The balcony as a colourful open-air room
As soon as the outside temperature permits, people are drawn outside. A balcony allows you to enjoy the morning with a cup of coffee, read a good book on the lounger or spend social hours with your partner on balmy summer nights. You'd also like to sit out in the fresh air, but your outdoor seating area looks more like a storage room than a cosy retreat? Don't worry, you're just a few steps away from your very own chill-out area!
The basics for a beautiful balcony
Five things are important for a great atmosphere: an attractive floor covering, cosy furniture, plants, some decoration and possibly a privacy screen. To hide old tiles on the floor, click tiles made of wood, WPC or natural stone are particularly suitable. Some of them can even be laid without tools and can be removed quickly if necessary (e.g. when moving house). Wood has a warm appearance and is therefore very homely. However, it is somewhat more maintenance-intensive than the composite material WPC (Wood Polymer Composites). The latter consists of wood fibres, plastic and colour pigments. Due to this material mixture, WPC tiles are more weather-resistant and durable than wooden tiles. Click tiles made of natural stone are even more robust. However, due to their high dead weight, these are mainly recommended for smaller balconies.
A privacy screen can both protect privacy and be a decorative element. Mats made of natural materials are suitable for covering the balustrade. Bamboo, bark, reed or willow mats look particularly natural and are sufficiently opaque. Plant boxes with trellises can also act as privacy screens. Plastic balcony coverings are available in various colours, with wood imitations, photo prints or a stone look. Make sure that they are well fastened to prevent them from flapping in strong winds.
It's going green!
Now it's time to get down to business. Think about whether you want to create a certain mood on your balcony. Caribbean flair with a landscape of pines, cacti and palm trees? Or would you prefer a jungle feeling with climbing plants, pampas grass, reeds and ferns? You can conjure up a Tuscan atmosphere with hibiscus, oleander, bougainvillea and citrus trees. Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, mint and lavender also bring the scent of the south into your home. Likewise, kitchen herbs such as basil, thyme and oregano are a must on any balcony.
An ensemble of plants of different heights looks particularly natural. For selective partial planting, balcony boxes and hanging hanging baskets are suitable. If you have little space, you should also include the walls in the design. Use vertical greenery with decorative climbing plants such as ivy, passion flower or trumpet flower. If there are no railings, supports or trellises as climbing aids, you can also lean a wooden ladder against the wall or stretch wire ropes (vertically or horizontally).
Make your balcony shine
Flowers enhance any balcony with their pretty blossoms and bright colours. But before buying, the question is whether you want to plant annual or perennial varieties. Annual sunflowers, petunias, fuchsias, begonias, cornflowers, marigolds, horned violets or forget-me-nots can be bought in the garden centre or supermarket in spring. As the name suggests, annual flowers die after flowering in autumn. However, if you harvest their seeds, you can grow them indoors over the winter and replant them in spring after the last frost.
Perennial varieties are popular with many people because they can grow into impressive plants with lush flowers over the years. Winter-hardy perennials are also listed in the trade under the term perennials. While some of them only reach a lifespan of about five years, other species flower for decades. Perennials include roses, chrysanthemums, daisies, primroses, peonies, lupins, carnations and geraniums.
Winter-hardy potted plants such as dwarf medlar, hydrangea, silver or heather also provide a bit of colour behind the window in the cold season. But beware: even they cannot withstand very frosty temperatures and winter storms without damage. Therefore, as a precaution, move the tubs close to the house wall, place them on wooden boards and lay some straw, brushwood or other protection against the cold on the soil.
My personal vegetable supplier
Harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables on the balcony? Yes, it's possible! Chard, carrots, onions, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes or potatoes can certainly be grown on the balcony (under the right conditions). Use special vegetable soil for planting; it contains particularly high levels of nutrients. The planters for the vegetables should be large enough and at least 40 centimetres high. A small raised bed is ideal, of course, but large flower pots with a drainage hole will also do. For potatoes there are special containers and sacks where the tubers can be harvested through openings on the sides. Strawberries, gooseberries, blackberries, raspberries and currants are also suitable for growing in balcony containers.
Atmospheric decoration
When it comes to balcony accessories, you can do it yourself. For example, you can create lanterns or vases from empty jars. Remove the labels and decorate the jar with fabric, lace, ribbons, raffia or dried leaves and flowers. Then just place the candle or the bouquet of flowers inside. Don't have a shelf to put your decorations on? You can easily make a shelf or table out of old wine crates or pallets.
Complete the design concept of your balcony with various light sources for the evening hours. Lanterns, solar lights, fairy lights or candles create a cosy atmosphere. You can wrap the fairy lights around the balcony railing or hang them from the ceiling as a light curtain. You can also use waterproof LED strips to indirectly illuminate furniture or flower boxes.
Make yourself comfortable!
Comfortable seating is crucial for well-being on your balcony. A small table for a cool beer, a cocktail or a cup of tea as well as comfortable chairs are part of the basic equipment. Combined chair-table solutions, for example made of rattan or teak, are practical. Many of these sets can be stored one inside the other to save space. Metal furniture can get uncomfortably hot in summer. If your balcony is very cramped, small bistro or balcony hanging tables as well as folding and stacking chairs are a good solution. The chairs can be set up as needed and otherwise take up no space. A sun lounger or hanging chair is perfect for relaxing or reading. If you are lucky enough to have a large balcony, you can also set up upholstered lounge furniture. Soft cushions and pillows in beautiful colours guarantee maximum relaxation.
Outdoor rugs also increase the feel-good factor on your balcony. These robust rugs are specially designed for outdoor use, which means they are waterproof and UV-resistant. If they get dirty, they can easily be cleaned with a garden hose. At the end of the garden season, you should dry the rug well and store it indoors.
In summer, the parasol is a must-have on the balcony. To ensure that it stands securely in wind and weather, you need a sturdy parasol stand. The larger the parasol, the heavier it needs to be. Plastic, concrete, stone or granite stands and frames with weighting plates are common. For shade on mini-balconies, a parasol with a parapet mount is suitable. This means that no valuable floor space has to be sacrificed. Where it is structurally possible, the installation of a sun awning can be considered. Alternatively, a sun awning can help when the sun is beating down on the balcony.
Empty egg cartons are suitable for growing flower or vegetable seeds. Fill the wells with potting soil and place the seeds inside. After germination, transfer to a larger pot. Wait until the frosts are over (around mid-May) before putting the plants out. Then there is no danger of frost. If you put plants outdoors before then, you should bring them in overnight if there is a risk of sub-zero temperatures.
If you are unsure, stick a finger about 2 cm into the soil. If the soil feels dry, you should water the plant. Use lukewarm water, as most plants do not like cold showers. Also important: Always water in the early morning or late evening, in the blazing midday sun the water drops act like burners and damage the plant!
Healthy plants have strong roots that run through the entire pot. Be careful not to damage them when repotting. Usually the root ball can be loosened by gently tapping the pot. Then carefully pull the plant out and place it in the centre of the new container. The top of the ball should end about two centimetres below the rim. Then fill with soil on all sides and lightly press down. The best time to do this is in spring.
A balcony is located outside the floor plan of the building, i.e. outside the building line. The loggia lies within the building line, i.e. it does not protrude from the façade. This makes it possible to sit in the shade on sunny days and enjoy the fresh air even when it rains.
According to the German Tenants' Association, tenants are allowed to place chairs, benches, tables, parasols, flowerpots and flower boxes (well secured or facing inwards) on the balcony. A privacy screen is also permitted. However, the landlord has a say in the matter if the screen protrudes over the balcony. Structural changes are also subject to approval.
Conclusion
When the first rays of sunshine peep through the cloud cover in spring, it's time to spruce up your balcony. This is also an opportunity to give it a makeover if needed. When designing your outdoor room, you can get creative and realise your individual ideas with cosy furniture, beautiful plants and decorative accessories. So let's get started! Roll up your sleeves and with a little planning and some soil on your fingers, create an island of happiness in the open air!
