Cozy small balcony ideas – 10 tiny yet stylish outdoor spaces
As demonstrated by these cosy ideas for a small balcony, you don’t need a sizable garden to enjoy outdoor living.
More and more of us are realizing the importance of spending time in nature to our overall health and happiness, and this has led to an increase in the number of homeowners making the most of their backyards, no matter how big or outdoor.
Designing a balcony garden is difficult under any circumstances. Still, the design process becomes considerably more challenging when the space is small, especially when the balcony is exposed to the ideas. Fortunately, there are many ingenious solutions for making even the tiniest of balconies and backyards usable and small.
Here, we’ve compiled a plethora of expert advice alongside a variety of cozy small balcony ideas to help you visualize the possibilities.
COZY SMALL BALCONY IDEAS
Cozy small balcony ideas can be attained in various ways, from portable and multipurpose outdoor seating to simple garden design ideas. We surveyed experts to find the best way to make an outdoor balcony space feel more like an extension of the home. Several suggested emulating indoor living room design ideas by including outdoor furniture and accessories.
“The key to making the most of a small balcony is prioritising comfort and style. Balconies are sometimes overlooked as potential outdoor living spaces, but they can be a great way to extend your indoor style into the fresh air. Megan Dufresne, the principal designer of MC Design, says, “If you make it pleasant and comfortable, you are more inclined to use it.”
Similarly, an interior designer, Shanade McAllister Fisher, agrees, “a balcony should be an extension of your house, so selecting complementary colours and furnishings can help to bring that cozy sense from the inside out.” Incorporating a variety of textures, such as outdoor rugs, soft cushions, bulky shawls, and warm, flickering tea light lanterns, can assist in solidifying this concept.
1. CHOOSE COMFORTABLE MODULAR SEATING
Comfortable seating is essential for any small balcony or roof garden design. If you have the room for it, a weatherproof couch with water-resistant cushions is ideal for curling up with a book, having a cup of coffee with friends, or just taking it easy and enjoying the scenery.
This modular design is cozy for a small balcony because it can be rearranged if its layout ever has to be altered. The faux rattan material instantly makes the area feel more inviting and homey.
If your balcony is on the small side, you’ll need to pick out low-slung pieces of furniture. Interior designer Sarah Barnard adds, “Comfortable, low-profile furniture makes the most of the lovely views and retains a sensation of spaciousness.”
2. ADD A RUG
An outdoor rug is a simple way to add colour and design to a balcony while also making it feel like an extension of the house. Use a design that can withstand the elements, as this will be an outdoor feature.
According to Tasha Green, the company’s founder, “made entirely from recycled plastic, Weaver Green carpets are hard wearing, easy to maintain, and even machine washable making them perfect for indoor and outdoor use.”
3. CHOOSE FLEXIBLE FURNITURE
Kimberly Kronberger, the US business leader for Ikea, recommends “select things that can stretch, stack, or fold to save room when not in use” for furnishing a small balcony. Chairs that fold up or stack are a fantastic space-saving solution since they can be put away during the winter so the balcony can accommodate more flower pots.
Although foldable furniture is convenient, Casadar’s founder Laurice Constantine advises consumers to choose more permanent fixtures.
Use the built-in bench sitting and never worry about your furniture blowing over or, worse, being blown away by the wind again.
4. CHOOSE SEATING WITH AN AIRY OPEN FRAME
Seating is essential for creating a comfortable and cozy balcony. Still, it’s important to choose the right type when working with a small footprint, especially if you want to give the impression that your garden is more extensive than it is.
MC Design’s main designer Megan Dufresne recommends, “Create a focal point, buy the largest furniture the space can support, and add some plants to finalize the appearance.” Attempting to minimize one’s physical presence by selecting small furnishings is a common faux pas. But in reality, that only makes the room seem even more cramped.
Although substantial in size, this seat’s open frame design and lack of back maintain the view clear and give the impression of a more excellent room on the balcony.
6. CREATE A VERTICAL GARDEN
Even a tiny balcony may seem like home when you have the most excellent balcony plants. Sarah Barnard, an interior designer, believes that even a few small potted plants can warm up the area and make it feel more serene and lived-in.
Too many potted plants, however, might look cluttered on a small balcony, so rather than sacrificing floor space for aesthetics, consider hanging your plants from the floor.
You may get various vertical garden ideas at Ikea, including plant shelving units for your garden ideas, as well as hanging planters and planters that go over the balcony railing. These will not only make a balcony more aesthetically beautiful by elevating plants, but they may also make tending to plants easier by eliminating the need for frequent stooping.
6. GO FOR LIGHTWEIGHT INDOOR/OUTDOOR FURNITURE
Choose lightweight indoor furniture that can be quickly transported indoors to outdoors, like those from Garden Trading, if you have a tiny balcony attached to a small living space.
Another excellent method to add character to a tiny balcony is tiling the floor, as shown above.
7. ADD MOOD LIGHTING
Even though installing outdoor lighting ideas wired into a balcony wall is convenient, it can be expensive. Candles in lanterns like those sold by The White Company and other solar garden lighting ideas like solar festoon lighting hung from the ceiling make it simple to transform a backyard into a mystical, cozy retreat after dark.
8. CREATE AN INTIMATE OUTDOOR DINING SPACE
One of the best parts of summer is eating lunch outside, but if you have a small balcony, it might be challenging to locate a garden table set that fits.
Outdoor dining ideas can be made more social and intimate by using a round table, which is also the most space-efficient option. This string-style garden set is not only lightweight and easy to move but also makes a stunning contemporary design statement while leaving plenty of room.
9. ADD AN AWNING
Sarah Barnard, an interior designer, says that awnings are a wise investment for a small balcony because they offer seclusion, shelter, and protection for outdoor furniture from the elements. The balcony may be brightened while still being shielded from the sun by using materials with lighter tones. She also notes that “garden shade ideas overhead” might make for a more private and enclosed outdoor experience while letting in plenty of fresh air.
The fencing in this area provides privacy and protection from the wind, but its cheery pale blue colour also makes the area seem more spacious. Sarah also made excellent use of the area by placing a vast outdoor sofa across the width of the patio.
10. HANG A MIRROR
Decorating a balcony with mirrors is a simple and fast technique to make the area feel much larger. After dark, this area stays bright thanks to the mirror and garden wall lights above it.
HOW DO YOU MAKE A SMALL BALCONY COZY?
If you want to make even a tiny balcony feel like an extension of your house, you should furnish it with cozy seating arrangements, soft lighting, waterproof cushions, and throw blankets.
Making an indoor area feel cozier is as simple as using the same materials and furniture you would like inside. Elegant outdoor furniture is available in a wide variety of gorgeous designs. Sarah Barnard, an interior designer, recommends choosing outdoor and aesthetically pleasing items to make the most of a small balcony.
HOW DO YOU MAKE A SMALL BALCONY LOOK BIGGER?
A garden mirror and some elevated planters are two easy and inexpensive methods to provide the illusion of more space on a balcony. Lightweight, open-frame garden chairs will maintain sightlines clear and open up the vista rather than heavy, clunky furniture. Think about leveraging the height of the balcony by installing storage for plants, hanging plants from the ceiling, or using over-rail balcony planters to keep plant pots off the floor.
Adding plants is an excellent way to create the illusion of more room. Interior designer Shanade McAllister-Fisher recommends using planters and pots of varying heights and proportions to create a visual distraction and the impression of quirky depth and intrigue on a balcony.
For small balconies, “folding furniture or a small café table is always great compact choices,” but “when possible, I like a compact outdoor sofa with lots of plush cushions to provide the perfect resting space.”
