How to design and decorate a small city balcony?

Our tips to make the most of your small balcony

Who says small space, says cosiness and a friendly atmosphere. Even if it’s not very large, narrow, or long, a small apartment balcony can provide you with a relaxing space and a touch of nature, if you arrange it well.

Here are our tips:

• Stick to the essentials: as you have limited space, the trick is to think about the essential furniture needed to furnish your balcony and not to overcrowd the area to allow for easy movement. This could be, for example, a table for breakfast, a chair for reading, or pots to grow your plants.
• Choose folding furniture: if you’re torn between a table for breakfast and a sun lounger for reading, you can opt for lightweight, folding furniture. This allows you to fold the table to unfold your sun lounger and vice versa, depending on your mood.
• Utilise vertical space: as you are limited in floor area, you can make use of the available vertical space to place your plants or furniture: a climbing plant or pots stacked against a wall, planters on a railing, hanging pots with trailing plants that will look stunning, a foldable wall table…
• Focus on decoration: to create a lovely atmosphere with minimal means, you can play with accessories and decorative items. They generally take up little space and add that special touch that makes all the difference: candles, fairy lights, colourful or soft cushions, oriental or African rugs, …

Now, let’s see what you can do with your small balcony.

Balcony with a minimalist style (photo Spacejoy – Unsplash)

An outdoor space for lunch or dinner

If you choose a spot for dining during the lovely days, all you need to do is find a table and chairs of the right dimensions, preferably lightweight and foldable, and set them up in a corner where you won’t be obstructed while moving around. This could be a corner at the end of the balcony, or along the railing, if the table is small enough or even collapsible. Next, add your favourite plants in appropriately sized pots, and as a privacy screen if needed, along with a few decorative and comfort elements: cushions, candles, light, … And there you have it.

A cosy corner for evening chats

Do you prefer to enjoy your balcony by relaxing on a sofa or on cushions and a rug on the floor, surrounded by greenery in a cosy spot where you can chat with your best friend? Find out where to make a custom small sofa or create one with pallets; it’s very trendy and you can easily find mattresses and cushions. Place it in a cosy and easily accessible corner, and let yourself be inspired by decorative accessories: a small coffee table in wood or metal, decking on the floor or a soft rug, and beautiful cushions to settle in comfortably. And play of course with colours, lights, and the beauty of potted plants.

A balcony to sunbathe and read in the sun

It’s decided, your small balcony is destined for your reading and sunbathing sessions. In this case, choose a lightweight and comfortable deckchair, folding if your space is too limited. Place it in the sun, enhance it with fragrant plants like jasmines that also serve as a privacy screen. Then, let yourself drift away while listening to the birds singing. You can add a fountain, a small coffee table for your drink or book, a misting device, or even a small parasol if you are facing south.

A balcony to set up a vegetable garden

You dream of using your small balcony for gardening? If you want to grow vegetables or aromatic plants, your main piece of furniture could be a wooden raised bed, ideally elevated to save space and optimise the area. Again, you can place it in a corner to facilitate movement. Depending on the orientation of your balcony, many vegetables can be grown in a small raised bed: cherry tomatoes, lettuces, and aromatic plants!

Mini raised bed

A flower-filled balcony

If you are a flower lover, choose a set of space-saving pots arranged along the wall or railing, with hanging planters on the balustrade. Jasmine, passionflower, wisteria, vine, climbing rose, will climb your walls or along trellises effortlessly, creating a beautiful natural atmosphere, just like in a small garden. However, be sure to leave enough space to access each pot and have a corner to store your gardening tools. Because when you love, you don’t count, and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by your favourite plants!

Discover all our ideas for plants to grow on your balcony and our tips for creating a small vegetable patch!