City living has changed the way we live. Villas and bungalows are being replaced by apartments. We don’t have huge gardens or balconies nowadays. Our outdoor home extension is largely limited to balconies.
Plants are one of the best ways to decorate your balcony, but there is always a space crunch. But there are ways to get around that crunch:
Add greenery to your balcony
Add as much greenery as possible. Plants like frangipani are not only inviting but also sturdy. Tall palms and hanging pots add to the feel of being closer to nature. For the floor, artificial grass is a good option.
Get creative with lighting
You can turn any old balcony into a calm or romantic outdoor space by adding some mood lighting. Balconies can be adorned with brass lanterns, coloured glasses, Moroccan lanterns, fairy lights, and up and downlighters. Something like bamboo lights can add an eccentric and natural touch to space.
Keep outdoor furniture
Outdoor furniture such as wicker and cane chairs, etc. not only look good but are also easy to maintain. If the space permits, a swing in the balcony can certainly become your favourite place in the house, or you can find a small enough foldable patio set or table that doesn’t make a balcony look too cramped.
Decorate your balconies with accessories
Add interesting things such as wind chimes, outdoor speakers for streaming music, and an artificial mini-waterfall.
Keep it clean
Add a few outdoor tasks to your list every time you run through your indoor cleaning checklist. Sweeping your patio once a week will keep it mostly-free of dirt, debris, dead bugs and anything else that can take away from its aesthetics.
Invest in shade
Whether it’s an afternoon of light rain or a particularly clear and bright day, a little shade goes a long way. An umbrella table or a covered sunshade can help you enjoy your patio without discomfort.
Stones and pebbles
If you feel like you want your balcony to look more natural, don’t hesitate to pile up smooth stones and pebbles that can also serve as your outdoor doormat on the balcony.
This article is contributed by Adetee Sawhaney, Principal Designer, Altus Interio
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of RoofandFloor.
