ReThinking your Balcony

After moving into a smaller place you may find that you are missing your outdoor space, maybe  ReThinking your Balcony is in order. Just because your balcony is small doesn’t mean it can’t fit everything you need into it.  One thing that sometimes get missed on a balcony is plants.  There are some unique conditions that occur that should be considered when choosing your plants.

Some balconies can be quite windy which can damage your plants and keep the temperature lower stunting your plantings. Grasses, small narrow leaves and needle leaved conifers are good choices. Grasses can also provide some relief from windy conditions to other plants. If you are looking for some colour and pretty you can give Daisies or Lilies a try.

 

 

 

Either can add an element of colour and feeling to your space.  Both will thrive in windy conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

Adding some plants to your balcony can add some life and help it to become a place of relaxation.  Other plants that can do well on a balcony is herbs.  Having your own little herb garden can help with your cooking as well as give some interest to your outdoor space. You can easily use small pots or get a little more creative with your Balcony herb garden.  I have built a wall garden from an old skid.  One thing I will say is that it ended up being rather heavy and required daily watering.  We left the garden for 4 days and most of it died from lack of water.  It was something we needed space to build so I am not sure the Balcony would be the best, but once it was in place it did work well.  It is definitely something you can lean on a wall. 

There are many different containers that you can use, small pots are definitely easy to move around and bring inside for the winter.  You may want to consider something a little more unique.

The Mason Jar Herb Garden is from the blog, Marvelous Mason Jar Garden.  What I like about it is the configuration of the jars on the board.  This is a great way to keep them tidy and try to get as much sun as possible while also not having to attached to the wall.  As you may know there is likely rules about drilling into your exterior wall to hang decorative things.

You may want to check out this other blog, Build a Mason Jar Garden, because it seems to have a better idea about how to attached the jars to the backboard.  But the configuration they use is horizontal and that may be a little more problematic.  Either way both provide a movable garden that can come inside in the winter and won’t take up too much of your precious space.

 

Using Mason jars also eliminates the worry about leaching into your food.  Although there are many plastic and other materials that can be used for food, I think the mason jars are great and inexpensive too.  In fact you can really use any glass jar from a variety of foods that are already on your shopping list.

 

 

Adding some flooring to your Balcony can create a more cozy atmosphere and give you a chance to show some style.  Outdoor carpets are easy to find at the right season and come in a variety of colours and styles.  Other choices include recycled plastic tiles or artificial turf.  You do need to be sure what is allowed on your balcony.  Most out patio tiles or carpets are allowed. However there may be consideration for the finish on the balcony on make sure water is shedding from the balcony properly. 

 

 

 

The small space requires some space planning for furniture.  You can try some hanging tables but it may not be allowed on our balcony.  If you are allowed to hang items on your railing there are many fun planters and tables, even a bbq that you can add to your space. 

 

Something you may want to consider is a small bistro set, they usually fit really nicely.  However there is also an opportunity for a larger piece of furniture, like a chaise, if you use your other space wisely.  You can purchase some great multi use outdoor furniture included and gate leg table with a panel for hanging items or shelving plants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not using your Balcony because it isn’t great space is a mistake.  You can have a wonderful oasis if you spend some time planning it.  Taking a look at one of the Balconies in April 21, 2016 House and Home article “Best Outdoor Spaces: 20 Perfect Summer Patio, reminds us that there could be a little piece of heaven anywhere.

Some planning and a small budget can create an outdoor space that you can enjoy without all of the back breaking labour of a full garden.  ReFocused can help with ReThinking your Balcony.