Balconies are all the rage this year. Across the world, it feels like we’ve used our balconies more than ever before in the last several weeks of lockdown. We’ve stepped out to applaud frontline workers fighting the ongoing pandemic, of course, but we’ve also realised this may be one of the only ways in which we can connect with each other while maintaining social distance.
From the opera singers in Italy to the DJs in Berlin, long-distance tambola in New Delhi neighbourhoods to fitness classes on New York rooftops, even simply sipping tea while chatting with neighbours on a railing away from you…balconies are the new charging points for those looking for company and/or a morale boost.
Now that this space has our attention, and we’re likely going to continue to spend a lot of our time here in the coming months, people are finding ways to turn their balconies into cosy, functional spaces. No matter how small it is, there are lots of things you can do to delight in your newfound alfresco experience! Here are some of our favourite tips.
Get Some Seating
Have space for a small table and a chair (or, even better, two)? Make a small ritual of having your morning cuppa here while you skim through the news headlines. In the evening, get on a Zoom call with your friends when you open up that bottle of vino for a catchup session. Ideally, use furniture that folds so you can take it inside without any inconvenience when the monsoon hits. Easier still: use floor cushions and a small outdoor rug for a more intimate feel that doesn’t require as much commitment as furniture.
Pack in the Greenery
Lush greens lend a sense of calm that’s hard to beat. Get tall planters to add privacy so neighbours can’t look directly into your home, hang up some flowering plants to add colour, and throw in some herb planters for pleasant fragrances. Line them up on the floor, hang them from the ceiling, stack them against the railing…There’s no way to go wrong here. Use the extra time in lockdown to also introduce small plants that you can use in the kitchen like tulsi, chillies, lemon, lemongrass, aloe vera, and curry leaves.
Light It Up
Why wait for Diwali or Christmas to bring out the lights? Create an all-season glow with outdoor pendant lights, sconces, paper or rattan lanterns or fairy lights. Hang a full curtain of string lights off the railing or go in a more delicate direction by wrapping them around carefully along. Not getting a pattern right? Simply drape them over your plants—string lights are the easiest way to look like your balcony has style even when you have no idea what you’re doing.
Make Some (Feathered) Friends
Attract birds to your garden by putting out a bird bath, or even just bowls of food and water. They’ll gather around in no time, filling your new favourite space with birdsong and in this time of isolation, provide happy company too. You can upcycle so many things to make a DIY bird bath right now—a fruit platter, for instance, or old baking trays, even a shallow bucket.
Throw in Vacation Vibes
If you’ve got a slightly bigger balcony, add that vacation vibe with a hanging chair for a corner that you can escape to with a book or your most existential thoughts. Rattan and wicker is probably the most popular of them all, and easiest to find, available in pod and bean-shaped silhouettes. For a more boho feel, look for something in woven macramé.
Add a Cover
Throw in a makeshift shade for added privacy and to avoid direct sunlight in the hotter months. It doesn’t have to be anything permanent. You can just secure outdoor fabric (or tarp) to corner pillars and amp up the boho-chicness of your balcony. If you end up with something sturdy enough, let creepers find their way along the shade and spill over to complete the look.
Looking for more innovative home design ideas? When it comes to decorating your home space, customised to your taste and wishes, Hipcouch provides a premium and passionate service. To get in touch with our Team, call/whatsapp at +91 97698 91528 or contact us here.