Build an outdoor oasis in the middle of the city – turn your balcony into a relaxing nook with these easy tips.
As an apartment dweller, your terrace or balcony is one of your most prized amenities. The following recommendations will help you transform it into a welcoming outdoor oasis hangout, regardless of its size.
If you’re living in an apartment in the middle of the city, you know that having a balcony can be a major perk because it allows you to spend some quality time outdoors. Although it’s not a large backyard, it still provides you with enough private outdoor space where you can drink your coffee in the morning and stargaze during the night. With some attention to the design, you can create an outdoor oasis equipped with everything you need to unwind, spend time with your family, and even entertain friends.
This guide provides you with all the information you need for a balcony makeover. Ready to learn more?
Ways to enjoy your balcony
Design the balcony to suit your lifestyle. While its size can impact what you can do, it’s easy to convert it into a space that enables you to spend quality time with some easy tweaks.
Relaxation or reading spot
The balcony is the perfect spot to read your favourite book or just sit back and relax while drinking a cup of tea. Bring an outdoor rug and invest in a comfortable loveseat to create a comfy place where you can bring your lecture of choice and read in natural light. If you have a small terrace, you can switch the loveseat for an outdoor ottoman, it’ll be equally comfortable, and you’ll have more available space.
Meditation or exercise area
Do you like to start your mornings outdoors with a yoga or meditation session? What if you wouldn’t have to leave the house and could practice on the terrace? Use some balcony planters to create a green corner, bring a yoga mat, and light some scented candles to create an inviting and relaxing environment. In the mornings, when you switch from meditation to exercising, take your Bluetooth speaker outside to get you in the mood. Exercising or meditation is a great way to start your days and leave for work energised and ready to handle whatever lies ahead.
Space for your pet
If you have a pet, they’d enjoy spending some time soaking in the sun on warm days, so you could transform the balcony into a safe space for them. Even if you don’t leave them alone on the balcony, they may still want to join you when you drink your coffee in the morning or read a book after coming back from work. Block off the edges to prevent them from falling and remove any hazard that may put them to risk. You could install a pet gate to make sure they don’t enter the balcony when you’re not around.
BBQ
Only because you don’t have a backyard doesn’t mean you cannot organise BBQ nights with your loved ones. You can always enjoy cooking on the terrace if you modify it to suit your needs. However, before transforming your balcony into a BBQ space, ensure you’re allowed to grill in your outdoor space because some residential complexes prohibit it. A rooftop terrace is an ideal space for planning barbecuing and grilling parties. Bring in a small electric BBQ grill and purchase some high-quality cooking accessories to have everything you need for a delicious meal at hand.
City garden
Your balcony can be the perfect place to grow a city garden if you’re passionate about planting and growing flowers or vegetables. Determine what type of sun the space gets, and then pick a few herbs and flowers that thrive in these conditions. You’ll need a couple of flower pots and some gardening accessories to care for the plants as they grow. If you have enough space, you can bring some outdoor furniture to spend time with your flowers.
Personalise the terrace with your favourite accessories
Use patterns and colours to transform the outdoor space into a relaxing oasis. Use an outdoor area rug to anchor the space and pull some chairs topped with colourful pillows to create a sitting space. Adding plants is another easy way to liven up the space, but make sure you pick species that thrive outdoors and, in the temperatures, and light specific to your balcony.
Transform the balcony into an entertaining area
If you want to spend quality time with your friends on your balcony, you may find it useful to outfit it with a bar cart stocked with all the essentials needed for an entertaining night. Besides your favourite cocktail ingredients and beverage, add some fun accents like artwork or potted plants. Considering they’re exposed to weather elements, use dishes and drinkware made from durable materials like stainless steel, plastic, or melamine.
Create a private space
It’s challenging to transform the balcony into a completely private area if it butts up to other buildings, but you can enhance its privacy using some simple tricks. Use containers of tall plants to create a wall of plants or plant herbs with training leaves to screen the view to your terrace. You can also install outdoor curtains made from light fabrics that allow the light to enter the balcony while keeping prying eyes away.
Create a dining area
You can transform the balcony into a dining area if you love to eat your meals outdoors while enjoying the city view. A small table and a couple of comfortable chairs are enough to convert the space and allow you to enjoy breakfast or dinner on the balcony. A round table is more suitable for this purpose because it’s easier to navigate around it in a crowded space. You can also install cushioned benches or a small settee if the space allows, so you can host more people when your loved ones drop by. Don’t forget to add some accessories and even a centrepiece to give the space a festive vibe.
Let’s wrap it up
Whether you have a small balcony or spacious terrace, you can transform it into a fabulous outdoors oasis where you can spend some relaxing moments.
Images courtesy of unsplash.com
