People often view their outdoor living spaces as an extension of their indoor living spaces. Balconies are no different.

One of the main benefits of your indoor areas is the privacy you enjoy. As such, one of your first goals in redesigning your balcony should be to mimic that same degree of privacy. This can be difficult depending on how exposed your balcony is. It might be possible for people to view your balcony from the street level or from balconies nearby.

Take some time to recognize where you need privacy most. Then you can begin working to create a visual barrier along those lines of sight. Here are a few of the best ways that you can add some privacy to your existing balcony:

• Adding large plant species
• Hanging canvases/curtains
• Setting up a divider

Remember that the way you create privacy is more than a functional activity. While it is important that you block the view your neighbors have of you, you should also choose a form of privacy that is aesthetically pleasing and works with your overall design.

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Add Container Plants

Growing plants is one of the most reliable ways to enhance the experience of any outdoor area. Healthy plants offer beautiful flowers and foliage and are one of the most important elements in your balcony retreat.

As is the case with any planting project, adding plants to a balcony requires you to understand each plant’s specific growing needs. But the unique environmental factors of a balcony call for some deeper consideration when choosing balcony plants.

Most obviously, a balcony does not come with any soil. That’s why you will need to plant your balcony plants in containers. Containers give your plants a place to set their roots and give you the chance to create the ideal soil mix for the plants you wish to grow. When selecting a container for your balcony garden, consider these qualities:

• Drainage
• Size
• Exterior appearance

If you can find a good container and fill it with nutrient-rich soil, you are well on your way to growing healthy plants on your balcony. Still, there are some other considerations you should make when maintaining balcony plants.

For example, balconies may face stronger winds compared to ground-level planting areas. In response to those windy conditions, you should consider giving some of your plants winter wind protection. As an alternative, you can continue growing some plants indoors during the colder months.

Consider Seating Options

Plants are a great starting point for any outdoor design. But seating can make such a space even more alluring. The right seat can be the key to you enjoying your balcony for hours on end.

Again, the seat you choose will depend on the space you have. Some balconies have enough room for a small bench. Others might only permit a single chair. As a more exciting option, you could find a way to connect a hammock to your balcony railings.

As you consider your seating options, you might need to be a bit creative. For instance, your balcony might be too small for new furniture. In that case, you can try using blankets and pillows to make a small lounge area on the floor of your balcony.

Regardless of how you choose to add seating to your balcony, don’t forget that your balcony is open to the outdoor elements. That means that you should only choose furniture that can withstand different types of weather. Otherwise, you will need to bring your balcony seating indoors before each storm. 

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Create a Space for Dining

If you have enough space for furniture on your balcony, you might want to set up a place for outdoor dining. Even with a small space, you may still have the chance to make a breakfast nook where you can enjoy your morning coffee. Small café dining sets are often ideal for balcony dining.

As was the case with your outdoor seating, you’ll want to select a dining set that is weatherproof. After that, you can focus on visual appeal. Once you find the right set, you will be ready to indulge in a weekend brunch in your balcony retreat.

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Balcony Lights

Lighting allows you to extend the amount of time you can spend on your balcony retreat. If you want to use your balcony at night, there are plenty of suitable lighting fixtures that will allow you to do so.

Start by identifying your nearest outlets. Considering your balcony is attached to your indoor living area, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a power supply.

As with any addition to your balcony retreat, the lighting you choose is a matter of personal taste. String lights are one of the most popular options for balconies. You can wind such lights around your balcony railing or hang them to create a soft glow from above. 

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Shield Yourself from Sun, Wind, and Rain

Keep in mind that your balcony is an outdoor space and that foul weather can make your balcony experience a miserable one. Take some preemptive action to ensure that the weather does not ruin your retreat.

Excessive sun exposure can overheat your balcony, strong winds can make it too chilly, and rain will make it too wet. Try to recognize if any of those factors will detract from your balcony retreat and respond accordingly.

An umbrella can help give you some shade and shield you from precipitation. Also, the same dividers you use to make privacy can help minimize wind patterns. By controlling your environment, you stand a better chance of creating a comfortable balcony retreat.

Cover the Floor and Walls

Making a balcony retreat is all about developing a pleasant setting. That is why it is important to notice how existing features can detract from your design vision.

Many balconies come with concrete floors or are next to ugly building walls. If that is the case for your balcony, you might want to cover some of the unattractive surfaces.

To cover walls, you could add a lattice structure with climbing vines. Or you could use more of the curtains or panels you already considered for privacy.

You’ll also find that there are some interesting ways to improve the appearance of your balcony floor. As mentioned earlier, you could add a new rug. Or you could opt for a set of decking panels. Those panels often interlock and are a quick way to cover your balcony floor.

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Add Artificial Plant Life

Some balconies are on the north side of a tall building. In that setting, plants won’t find the light they need to grow. But if you still want some greenery, there are some alternative ways you can get it.

If your balcony does not support real plant life, you’ll have to settle for some fake plants. Not everyone likes the look of an artificial plant. But if that look doesn’t bother you, there is nothing stopping you from putting fake plants of all shapes and sizes on your balcony.

Artificial plants may not add life to your balcony retreat, but they come with some advantages. Mainly, you’ll have a consistent amount of greenery that calls for no on-going plant maintenance.

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Make the Space Functional

Most of this guide deals with ways to make your balcony an appealing area for relaxation. But don’t miss the opportunity to make your balcony a functional space.

A balcony is a great place to dry clothes or grow herbs for your kitchen. Adding such functionality can make using your balcony that much more rewarding.

Wrapping Up

Transforming a balcony into your favorite retreat is a lot easier than you might think. After some practical considerations related to the space you have, you can then turn your balcony into a restorative oasis. Fortunately for you, getting started is as easy as following the tips in this article.