5 Ways to Upgrade Your Apartment Balcony Into an Outdoor Living Space
Apartment living has its benefits and there are many ways to make it even better! We’ll focus on this: if you have a balcony you can extend your living space to include outside. This is particularly useful if your apartment is small and you crave an outdoor living space to enjoy Melbourne’s mild climate.
With creative design features and ideas, you can convert your balcony into a comfortable, functional and aesthetically appealing area. For example, you could install all-weather retractable awnings Melbourne apartment owners are using to upgrade their balconies. Or, how about hanging a hammock for lazy weekends?
Keep reading as we share some features and ideas on turning your balcony into another room with a view that can be enjoyed day and night.
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5 Ways to Turn a Balcony Into an Outdoor Living Space
1. Install Folding Arm Awnings for All-Weather Protection
Known for its bright spring days, glorious summers, cool autumns and mild winters, Melbourne is a popular city. Its homeowners are always looking for opportunities to be outdoors. Installing folding arm or retractable awnings on your balcony allows you to enjoy all seasons while being protected from the elements should the weather turn nasty.
Modern designs turn your apartment balcony into an elegant, luxurious and useful outdoor living space for entertaining, relaxing and even gardening. You can choose from a range of styles, fabrics, colours as well as manual or motorised systems PLUS quality designs with LED lighting. So, customise it to your exact preferences.
2. Roller Blinds for Enclosed Balconies
Roller blinds not only maximise the spaciousness of your enclosed balcony but they enhance the ambience of your outdoor living space. These fixtures create a sleek and minimalist appearance that modernises your balcony instantly.
You can pick dual roller blinds which include the following benefits:
- Protective screening against harsh ultraviolet radiation
- Privacy from prying neighbours
- Transparency when you want to enjoy the view
Roller blinds can be personalised with your choice of fabrics, colours and patterns. Quality roller blinds can be manually operated by hand or you can opt for a motorised system for added convenience.
3. Use Alfresco Furniture for Comfort and Aesthetics
If you love entertaining guests at home, your balcony can be turned into a welcoming space with the right décor. Also, alfresco furniture is specially crafted for outdoor areas while ensuring ultimate comfort and a laid-back style.
When picking alfresco furniture for your balcony, consider the following:
- Durability: The furniture should be able to withstand all weather conditions. This includes the seating material which must be able to handle outdoor exposure and be easy to clean and maintain.
- Functionality: Seating should be comfortable and cosy while tables and servers should be practical and big enough for easy and convenient catering when serving meals.
- Aesthetics: Pick furniture that’s stylish, attractive and customisable to match your personal décor preferences.
Add other décor features such as lighting, rugs, cushions and curtains or roller blinds that enhance the alfresco furniture while creating an inviting and warm atmosphere.
4. Plant a Garden
Planting greenery on your balcony is a rewarding and attractive way to upgrade your apartment balcony while creating a wonderful atmosphere at the same time. If you get enough sunlight in that area, your choice of plants is unlimited! However, if your outdoor space has more shade, choose indoor plants for a lush and natural ambience.
Some apartment owners have gone as far as planting an edible garden on their balconies. Not only does this give you instant access to fresh ingredients for your meals but fragrant herbs are a delight to your senses! All you need are some lightweight plant pots, potting soil and hand gardening tools to pot up your favourite herbs and veggies.
5. Create a Home Office With a View
If you’re a remote worker working from home, what better place to do your job than on your balcony with a view? Converting your outdoor living space into a home office can be easily done especially if you install outdoor roller blinds to protect you and your workstation from the elements.
If you want to also use your balcony for entertaining on the weekends, use the alfresco dining table as your desk and wheel your office chair out of sight when the guests arrive! This idea works well if you only need working space for a laptop and minimal paperwork. A folding table and chair work equally well if you want to open up the space for other purposes on weekends.
Final Tips
No matter how big or small your apartment balcony is, you can get creative and upgrade it into a functional, magical and comfortable outdoor living space. Installing roller blinds Melbourne homeowners use can instantly uplift the area. Fairy lights, lanterns and candles add a touch of romance while large adult-sized bean bags allow for extra comfort.
There are unlimited creative ideas for turning your apartment balcony into a comfortable but functional zone that also helps you enjoy the view. Get started and have fun upgrading your balcony and enjoy using it all year round, day and night!
