Miniature balcony, city terrace or pretty courtyard, the outdoor space has become very coveted as being able to become a new place of life in extension of the house. Unfortunately, as this place is often narrow, you will have to use a few tricks to visually enlarge it. Here are some ideas to inspire you.
First step:select the right furniture. Exit large tables and massive chairs. Make way for lightweight materials. A detail that is important since in any case, recent balconies cannot support loads greater than 350 kg per m². The ideal is to choose retractable or foldable furniture. In addition to being light, it is easy to store it, to then install a deckchair for example in the afternoon, at nap time. It is also very discreet and will easily find its place along a wall, or hung on the balustrade when being stored.
Who says pretty balcony, says suitable floor covering. Fortunately, the range of models and materials is so wide that you have all the latitude to materialize your desires for fantasies. Among the most popular coatings are exotic wood or pine decking boards. Clip-on tiles are another safe bet. They are lightweight and very easy to install. And the choice of materials is plethoric:natural stone, composite, wood… In addition, they do not need maintenance, unless you choose wood as a material. To recreate the effect of a real garden on your balcony without the inconvenience of maintenance or the obligation of watering, you can also opt for artificial grass. UV resistant, it is obviously rot-proof.
For a country air, nothing like a flowered balcony. If it is oriented in full sun, you will have to choose Mediterranean plants and favor pelargoniums, verbenas, palm trees, anthemis, heliotropes, lantanas... On the other hand, if it is shaded, varieties such as fuchsias, impatiens, lobelias or tuberous begonias will do. Be careful, when installing your plants, make sure that they do not take up too much space on the ground. For this, opt for macrame suspensions or even a green wall.
Create a cozy cornerIn addition to being aesthetic, your balcony must be a comfortable cocoon. Even if it is tiny, do not hesitate to decorate it to make it warm. Cushions, carpets and other plaids are also welcome. To give it extra soul, why not install a garden swing or a hammock if you have the space? The zen and exotic effect is guaranteed.
Mirrors are not exclusively reserved for the interior. On small spaces like the balcony, they will give the impression of a much larger place. In addition to this feeling of space, they have the advantage of capturing light. A word of advice:orient them so that they reflect your green plants. This will recreate a fake tropical garden. And don't forget to treat the frames with a special varnish dedicated to outdoor furniture. This will prevent your mirrors from being damaged too quickly by the vagaries of the weather.
