5 Tips to Help You Actually Use Your Balcony Space This Summer

If you’re lucky enough to have your own balcony to enjoy, you should work to make the most of it so that you can sit outside and relax there all year long, not just a couple of times per year.

We spoke with three interior designers and asked them to share five of their best tips for setting up a balcony so that it is as welcoming and functional as possible.

Here, they speak to the art of selecting furniture (and properly-sized pieces) for a balcony space, weaving in accents that will make your balcony more usable once cooler temperatures start to hit, prioritizing color and texture, and incorporating features that add privacy to your space.

Treat Your Balcony Like a Living Room

If you’re struggling to decorate your balcony because you’re not sure how to outfit an outdoor space, consider reframing things a bit and instead view the space as a natural extension of your indoor living room, which is what Mimi Meacham, the founder of Marian Louise Design, recommends.

Meacham suggests taking cues from the pieces that make up a traditional indoor living space but opting for their outdoor-friendly counterparts: think outdoor rugs, tables, cushioned seating, and the like. Pieces like side tables will make your balcony more usable, while decorations such as potted plants will add extra life to the space, Meacham notes.

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Opt for Space-Saving Pieces

While you’ll want to outfit your balcony so that it’s both stylish and functional, you will want to maximize space where possible, particularly if the area you’re working with is small. After all, being able to freely move around your balcony as you wish is important—no one wants to spend time relaxing somewhere that’s cramped with furniture.

As such, Alisa Popelka, the founder of Alisa Cristine Interiors, advises looking into modular, folding, and petite furnishings in particular.

“I especially love using garden stools instead of a typical small outdoor table,” she says.

Prepare Ahead of Time for Cooler Weather

If you’re not using your balcony the second summer ends but wish you were able to spend more time out there year-round, taking one simple step—investing in an outdoor blanket—will work wonders.

“It’s perfect for those serene mornings with a book or cozy evenings snuggling up,” Meacham says. Order one now so that you’ll be all set for the cooler months ahead.

You can also get creative with your furniture purchases. Rebecca Ward, the founder of Rebecca Ward Design, suggests looking into a coffee table with a built-in fire feature.

“It adds both warmth and a cozy focal point for evening lounging,” she says.

Make Your Balcony Feel More Private

If your balcony is attached to a city apartment and you feel like you can never spend time out there and fully relax due to neighbors around you, you might just need to make a few tweaks.

Ward recommends hanging up solar shades or sheer curtains for some privacy (they’ll also help block out harsh sunlight). To take things up a notch, add a tabletop fountain, which will drown out noise and make time spent on the balcony feel much more serene.

Another technique that Popelka offers is to use plants or a trellis to add both greenery and privacy to your balcony space.

Don’t Forget About Color and Texture

Your balcony should be filled with personality so that you don’t feel as though you’re sitting in a beige box. Popelka recommends filling the space with color and texture to liven it up. This might mean combining a mix of wood, rattan, jute, and other outdoor-friendly materials.