For many of us, our outdoor area consists of a rather petite balcony space. As apartment living becomes more common, many of us are getting used to the idea of having less outdoor space adjoining the living areas of our homes.
But just because you are working with a small space doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the great outdoors by making the most of the space that you do have! Here we’ve created a list of wonderful tips for making the most of intimate balcony spaces.
Space saving furniture
When choosing an outdoor setting consider the best space saving options available. A table with bench seats that can be kept underneath the table when not in use is ideal. If these bench seats also double as storage trunks, even better.
Lights that don’t require wiring
For small balconies you don’t require lots of bright lighting, just subtle lighting accents. Consider solar powered lights if your balcony receives adequate sun. Solar powered lights can either be placed in the centre of your outdoor dining table, or you could have a number of solar powered spike lights in pot plants. If you love fairy lights, you can purchase solar powered string lights.
What’s great about these lights is that if you are renting, they require no wiring and you can easily take them with you.
Creating ambience
No matter how big or small your balcony is, one thing many people struggle with is how to create ambient lighting for night time entertaining. While overhead lights are harsh and relying on filtered light from inside to illuminate outwards can be too dim, there is a stylish and safe solution.
Flameless candles are a great option for small outdoor spaces. They are portable, do not pose a fire hazard like regular candles and they won’t burn out either. If you’ve got a balcony space that isn’t completely sheltered from the elements, outdoor all-weather flameless candles are a great choice.
Downsize your BBQ
Many people have these extremely large barbecues, despite the fact that they only used a very small portion of the grill or plate to cook on. If you have limited space as it is, it’s a good idea to reduce your barbecue size by purchasing something that’s compact. You could even go for something that you can carry out and place on your outdoor table when you want to use it. It doesn’t necessarily have to be stored on your balcony.
No matter how small your balcony is, there should be nothing stopping you from enjoying some outdoor dining this summer. By following these space saving, innovative tips you should be able to transform your balcony into an inviting, alfresco oasis this summer.
Katie Preston Toepfer is an author, writer, freelancer and content coordinator at GoLights.com.au. GoLights is an online retail destination offering premium lighting solutions for both residential and commercial applications. In 2013 Katie released her first book in conjunction with her blog, Wedding Dogs., |