How to Make the Most of Your Apartment Balcony
You can do a lot with a small balcony space in your apartment. Using plants, decking, lights, benches, and tables, you can combine a unique set of apartment balcony ideas to create an inner-city oasis.
Find inspiration in these 18 different small balcony ideas to create the perfect retreat.
JessicaGirvan / Shutterstock
Buy some large pieces of bamboo and tie them together using zip ties. Secure this DIY privacy fence to your balcony railing for an added sense of seclusion — roughly $30.
Jan Zwolinski / Shutterstock
Instead of taking bamboo poles and wiring them together to create your own screen, plant some live bamboo. This plant grows tall and is a great small balcony idea for those who want plants and privacy and want to save space.
Myimagine / Shutterstock
If you want to put some small potted plants on your railing, or make a little bar, get some wooden shelves to attach to the top. They are incredibly simple to install and immediately give you functional display space.
Selina Irina / Shutterstock
Reed fencing is similar to bamboo fencing. Only these come assembled, and smaller pieces of wood have less space between them, so this balcony idea gives you more seclusion.
vaivirga / Shutterstock
Planters are a pretty, simple way to add a lot of color and life to any area. Put a few on your railing and/or some more on a large planter wall.
FotoHelin / Shutterstock
Lights add a great sense of ambiance when used correctly. Buy some icicle or small lantern lights to hang on your balcony railing or ceiling, next to your balcony planters.
Jazmine Thomas / Shutterstock
Some faux grass intermingled with gravel, wood deck tiles, or on its own makes your balcony feel like a small yard. It's relatively affordable, and you can just lay it out where you want it.
Sharomka / Shutterstock
For roughly $60 a pack, wood decking tiles are a warm and inexpensive way to make your balcony feel more like a deck.
Look Studio / Shutterstock
A fantastic way to spice up your balcony is to add a patterned rug to the mix. This is a great balcony idea if you don't want to spend a lot of time upgrading your space.
Dariusz Jarzabek / Shutterstock
Curtains are a beautiful, simple addition that creates privacy while dramatically altering the aesthetic. Use this apartment balcony idea to give you the feeling of being in a resort.
lulu and isabelle / Shutterstock
Put a wood, plastic, or metal planter wall on a wall of your apartment balcony. If you have two walls, putting one on both gives you plenty of space to start a balcony garden.
klikkipetra / Shutterstock
Put a privacy screen on the railing of your apartment balcony. This will give you an added sense of seclusion from the bustling city life below.
Gonzalo de Miceu / Shutterstock
Large plants, like kentias, ferns, and palms, immediately add a wistful balcony garden. With a minimal effort to install, these might be one of the best and most used balcony decorating ideas.
If you are looking for real plants, we suggest going to your local gardening store. Fake plants, however, require less effort, and you can find them easily on Amazon.
Anusit Anukul / Shutterstock
Install a bench with storage underneath to maximize your small space while making it more comfortable. This is a great balcony idea if you also do some gardening and need a place to store your tools.
Veera / Shutterstock
Don't forget to provide a comfortable place to sit and eat! Get a fashionable table and chair set to expand your living space to the out of doors immediately.
eakkachai / Shutterstock
For a more Bohemian feel or if you like to sit low to the ground, opt for some tastefully decorated cushions. Combined with curtains, plants, and wood decking, beautiful floor cushions can be the final addition to a lovely balcony.
swissdrone / Shutterstock
If you like to take naps outside, consider adding a wood pallet bed to your balcony. While you might not be able to stretch out fully if you're tall, you can lay relatively flat and enjoy some sun.
To set it up, buy a wood pallet sized to your needs, and raise sturdy cinderblocks to rest and support the pallet.
Aga Murawska / Shutterstock
Who doesn't love a nap or good read in a comfortable hammock? If you want to save space, get one of those hanging oval chairs to attach to your balcony ceiling.
1. Bamboo privacy screen
JessicaGirvan / Shutterstock
Buy some large pieces of bamboo and tie them together using zip ties. Secure this DIY privacy fence to your balcony railing for an added sense of seclusion — roughly $30.
How to get this look:
2. Live bamboo screen
Jan Zwolinski / Shutterstock
Instead of taking bamboo poles and wiring them together to create your own screen, plant some live bamboo. This plant grows tall and is a great small balcony idea for those who want plants and privacy and want to save space.
How to get this look:
3. Railing shelves
Myimagine / Shutterstock
If you want to put some small potted plants on your railing, or make a little bar, get some wooden shelves to attach to the top. They are incredibly simple to install and immediately give you functional display space.
How to get this look:
4. Reed fencing
Selina Irina / Shutterstock
Reed fencing is similar to bamboo fencing. Only these come assembled, and smaller pieces of wood have less space between them, so this balcony idea gives you more seclusion.
How to get this look:
5. Balcony planters
vaivirga / Shutterstock
Planters are a pretty, simple way to add a lot of color and life to any area. Put a few on your railing and/or some more on a large planter wall.
How to get this look:
6. Lantern lights or icicle lights
FotoHelin / Shutterstock
Lights add a great sense of ambiance when used correctly. Buy some icicle or small lantern lights to hang on your balcony railing or ceiling, next to your balcony planters.
How to get this look:
7. Faux grass
Jazmine Thomas / Shutterstock
Some faux grass intermingled with gravel, wood deck tiles, or on its own makes your balcony feel like a small yard. It's relatively affordable, and you can just lay it out where you want it.
How to get this look:
8. Wood decking tiles
Sharomka / Shutterstock
For roughly $60 a pack, wood decking tiles are a warm and inexpensive way to make your balcony feel more like a deck.
How to get this look:
9. Outdoor rugs
Look Studio / Shutterstock
A fantastic way to spice up your balcony is to add a patterned rug to the mix. This is a great balcony idea if you don't want to spend a lot of time upgrading your space.
How to get this look:
10. Curtains
Dariusz Jarzabek / Shutterstock
Curtains are a beautiful, simple addition that creates privacy while dramatically altering the aesthetic. Use this apartment balcony idea to give you the feeling of being in a resort.
How to get this look:
11. Planter wall
lulu and isabelle / Shutterstock
Put a wood, plastic, or metal planter wall on a wall of your apartment balcony. If you have two walls, putting one on both gives you plenty of space to start a balcony garden.
How to get this look:
12. Unique full cover privacy screen
klikkipetra / Shutterstock
Put a privacy screen on the railing of your apartment balcony. This will give you an added sense of seclusion from the bustling city life below.
How to get this look:
13. Large potted plants
Gonzalo de Miceu / Shutterstock
Large plants, like kentias, ferns, and palms, immediately add a wistful balcony garden. With a minimal effort to install, these might be one of the best and most used balcony decorating ideas.
If you are looking for real plants, we suggest going to your local gardening store. Fake plants, however, require less effort, and you can find them easily on Amazon.
How to get this look:
14. Storage cushion bench
Anusit Anukul / Shutterstock
Install a bench with storage underneath to maximize your small space while making it more comfortable. This is a great balcony idea if you also do some gardening and need a place to store your tools.
How to get this look:
15. Outdoor coffee table and chairs
Veera / Shutterstock
Don't forget to provide a comfortable place to sit and eat! Get a fashionable table and chair set to expand your living space to the out of doors immediately.
How to get this look:
16. Outdoor cushions
eakkachai / Shutterstock
For a more Bohemian feel or if you like to sit low to the ground, opt for some tastefully decorated cushions. Combined with curtains, plants, and wood decking, beautiful floor cushions can be the final addition to a lovely balcony.
How to get this look:
17. Outdoor bed/pallet cushion
swissdrone / Shutterstock
If you like to take naps outside, consider adding a wood pallet bed to your balcony. While you might not be able to stretch out fully if you're tall, you can lay relatively flat and enjoy some sun.
To set it up, buy a wood pallet sized to your needs, and raise sturdy cinderblocks to rest and support the pallet.
How to get this look:
- Wood pallet
- Outdoor bed cushion
- Cinder blocks (get at your local hardware or home improvement store)
18. Hammock or hanging chairs
Aga Murawska / Shutterstock
Who doesn't love a nap or good read in a comfortable hammock? If you want to save space, get one of those hanging oval chairs to attach to your balcony ceiling.
