Which plants and furniture fit best and how can I decorate my balcony cheaply? We show the most important basics for your feel-good place and give you great inspiration for beautification.
As soon as we have stowed away the winter things, it is already time to bring the balcony into shape. After all, we want to make the best possible use of our comfort zone and finally spend mild spring days and long summer evenings on the balcony again ❤️. With a few tips and tricks, balcony design is easy. The following five basics will help you to easily create an overall concept for your patio.
5 basics for balcony design
- flooring: The balcony covering should match the orientation of the balcony.
- Plant: The green roommates should also be aligned with the alignment, not all of them tolerate a lot of sun or no sun at all! Of course, it also makes sense to take the available space into account. Which plants thrive in pots and which in boxes? Is a vertical garden on the balcony an option?
- sun protection: Most balconies can look forward to a visit from the sun, sun protection protects against too much sun and provides shade when we need it. Awnings, sun sails or a classic parasol in a stand or in a bracket on the balcony frame are possible options.
- balcony furniture: Probably nobody wants to stand on the balcony all evening or Sunday morning. Apart from the French balcony, also known as the jubilee balcony, seating and possibly tables and other furniture fit on it. This makes the whole outdoor seating area really homely, so that we want to stay there longer.
- privacy screen: Is not a must-have, but can protect against prying eyes from the neighbors from the terrace below or from the neighboring balcony. Alternatively, a privacy screen is a chic decorative element that brings a feel-good flair.
North or south balcony? Tips for each alignment
How the orientation of your balcony is plays a not inconsiderable role in your balcony design. Because not all balcony plants or balcony furniture like blazing sun. What you should pay attention to when designing your feel-good seat.
south balcony
Most hours of sunshine can be enjoyed on the south-facing balcony. Of course we are happy about that, but sun protection should not be missing. Because in summer it can get hot and we need help so that we are not mercilessly exposed to the sun. This can be an awning, in a rented apartment this must be agreed with the landlord, or a parasol. For smaller balconies there are umbrellas that can be attached to the railing to save space.
Plant
Here you rely on plants that like it very sunny:
- lavender
- olive tree
- citrus plants
- geraniums
- elf spur
- African Lily
- oleander
An olive tree (or a little citrus tree) brings Mediterranean flair to the balcony at home.
© Ania K / Shutterstock
furniture and flooring
Metal furniture heats up quickly in the sun and is uncomfortable to sit on. Instead, you should rely on wooden furniture. The same goes for the floor: wood is more comfortable than an overheated stone floor. If you are not technically skilled in laying a new balcony covering: it doesn’t matter! There are also beautiful outdoor rugs that look sleek and protect your feet.
north balcony
The north balcony is now the exact opposite of the south balcony, because the sun hardly comes here. A blessing on hot days! But even without much sun, the balcony is a real oasis of well-being. Reach for light colors, so the patio looks much friendlier. Fairy lights and lanterns bring light to the shady balcony and you can set exciting highlights with colored decorative elements!
Plants for the north balcony
These plants also thrive in a shady location:
- begonias
- Busy Lizzie
- fuchsias
Herbs such as wild garlic, rocket, parsley or chives also thrive on a shady balcony!
furniture and flooring
You don’t need to be afraid of overheated floors or furniture here. Instead, it is better to use a surface that tolerates wetness well, as everything dries more slowly here due to the lack of sun.
west balcony
If you own a west-facing balcony, you can look forward to the sun from late afternoon. It’s clear where the after-work drink is enjoyed, isn’t it?!
Plants for the west balcony
A partially shaded location is ideal for these plants:
- lilies
- petunias
- angel trumpets
- miracle flower
furniture and flooring
Here, too, caution is advised with furniture made of metal, the sun can still heat it up well.
east balcony
Sun in the morning, shade from midday: Those who like to have breakfast can indulge in it on an east-facing balcony and enjoy the sun’s rays. Not only that, the balcony can also be used later in the day to relax without being at the mercy of the hot sun. Pleasant temperatures, a refreshing drink and a good book – well, who doesn’t dream of that?!
Plants for the east balcony
As with the west-facing balcony, plants in a partially shaded location are also ideal for the east-facing balcony:
furniture and flooring
When it comes to flooring, it is best to use materials that store heat well, e.g. B. Tiles. The sun is usually not that strong in the morning, so you don’t have to do without metal furniture.
© Look Studio / Shutterstock
Make the balcony easy to care for
We like to invest time in a beautiful balcony, but that doesn’t mean that it should be a lot of work again and again!
balcony furniture plastic are easy to care for and durable. This is furniture made of poly rattan absolutely weatherproof, defy rain and do not fade so quickly in sunlight. Cleaning is usually easy with water and a cloth!
Whether in the apartment, in the garden or on the balcony: textiles are a real must-have to create comfort and atmosphere. Especially for the seating come for the balcony only outdoor cushion in question! They also tolerate some moisture and keep their color in the sun. A Polypropylene outdoor rug is also durable and hard-wearing.
Inexpensive decoration ideas for your feel-good place
You don’t always need the most expensive decorative items to make something special! Here we show you how you can make garden decorations yourself, which also look great on a balcony. Chic decorative items that do not cost much are z. B.
- large and small lanterns
- solar lights
- fairy lights
- lanterns
- Fruit boxes as small shelves
- colorful flower pots to hang
- hanging basket
- wind chime
- candle holder
- candles
- garlands
- pressed flowers
- Plants, plants, plants
DIY ideas for the balcony
DIY furniture is not that difficult to make at all. Homemade pallet furniture is also still very popular – no wonder, as it can be individually designed and adapted to any balcony size!
© Alexander Grumeth / Shutterstock
Instead of buying flower pots, you can also use them as flower pots or Lanterns to hang up make of it:
This beautiful wall decoration you can easily imitate it. Get yourself an appropriate frame (e.g. in a craft shop) and clamp an old lace doily in it – tada! Beautifies your balcony in seconds!
Whether country house style, minimalistic, Scandinavian or romantic: With a few tricks and well-chosen furniture, your balcony can quickly be transformed into your favorite place – according to your taste. Here are more balcony ideas for spring and balcony trends. You can find more inspiration and information for gardens and balconies on our garden design page.