Living in the inner suburbs of a city can have its perks; being close to work, great restaurants, entertainment and many options for your morning coffee. Its why city living has always outperformed over middle or outer-ring suburbs.
The one downside to these spaces is that they lack the space for living and outdoor furniture Sydney and city apartments need to utilise these spaces to get the most out of every centimetre to make that central location even more worth it. So, here are our top tips to style your balcony in a space conscientious way.
Consider Your Space
The first simple tip to get the most out of these small spaces is to actually consider the space you have to work with. If you’ve moved from a dwelling that had a larger balcony, don’t think you’ll suddenly be able to fit your old couch in this much smaller space. The key here is to decorate in a way that won’t overcrowd your balcony, because crowding will drastically shrink a room. Another way to do this is to create a focal point. This means choosing a piece of furniture or object and making that the main point in the room. Again, a big part of this method is not to overcrowd the focal piece but building around it in small and subtle ways to add to it.
The use of vertical lines is a smart way to make it seem like you have a bigger space then you actually do. This method can make a space look taller and therefore bigger. You can do this by hanging tall pieces of art, hanging chairs, tall and slender trees or even building a vertical garden. Anything that will direct your view up the space will work great.
Avoiding dark colours and busy patterns can achieve this look as well. This doesn’t mean you can’t use any colour we’re just suggesting, to avoid anything that will make the space feel confined (bold patterns and dark colours usually becoming the culprits). Less is more when it comes to the colour choice and design of your balcony space. Our favourite design combo to create an open and inviting space is to use some fresh white fabrics alongside crisp green plants.
Seating and Comfort
Because we want to get the most out of our balcony space, it’s important to invest in outdoor furniture that is more flexible than most. By this we mean to opt for more light weight furniture that can be easily moved around to find the best layout for all occasions and spaces. As well as furniture that can stack or fold away when not needed. And our favourite; the multifunction furniture. Couches that have storage underneath or behind, to get the absolute most out of your outdoor balcony area.
Privacy
Privacy is important to any apartment resident. The last thing you want is a neighbour peaking round the corner while you’re having your morning coffee from Greenwell Farms. Hopefully most balconies will have an element of privacy, but if yours doesn’t or it’s dulled there are ways to fix this.
Decorative screens are a great way to create privacy without overcrowding your space. As well as bamboo screens if you want a more subtle and natural privacy barrier. Both of these solutions will be able to provide a secure sense of privacy and look great in your space.
Balcony Accessories
If your balcony is looking a little empty, but you’re worried about cluttering there are a few options you can use that won’t feel like you’re filing up everything.
Outdoor Lighting can actually help a space to feel more open and can create a great atmosphere at night. You want to choose the appropriate lighting for your space, a light that will bounce off the walls and make the space seem larger is what you’ll want to opt for. We recommend using fairy lights or candles. They’re both small and lightweight and can create the illusion of a deeper space.
A mirror is another great trick. It will reflect natural light and create the illusion of a greater space.
Plants are a great decor element that can soften any area and make it more inviting, they’re also a great option to deepen your sense of privacy. You can hang your pots to create more floor space or create a little pot cluster as a focal point, this is also a fun option to play around with pots and plant sizes.
If gardening isn’t your strong suit, then not to worry, there are a lot of plant species that are low maintenance. Succulents and most creeper variants are great low upkeep plants that can add a touch of greenery to your space.
When it comes to styling a balcony to look bigger, the most important thing to focus on is to try and trick the eye into believing the space you have is a lot bigger than it actually is. Hopefully these simple tips have helped you to open up a once small balcony space. If you’d like to find the perfect furniture and accessories for your outdoor spaces visit our website for all of our great designs.