Balconies and gardens are one of the “darling” environments of people in recent years; these spaces are no longer considered external areas and, for some time, are being included as a room in the house, either with a separate decoration or integrating spaces. . With small changes it is possible to redesign your balcony as an extension of the living room, kitchen, or even as a corner of well-being and private leisure. As the environment receives more sunlight, how about taking advantage of the arrival of spring to decorate it? It is possible to make these spaces even more comfortable, Aaaaahwhether through decoration or small details.
With the arrival of warmer days, it is natural that you feel like spending more time outside your home, whether on the balcony or the terrace – so important during the pandemic, especially because of confinement. The truth is that it is possible to make these spaces even more comfortable, whether through decoration or small details that sometimes make all the difference. In collaboration with the Habitissimo portal, we leave you with some very simple tips on what you can do.
Terrace with seating area framed by flower boxes.
In the past few months, you have certainly found moments when you couldn’t believe that spring was coming, but it finally did! Sunny days are at hand again. So, the time has come to prepare your garden and terrace completely for spring. Could you do it now so you can fully enjoy spring? Aaaaah…
For those who live in an apartment, balconies and terraces begin at this time of year to ask for life, color and joy so that they can become interesting places to enjoy their free time.
The preparation of the terrace or balcony must be done taking into account the following aspects:
- Creating a mental or paper sketch of the organization of the space;
- Choice of vases and planters;
- Choice of species to plant;
- How are you going to maintain the space?
1- Unified space
If your idea is to take advantage of the balcony to create a living room, make it a priority to offer good circulation and harmony between the two areas. In this sense, use the same decoration style in the living room as in the balcony. This also applies to finishes, coatings or color palettes on furniture and decorative objects. If you want to differentiate them, choose similar tones in both environments to make everything harmonious!
2- Functional balcony
If you have a balcony with plenty of space, one solution is to put a table to receive family and friends. Another idea is to distribute puffs sofas so that other seats are available. Now, if you have a smaller balcony, we suggest that you use shelves and think of compact furniture to integrate it without interfering with space circulation. Finally, put comfortable chairs and a table to rest and have meals.
3- Specific furniture and accessories
Even if your balcony is covered, it is good to remember that it is an outdoor environment. This means that the furniture you choose for this location must resist climate changes, such as excessive sun or rain. This tip also applies to all items part of the balcony, such as coatings, fabrics, etc. Finally, think of a color palette that refers to spring, such as shades of pink, light green, lilac, among other tones.
4- Lots of green and lots of flowers
Who has never seen a vertical garden and not fallen in love? They are really beautiful and bring joy to the house’s interior and exterior. To assemble it, you can install a wooden structure, pallets or something similar and then place the hooks to hang them. Another idea is to invest in potted plants with pendants, or even opt for traditional potted plants and place them in niches or on shelves!
5- Caprice in the decoration
Finally, spring decor is usually light and brings tranquility, so you should think of a composition of colors, items and decorative objects that have the special touch of the season. The prints on the pillows or buttons on your balcony can be flowers and light fabrics such as cotton and silk. In addition, if you choose rugs in outdoor areas, natural fibers are very good for the season. Abuse of fibers such as sisal and bamboo.
6- Create different spaces
Before you start decorating, think about what you will do in the space: do you need a place to sit or do you want to create a dining area as well? It is usually possible to create different spaces on the balcony and on the terrace to make the most of the space; we have to spend more quality time outside the house. Depending on the size of the balcony or terrace, adapt the decorative choices and furniture to the uses you want to make of the space.
7- Color as decoration
Color is a very important element in decoration, as it helps to make the whole space more cohesive and conveys different sensations according to the tone we choose. So, use a color that you like on your balcony or terrace, which complements the decorative elements you will have there. White is an option that never fails, making furniture and plants shine, but you can choose any color you like, from the most conventional to the riskiest.
8- Suitable furniture
A good way to decorate a balcony or terrace is to use outdoor furniture, which is more resistant to the elements and can be used for many years. The furniture does not have to match each other, but harmony between the different pieces is recommended for more satisfying results. Nowadays, you can find second-hand outdoor furniture or decoration stores, so it will not be difficult to decorate the balcony beautifully and practically.
9- Outdoor comfort
A decoration that emphasizes comfort is essential in any part of the house. So, bet on elements such as colorful pillows, one or another blanket placed in a strategic place and who knows, even a rug, especially if the balcony or terrace is closed and the weather is a little colder. It also adapts the fabrics of these elements to the season: in winter, favor thicker fabrics; in summer, you can opt for lighter and thinner fabrics to decorate the space.
10- A green touch
We could not fail to mention plants as a form of decoration, especially in a place as connected to the outside as the balcony or terrace. Choose a species suited to the lighting conditions of the place to ensure lush plants. If you don’t have much experience with plants (or don’t have a lot of time to care for them), choose species that are easier to care for, such as succulents and cactus. Place the plants in pots of different heights, and you will be able to create an attractive place that brings nature into your home.
11- Terrace or balcony?
To clean! During the cold and wet winter months, your terrace suffered a lot. Then clean the ground very well and remove all stones, branches, leaves, weeds and other dirty things. Then clean the floor very well. Use a machine as a last resort as it can damage your floor. You can clean wooden floors with soapy water. For natural stone floors, you can use vinegar to clean.
12- Your furniture
Still, like your furniture or want to change, remove or add a few things? So, it is the ideal time to make these choices. Ready for something different? Then check out our garden brochure or discover our garden collection.
Have you ever had the opportunity to clean and tidy your garden furniture in the fall? So, not much work. Is your furniture outdoors during the winter? So, it would help if you cleaned them very well to prepare them for the summer months. Clean them first with a damp cloth. Depending on the material of your furniture, you can clean it as follows:
- Clean your wooden furniture with a sponge and wood cleaner. Next, apply a layer of wood protector to the furniture to prepare it for different weather conditions.
- Also, you can use a sponge to remove the rust for metal garden furniture. Use the furniture cleaning product and even put a protective layer on the furniture with our protector for metal and plastic.
- Plastic furniture is very easy to maintain: use water with a little soap. Tip: You can treat stubborn stains or small scratches with a little toothpaste. Well polish with a cloth, and that’s it!
- Once your furniture is clean, you can place the pillows. Do they still look good? Should they still be washed? Check that the covers can be ironed or cleaned with a damp cloth. Are your pillows used, or do you want to give your lounge set a different touch? So, choose new pillows or covers.
13- Green grass
During the colder months, your grass hibernates. While it’s waking up, it starts to grow again. Make sure you cut it and don’t forget the edges. Caution: do not cut the grass while it is wet. Do you find a lot of moss, or does your grass look dry and thin? So, verticutting might be a good idea. Check if one of your friends has a machine to do it or use a rake.
Last but not least: after winter, your lawn is starving. So, the time has come for a little bit of manuring. Your grass will thank you.
14- Flowers and plants
Doesn’t it freeze anymore? So, it is the ideal time to come out with the flowers. Check your pots and clean them if necessary. Are there cracks in the pots or boxes? So, it would help if you replaced them. Opt for new plants? Clean the boxes and pots very well – with a brush – and provide new soil.
15- Finishing
Walk through your terrace or garden and look out over the summer months. What can complete your terrace? A fun outdoor rug? A lit wreath that hangs on the table? A corner with a sun lounger and parasol to relax on sunny afternoons? Still a little decoration? It’s the perfect time to buy everything. So you still have one thing to do when temperatures rise: relax on your terrace. Enjoy!
16- Space organization
Terrace with flower pots of various materials.
Decide what you want to occupy your space so you can take some measurements and start choosing vases and planters. Note that you will need to move between them for watering and care. Don’t forget that you can also take advantage of the vertical space of a wall with good sun exposure.
You can use vertical garden kits, which are easy to install. They have the advantage that the plants are separated, and with this, you can better regulate the watering of each one.
17- Vases and flower pots
The material of the containers can be varied, from wood to plastic, to zinc, to clay, to fiberglass, etc. The wood, for example, gives a more rustic style to the place. Choose according to the desired style. In either case, place gravel, pebble or expanded clay balls at the bottom of the container to facilitate drainage.
You can also save money by using broken brick or other similar material if you want. The pots should be deep enough for the species you will plant. Please pay attention to the weight of the pots if you need to move them and not overload the balcony or terrace structure.
You can choose to put wheels or buy pots already with wheels within the variety on the market. If the place is windy, the pots should be of a heavier structure to not move easily.
18- Choice of species to plant
When buying plants, take into account the following criteria:
- Healthy and vigorous appearance, with no signs of spots and spots on the leaves and flowers, or weeds in the vase;
- The roots should not be tight and growing out from the bottom of the pot. Check, lifting the plant from the pot to observe the behavior of the roots;
- If the plant has yellowed leaves, it may be a sign of malnutrition;
- In some plants, the appearance of many shoots from the base, with the plant already formed, can be a sign that the plant has gone through a period of drought and may have become weakened.
19- Size and proportionality
Predict the plant’s size chosen for the pot will reach so that the desired effect is maintained over time, especially when combining different species.
20- Possible ideas and combinations
Balcony with flower boxes petunias
Shade: mix Heuchera with Asparagus and aspidistra. The red color of the Heuchera contrasts very well with the green of the Asparagus.
Aspidistra will contrast the texture and proportion. As it is taller, it will be located at the back.
Sun: place a Cordyline Australis in the middle of the vase and surround it with Osteospermum jucundum or Lotus Maculatus.
Sun/partial shade: for a more exuberant color combination, I suggest mixing petunia with red flowers or with cherry colors with Vinca minor, with small leaves and hanging behavior.
21- Maintenance
To keep your plants healthy, you will need to water and fertilize them regularly. You can install a small irrigation system with drippers or flooders, and you can also attach a programmer that allows you to water whenever you want for as long as you need.
Useful for when you are away from home for a few days or if you have little time available for watering. A simpler way will be the traditional use of the watering can or hose, more demanding time.
Avoid water during hot hours when evaporation is higher, and be careful not to water too much. Preferably choose organic fertilizers and natural methods of treatment. The way you group the species in the existing space can minimize pests and diseases, reducing the application of chemicals. I hope you have fun creating your space.
