Places: Decorating Small Balconies

Photo by Michael Gil

The balconies of many of today’s apartments and condos are often not very big, and they can present somewhat of a design challenge. That’s why The Home Depot has a section on our website dedicated to creating big style in small outdoor spaces, including balconies, terraces or small patios.

Take a look at some of the great shots we found to show you how just a few pieces can make your small balcony the perfect outdoor lounge.

Image via HGTV

Balconies, even the small ones, were made for morning coffee (preferably with a newspaper), evening stargazing or enjoying a breath of fresh air anytime of day or night. And the beauty of a small balcony is you need little more than perhaps a couple of brightly accented chairs, some plants and the company of a good friend to create a colorful, cozy outdoor living space.

Image via Apartment Therapy

Loved this small balcony ensemble in Cali we found on Apartment Therapy because it shows how much style you can squeeze into a limited amount of space. The rich espresso wicker sectional patio furniture is a perfect fit for this balcony, together with the white seat cushions and contrasting throws pillows that give this space a sense of warmth and vibrancy. But the show stealer here is definitely the Moroccan inspired outdoor rug that draws all the elements together.

Sit. Eat. Chat. With a bistro or cafe set on the balcony, you’ll never need a reservation or have to wait to be seated.

Image via Emma's Blog

Choices as simple as black and white create a striking theme for this small Stockholm balcony from Emma’s Blog. Whether you choose to go with a minimalist look or something more colorful, lush green plant life is an absolute must.

Image via Trend Home Design

If you’re not using your balcony, or worst yet, if you’re using it to store a bunch of old junk, we hope you’re on your way to planning a funky small balcony makeover like this one we found Trend Home Design. Go with a strong theme, make a bold design statement or just put up a cool bamboo fence, find a couple of comfortable chairs and relax. But, put the elliptical trainer all that other stuff on Craigslist, and create an outdoor space to enjoy year-round.

Our Places series on the Apron Blog looks at the types of decor, materials and layouts that make the places we live beautiful, comfortable and interesting.