6 tips to make your balcony summer-ready!

Chloe Hines Chloe Hines
Dakterras Utrecht Centrum, Renoparts Vianen B.V. | Uw Dakterras Specialist Renoparts Vianen B.V. | Uw Dakterras Specialist カントリーデザインの テラス
Loading admin actions …

It's almost officially spring – and yes, we might be getting ahead of ourselves, but we are certainly excited for the early arrival of summer. If you're lucky enough to have any type of outdoor space, then we hope you're preparing to spruce it up in time for summer gatherings, dinner nights and cocktail parties! 

Today we are specifically looking at balconies and how to properly get them summer-ready. We are interested in helping you with your balcony because these tend to be incredibly tiny, compact spaces so both your strategy and creativity need to be top-notch to make sure you're making the most of them during the summer months! Our six tips to make your balcony summer-ready will surely help you create a fun and fabulous space for both you and those that you love spending your time with.

Seating

Of course, if you wish to enjoy your balcony in the summer, you will need proper seating arrangements. This should depend on two things – your style and the climate of your area. We suggest in hotter climates that you avoid seating that is dark, or any type of metal or even wood. If you must go with wood, choose a lighter grain that will keep cool during hot afternoon hours.

Collapsible, light-coloured seating in hemp or plastic materials is best so you can easily store your seating out of direct sunlight, or easily create more room if you need to! Remember, dark or bright colours will quicklyfade with long exposure to the sunlight – so don't waste your money with colourful seating, tables, or any permanent fixture for that matter! Keep the colours in the details!

Lighting

We understand that during the summer months, properly providing lighting for your balcony might be one of the last things on your mind – but it can make a difference! If you plan to do any entertaining, or if you grill or eat on your balcony you will need decent lighting to create the perfect atmosphere.

As seen in this example, the homeowner chose to use an industrial-style overhead light – which is great for grilling, eating or talking with company. However, the presence of a table side lamp makes this space more welcoming, cosy and open to intimate nights with guests even without food. We suggest that you take this example as a guide – install at least one overhead light (depending on the size of your balcony) and a smaller lamp or push light in case you just want to sit outside and enjoy a night time read or glass of wine. Having at least two light sources should keep you covered and well-lit for the evening and night time hours!

This terrace has fabulous lighting and shows how creative you can be with both overhead lights and highlighting techniques!

Place ware

homify モダンデザインの テラス

Of course you don't need to have crockery out and available at all times, as that balconies are obviously susceptible to temperature and weather changes. If you tend to entertain outdoors quite often and are worried about the longevity of your dishes, we suggests investing in nice plastic ware for your evenings outside. There are plenty of plastic place ware options that are great, and they are always more inexpensive than fine crockery or porcelain.

Make sure you always have the standard amount for entertaining - place ware for six people is standard! Since outdoor balcony-style dining tends to be less formal, just grab larger entree plates and bowls. Forget the formalities with outdoor dining, and only roll out the expensive china on extra-special occasions.

Plants/flowers

homify モダンデザインの テラス

The biggest advantage of a balcony is the ability to have fresh herbs, vegetables and even some manageable fruits. Herb plants can be quite beautiful and functional at the same time and will always make your meals extra special.  

To make your balcony summer-ready, we suggest greenery, such as vines, Pothos plants or aloe vera. For a more decorative array, add some colourful flowers into the mix as well. Make sure all the plants and flowers that you choose do well in direct sunlight for extended periods of time and that the upkeep is minimal if you aren't too great at maintaining plants!  If you have tables and chairs on your balcony, add smaller potted flowers of various sizes and kinds to mix up the space. With central dining tables, add one or two larger bouquets as seen here!

Check out the use of large plant holders and how they create a privacy barrier that looks great on this balcony!

Cosiness

homify ミニマルデザインの テラス

As a balcony is generally nowhere near as big as a typical garden, conservatory or outdoor patio, it should be easy to add a touch of cosiness – take a look at the example we have here!

The addition of both a close seating arrangement and the right type of outdoor lighting really make this balcony incredible. Want to know what really tops this balcony off, though? The addition of thematic plants and decor! This balcony is clearly decorated for the winter holidays, and is an exemplary display of how adding a few decorative items and sprigs of fir trees can liven up a space. 

If you do a lot of entertaining, think about any upcoming holidays, or just adjust your decor to the appropriate season to show your guests that you're willing to spend both the time and effort towards making your space the best it can be!

Fun tip: If you or your guests have children, consider some great storage options to keep your space clean and organized, as seen here!

BBQ/grill pit

For all of you grill masters and BBQ lovers out there, nothing says summer Iike a great grill pit or balcony-sized BBQ. With the different types, styles and sizes of BBQ on the market now, there really is no excuse not to have one. At one time, balconies were most definitely too small to partake in any grilling activities. However, now, with the table-top and tiny grill options, you can have it your way!

Remember, it is always important to check both your zoning codes and apartment building rules – a lot of apartments or even cities don't allow for balcony grilling – it can be seen as a fire hazard!  To be safer in this department, choose a propane-fueled mini-grill rather than a stand-up coal-burning grill.

If you enjoyed these balcony tips, be sure to read all about how to create a garden perfect for entertaining!

住宅建設や家のリフォームをお考えですか?
ぜひご連絡下さい!

注目の特集記事