A balcony is an advantage for any apartment (block or house), being a very versatile space. Balcony arrangement is an excellent opportunity to express your creativity and, at the same time, to add value and personality to your home.
Classification of balconies. How the type of balcony affects its layout
When arranging the balcony, its characteristics must be taken into account: from the structure and dimensions, to the room to which it is adjacent. First of all, it would be good to know the difference between a balcony and a loggia. The balcony essentially consists of a railing plate that does not fit within the general perimeter of the building, leaving it outside. Instead, the logia is completely inside a building, resembling a room with no external wall. Naturally, between these two classic and pure types there are many intermediate forms. The main implication in the arrangement is that of load: a logie can support more weight than a balcony.
By size:
- French balcony (very small, with an almost decorative function)
- small balcony
- medium balcony
- large balcony
- balcony Iof S.
Depending on the size, you can place large or smaller furniture and decorations.
After opening:
- open balcony
- semi-bright balcony
- closed balcony
Enclosed balconies are more versatile (they can be set up as small offices or kitchens), but they are not as relaxing, not having the same contact with the outside (they resemble a room with large windows).
After the adjacent room:
The style of the adjacent room can be used as a starting point in the arrangement of the balcony, for the continuity of the design, and some elements are visible from the outside, especially curtains or shutters.
Balcony for relaxation
In the balcony dedicated to relaxation, attention should be paid to the seats, the main element of the arrangement. Whether it’s two garden armchairs or a wooden garden bench, comfort is key. Here is the main role of pillows. Choose some made for outdoors, as such materials are easier to clean and maintain. However, keep in mind that many are not waterproof, and this would be a very useful feature. Add more furniture, decorations and accessories based on the relaxing activities you will do on the balcony. Whether you plan to read a good book or drink a delicious cocktail, an outdoor coffee table and footstool will definitely come in handy.
Flowered balcony (biophilia)
You don’t need to be a talented gardener to have a balcony full of plants and flowers. Even if you’re inexperienced, there are options you can try, such as hardy plants, which shouldn’t be watered frequently. One of the accommodation options of this type also has a practical side: the balcony with aromatic plants, which you can use for cooking. For example, you can grow parsley, dill, thyme, rosemary, basil or tarragon in pots. While a spacious balcony gives you more freedom to spread out, a small balcony shouldn’t stop you from adopting a biophilic arrangement. You can add vertical plants and hanging gardeners.
Also, don’t forget it Biophilic design It’s not limited to adding plants. Further ideas could include introducing a small decorative well, adding some bird boxes and softening the boundary between inside and outside, using discreet and glass.
Balcony for dining
Not every balcony can be transformed into a dining one. The conditions for this include both the satisfactory size (at least medium, preferably large), but also the surrounding environment (ideally, the existence of a natural panorama, but also the absence of noise, crowds and dust). For a balcony dining room you don’t need many: dining and garden chairs are essential, but you can reduce the number of decorations. However, the strategic position of some facilities can increase the degree of privacy.
Natural balcony
Similar in some respects to the biophilic one, the natural balcony is worth a category of its own. It can be reduced to a few elements: what matters is the use of natural materials, such as wood, stone, bamboo or wicker. It is preferable that the color palette is neutral and discreet.
Minimalist balcony
Another option is a minimalist style accommodation. For this reason there are no requirements relating to its dimensions, but to the style of the already existing structural elements. Glass, stone and tile (especially those in soft colors) match this style, as do some types of metal. If your balcony has wooden or wrought iron railings with decorative elements, it is better to focus on another style. In a minimalist balcony, keep decorative elements to a minimum, choose a small color palette and furniture in the same style.
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