5 Apartment Balcony Decorating Tips

Jun 12, 2017

Ah, summer is finally in the air. With the additional hours of daylight coming our way, why not get outside and enjoy every ray of sunshine until the sun sets? Sure, New York City is filled with green parks and waterfront bike paths, but sometimes it’s nice to have low-key, relaxing time at home. Apartment balconies are the perfect places to get fresh air and relax without leaving your building, and when decorated correctly, you can make this space your own outdoor oasis. With a vision and a bit of inspiration, follow our 5 apartment balcony decorating tips to spruce up your space for summer!

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1. Rest Up on Outdoor Patio Furniture

From bistro sets to custom benches to suit your space, adding outdoor furniture to your balcony is the first step in creating a relaxing retreat. I chose to have a wicker love seat on my patio, which is large enough for two people to sit comfortably. Love seats are also great to stretch out on and take an afternoon catnap as you listen to New York City pass by.

Depending on how much space you have to play with, adding a small table is the perfect place to set your morning coffee, host a vase of fresh flowers, and spread a few magazine reads. Safavieh has an extensive collection of coffee tables, side tables, and benches to choose from. For my fellow DIYers out there, make your own end tables with rustic wooden crates. Gardening stools are fantastic too – many of which come in a variety of colors and sizes!

What we love now: Chunky porch poufs. These fun, over-sized floor pillows are the only way to spend a summer afternoon, lost in your favorite book!

If your outdoor space is on the really small side, you can still open up your balcony doors and welcome the sounds and fresh air into your home. This way, your entire living quarters will feel like one large, airy outdoor space! 

2. Add a Pop of Color

Bright cushions, plush throw pillows, and patterned rugs – these are a few of my favorite things when it comes to adding a heavy dose of color to your balcony design. When thinking long and hard about the vision of your outdoor living space, use warm and inviting color schemes to pull together your ideal look.

Cover up that concrete floor with a fun area rug or interlocking deck tiles. These durable options can be custom cut or laid in a design to compliment a space of any size. Interlocking deck tiles are sturdy and easy to clean, while outdoor rugs provide a softer surface to enjoy.

3. Lighten It Up!

There’s something so relaxing about sitting outside under a few strings of twinkle lights after a long workday (especially with a view of New York City in the background!). Stringed lights and rustic battery-operated lanterns are the perfect alternatives to lighting candles, and are great accessories you can keep up all year long!

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A Lesson in Creating Balcony Gardens

Spring is in the air, as well as the smell of fresh flowers and greenery in your New York City apartment! Grab your gardening gloves and dig into our guide for creating a lush balcony garden!

4. Build a Balcony Garden

It’s easy to find your green thumb when adding some life to your patio. The educated team of Saifee Hardware & Garden will teach you which types of flowers and plants will thrive in your space! From ceramic pots to rustic planter boxes, building a green space of your own couldn’t be more enjoyable. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when building an apartment balcony garden:

• Be sure to check with your building management before you secure planter boxes to the railing or exterior walls of your balcony
• Place plants on all side of your balcony to create the feeling of being in a garden
• Build a privacy screen with potted plants and shrubs to block bustling activity on the streets below

5. It’s All in the Accessories

Think about your perfect outdoor space… What do you envision? For me, the final details are a plush throw blanket for chilly summer nights, my favorite book nearby, and a pitcher of sweet tea. Adding accessories (and having some set aside for entertaining guests) truly make your outdoor space feel complete, unique, and totally you.

Whenever I’m looking for a fun item to give a bit of life to not only my balcony, but to the interior of my apartment, I run right to TJ Maxx. It’s impossible for me to walk out empty handed – no matter how hard I try! This store is stocked with everything you could possibly need when entertaining guests, especially through the seasons. A few must-haves include seasonal dishware, outdoor seat cushions, drink pitchers and cups, wind chimes, and serving trays. You can also order items from their online website!