A condo balcony is more than just an extra few feet that is attached to a living room. A condo balcony is a private section of the outdoors. Condo balcony often feature the condos themselves, but also offer an opportunity for condo owners to have there own spot outside and to have a place where they want to spend time when they are at home in their condo.
Not only will a well-decorated condo balcony allow condo owners to enjoy their living space, but it may also add value to the condo should the condo ever be sold. While condo owners may think that decorating the condo balcony require a significant investment of money, it is possible to decorate a condo balcony with items that cost little money and still provide a condo owner with a place to enjoy themselves while outside there condo. Some of the ways that condo owners can decorate their condo balconies include the following steps:
Effective Ways To Decorate Your Condo Balcony
1. Layering with Durable Rugs
A condo owner can begin decorating their condo balcony by thinking in layers rather than in terms of purchasing individual item that will decorate the condo balcony.
Many condo owners make the mistake of purchasing an item that is large and occupies much of the condo balcony. Instead, a condo owner can begin with one type of durable rug that is appropriate for outdoor use and features a neutral color so as to ensure that the condo’s condo board respects the condo exterior color palette. An additional type of rug that is smaller in size can be purchased and added to the condo balcony on top of the base rug for those that would like to add some additional visual interest to their condo balcony.
2. Slim Profile and Foldable Furniture
In addition to purchasing and adding rugs to the condo balcony, the condo owner can purchase furniture for the condo balcony. As condo balconies are often small, a pair of slim profile chair and a table of a small size may be best for condo owners that own condos with small balconies. Furniture made of rust-resistant metal or teak wood may be purchased for condo balconies.
However, because the condo balconies may be small, the owner should purchase furniture that is foldable or stackable to allow the condo to be cleared of the furnitures for occasions in the condo.
3. Utilizing Vertical Space
Another strategy for condo owners to consider when decorating their condo balcony is to use the vertical space within the condo balcony for decorative items. Many condo balconies feel as if they are small in part because many of the items within the condo are placed on the floor.
By using vertical space for items such as hanging shelves, tall plants, or wall-mounted planters, the condo balcony may begin to feel larger and provide some of the visual interest in the condo that helps to distract from the balconies that belongs to neighbors that live in that condo. Additionally, the owner should secure each of the items that are to be hung on the condo balcony against the wind to ensure that no item is dropped onto those that live within the condo. Condo owners can also use lighting to decorate their condo balcony.
4. Solar and Battery Operated Lighting
String lights are one popular form of lighting for condo balconies. However, the cheapest types of string lights may break after only one season of use outside the condo. Instead, condo owners can purchase solar lights, such as solar-powered LED lights that will glow after being exposed to the sun.
These lights will not require electrical outlets or cords that could potentially be dangerous for condo owners to trip over while walking on the condo balcony. In addition to these solar lights, condo owners can also purchase battery-operated lanterns to add lighting to the condo balcony. These lights can provide a variety of light level within the condo balcony to allow condo owners to use the condo balcony during the evening, while also providing visual interest to those who pass the condo while on their way to or from work.
5. Choosing a Color Palette
Another strategy for condo owners to use in decorating their condo balcony is to decide on colors for the condo balcony. Because condo balconies are small areas, it is likely that condo owners will have a difficult time finding space for many colors within those spaces. Instead, by choosing a dominant color for the condo balcony that contrasts with the living room of the condo, condo owners can ensure that the condo balcony features the condo in a visually interesting way while still allowing condo owners to feel that their condo is visually appealing from any angle.
In addition to the dominant color, a condo owner may also choose a contrasting color to be used in the condo balcony for visual interest. By using colors thoughtfully within the condo balcony plan, the condo may appear to be more visually interesting and to encourage guests to enjoy spending time on the condos balcony. Condo owners can bring the indoors outside by using textiles for the condo balcony.
6. Weather Resistant Textiles
Textiles that are purchased with the purpose of being used outside are often weather-resistant and will not fade from exposure to sunlight. One example of such textiles is throw blankets made of acrylic fabric. Wool blankets may be soft for use inside the condo, but an unexpected shower of rain that fall onto the condo balcony may damage them.
Instead, by using textiles that are designed for outdoor use, condo owners may be able to ensure that their balcony remains enjoyable and visually appealing throughout the year. Additionally, by using textiles of different colors and patterns, condo owners may be able to change the look of the condos living area according to the season. For instance, bright colors may be used for the spring and summer seasons, while earth tones may be used in the fall and winter months.
7. Air Purifying Plants
Plants can be used for a variety of reasons to enhance the condo balcony. For instance, one of the best uses for plants for condo balconies is to use them to improve the air quality of the condo. Additionally, plants are one of the best ways to provide some visual interest to the condos balcony without requiring that each condo owner purchase an expensive decorative item.
Self-watering pots can be used within the condo balcony that are placed within wheeled plant caddies to allow for movement of the plants within the condo in case of storms or for any other reason. Additionally, different types of plants can be purchased to introduce some depth into a condo balcony that may only be five feet in size. Self-watering pots help to ensure that the plants live and remain healthy by avoiding the need for daily watering of each plant.
8. Privacy Screens and Vines
In addition to incorporating greenery within the condo balcony, condo owners can also incorporate features for privacy. For instance, instead of using standard blinds for the condo balcony, the condo owner may use a screen that incorporates vines and provides some privacy between the condo and the balconies of neighbors that live in the condo complex. However, such a screen will not block the breeze that may flow from the condos windows during hot seasons.
Thus, the condo owner must ensure that any screen for the condo balcony provides an option for blocking the breeze and does not restrict the windows from being open to the residents of that condo building.
9. Sensory Elements like Water and Scent
Another way to enhance the condo balcony for condo owners is to incorporate some form of sensory element into the condo balcony. For instance, a small water feature such as a fountain can be added to the condo balcony.
Many tabletop fountains can be located online that use electrical outlets that can provide power to the fountains. Additionally, other sensory elements such as plants with scents like jasmine or chocolate mint may be added to the condo balcony. Other sensory elements for condo balconies may include the addition of wind chimes of different tones to the condo balcony.
However, the condo owner may have to ask their neighbors as to what type of sound the wind chimes may make, as too loud of a sound may be a distraction to those who live within the condo.
10. Built-in and Mounted Storage Solutions
Finally, another strategy for condo owners to use when transforming their condo balcony into an area that is enjoyed by those within the condo is to incorporate storage within the condo balcony. Instead of using a plastic bin for storage, built-in benches with lift-up seats allow condo owners to store items such as throw blankets, gardening tools, and even a pitcher of drinks such as iced tea.
Additionally, using racks that are mounted on the walls of the condo balconies allows for additional storage of tools and other items. Another option for storage is the use of a narrow table that has shelves underneath the table where items such as lanterns, books, or drinks can be stored. By using storage solutions within the condo balcony, condo owners may be able to avoid the development of a junk zone on their condos balcony, which may otherwise become filled with items that have no designated place within the condo.
Overall, the best condo balconies are those that have been transformed into a space that feels good for the owners of those condos. Each condo unit that exists within a condo building has its own condo balcony yet many of these balconies may be the same in size or in other features. Despite the similarities between condos, however, each condo may have unique features that allow those who live in the condo to feel as if the condo is their own and that they would like to spend time within.
Whether the condo owners begin with only a few item or if they decide to transform the entire condo balcony, the main goal of condo owners is to create a space that they feel compelled to use when they are outside of the condo, which demonstrates the way in which a condo reaches beyond the sliding glass door.
