Terraces and balconies are our oasis in terms of relaxation where we can read a book, drink coffee, sunbathe and play cards. However, not everyone has sufficiently large areas; therefore, both activities and furnishing are often limited. This may be a bit discouraging and often leads one to abandon the idea of having an outdoor relaxation area.
In actual fact, there are numerous solutions available to furnish a small balcony, which may vary according to the style that you prefer or how you want to use it. All you need is to have a clear design in mind, take all the measurements carefully and go and look for the furnishings most suited to your needs.
Below are four ideas that you may find useful to create a relaxation area on your small balcony at home.
MODERN AND MINIMAL
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For a small, minimal but modern balcony, choose simple and practical furnishings: a coffee table, which may be replaced by a practical railing table (basically a hanging shelf) in the case of long, narrow balconies, with two matching chairs, possibly foldable, to stow away easily. Choose colours ranging between white and grey, possibly including some traces of red in fabric items. Embellished with a few plants in cement vases if you have a corner space available, or with practical, modern wall-mounted vases where you can grow herbs.
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TOTAL GREEN
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On the other hand, if you prefer relaxing in a green oasis, the ideal thing is to furnish the area with a comfortable, wooden chaise longue surrounded with plants and flowers in pots on the floor, wall-mounted pots, railing pots, etc. In this case, the ideal thing is to choose a flowerpot with a trellis where you can grow climbing plants. Do you need some ideas to choose the plants? The most suitable perennial flowers are geraniums, primrose, lavender and roses (climbing plants). As for green plants, there is the mountain pine (dwarf conifer that is easy to grow), ivy, aromatic plants such as rosemary, or you can opt for compositions of succulent plants. The extra touch? Flooring made of raw wood or covered with a synthetic lawn, cost effective with a high impact!
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BOHO CHIC
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A small balcony furnished in a boho chic style definitely makes an impression and is welcoming and lively. The combination of hippy and ethnic elements with a “chic” style will transform your balcony into an Arabian Nights fairy-tale, ideal for a chat in the moonlight. The key elements of the boho chic style are: colour, creative recycling, fabrics and light sources. How does one furnish a small balcony in this style? The ideal choice would be to have a low sofa, possibly made from recycled pallets or a futon and many multi-coloured, soft cushions, ideally made with raw fabrics such as hemp, jute and cotton. It will then be decorated with a chain of light bulbs or micro LEDs for outdoors, plants in wooden or straw pots, a carpet and candles or lanterns to create a cosy environment. Release your creativity by customising the area with a “Middle Eastern touch” in the furnishing accessories.
Credits: https://www.ibizabohogirl.com/
RUSTIC, COUNTRY OR PROVENÇAL?
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A country style may call to mind a bohemian style in the type of furnishings and use of materials, but it is definitely softer in the choice of colour palette and more connected with our territory and country style. The main elements in a small country balcony are small sofas, armchairs or rocking chairs made of wicker or wood, possibly recycled, fabrics in neutral colours (from ivory to dove grey), a small cupboard to be used as a shelf and as storage for small objects, tin pots for herbs and other possibly recycled elements (old fruit crates or barn wood stairs). A small country balcony may be furnished in a more minimal and modern way, according to one’s taste, with a vintage or romantic touch that recalls the Provencal style.
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These ideas are only to start off with, but the choice must be based on the actual potential of the small balcony available, on the style of the interior furnishings in order to provide continuity, and on the type of structure (long and narrow, square, with a railing or brick parapet etc.). The kind of lifestyle and the number of family members can also be valid benchmarks when evaluating the choice of tables, chairs and storage cabinets. And remember, even if the space is small, the outdoor area needs care and attention. Therefore, the choice of furniture, flooring and furnishings in general must enable constant, proper maintenance.
Advice: choose plants suitable to the climate and exposure to the sun of your small balcony and put them in suitable places to make it a cosy and relaxing environment.
Marianna Prandi