A Balcony Makeover
One of the great luxuries in life, especially in a city, is a sliver of outdoor space like a patio or balcony to call your own!
I dedicate serious effort every year to my own deck in suburbia and it is an oasis I enjoy daily for as long as season as possible!
My daughter (AKA the Diva), who lives in the German capital of Berlin, recently acquired more space in her apartment and access to a little balcony. You can see the design of her bedroom/living space from when she first moved in HERE.
It’s not a large balcony, mind you, but it enough to enjoy with two or three friends and has the potential to be quite charming.
It did not start out charming, however. It came to her with a bunch of empty planters and/or dead plants and one small bistro table. She immediately went to IKEA and acquired a pair of bistro chairs and some ivy as a start!
Here is where it stands
balcony at sunset…chairs and ivy acquired
I’ve suggested an arrangement of plants in the railing planters and some taller trees/shrubs near the door.
We may want to rehabilitate or replace the tired looking wind-screen/privacy cover on the railing at some point. They seem to sell this rush matting at her local hardware store for this purpose, and it would be a definite improvement!
Some other nice touches would be an outdoor sisal-look rug to cover the tile floor, and a couple of patterned pillows or chair pads for some softness.
A slim bench for additional seating, OR a console table for serving/potting along one side of the balcony would be handy.
And a colorful ceramic garden stool for flexible side table or seating space would be a nice addition.
She is on the top floor, so her balcony has no roof - an umbrella, as long as it is well anchored so as not to become a projectile weapon would be a nice addition as well. It does get windy!
A 7’ umbrella is just the right size for this small space.
And finally, there is an exterior outlet so patio string lights are a must! These could be strung on the railing, but they also could criss cross the balcony overhead on poles meant to support lights (who knew there was such a thing??) to the corners and midpoints of each side.
Those support poles are intended to stake into the ground the same way those shepherd hooks are, but I have mine zip tied to my deck railing which works remarkably well.
OR, if the umbrella is a reality, they could just be hung along the edges of that.
Other romantic additions to consider - a vase of flowers or flowering plant for the table, lanterns with candles, for the floor and/or bench, coordinating cozy throws for when the temperature dips.
I’ve included a few links for my stateside readers to some of these items, (click on text below for link),
Please note: some of these are affiliate links meaning I may make a small commission on any purchases at no additional cost to you. This helps support this blog and is much appreciated!
Patio light poles | string lights | zip ties | outdoor rug | ceramic garden stool | console table | small patio table | lantern | bistro chairs | outdoor tropical floral pillows
As with all small spaces, I’d limit the color palette to two colors plus neutrals for a coordinated feel. In this case green (of course! It is the Diva’s favorite!), and a second accent color. I’ve selected some items in coral pinks, but any garden color would work….blue, purple, yellow, the possibilities are endless, but I’d want it to reference some of the inside colors for an expansive extension of the inside space to the outside.
The Diva is off plant shopping again today - it’s coming together little by little - everything has to be schlepped up FIVE flights of stairs, so theres that 😂…
I am just itching to get over there and help fix it up! So fun and the perfect place to start the day with your breakfast beverage of choice, dine al fresco, and wind down with a cocktail in the evening!
Other posts you might enjoy:
The Diva’s Berlin apartment plans; living large in a small space