A balcony should fulfill many needs and have different functions. To create a pleasant outdoor space, you need to think about what you want to be able to use the balcony and the space for, especially if you have a small space to decorate. Do you want to be able to serve a big dinner or do you want to create a small and intimate space where you can sit and read? Either way, you need inspiration on everything from what outdoor furniture and plants, cushions & rugs might be needed to create a cozy patio!
– I would look for three pictures of patios or balconies that I really like to have something to start from. Then I would try to emulate that feeling and mimic the style. It’s also a good thing to be able to go back to the picture and ask yourself if it turned out as you imagined,” says interior designer Hanna Rydman, who has styled many homes and outdoor environments in her work with her company Rydmanshem.
When planning your patio, it’s good to try to create a common thread where colors and shades are connected and form a unity. Earthy colors and natural tones are often a safe bet for creating a cozy feeling.
– Often, a cozy patio is about creating harmony among colors. Decide on a color scale and a few colors that you use. Otherwise it will easily become too scattered and won’t look as well thought out,” says Hanna.
Plants, cushions and rugs for the balcony
To create a cozy patio, flowers and plants are an important ingredient. As is the use of a variety of textiles – cushions, rugs and blankets. These are the things you want to have an abundance of on a balcony.
– Most people don’t go all out when they decorate. Many put a cushion on a chair or think that a single plant is enough. Often you need to maximize with both plants and textiles. Think more of everything! says Hanna Rydman.
It’s a good idea to have one or more baskets on the patio where you can store all the extra cushions and blankets. If you have a lot of space, Hanna Rydman recommends a large rug, preferably an oriental version. For a more durable and long-lasting alternative, a sisal rug is perfect as it also gives a natural feel to the patio.
– When it comes to textiles, I think about the color scale rather than the choice of material. Look at the color of the house facade – if it’s yellow, maybe you shouldn’t have yellow pillows. Also think about having pillows that can be puffed, it will be both more comfortable and more stylish.
Plants for the patio can be things that you can also use. Various herbs that you can just bring in for cooking are perfect to have in pots or window boxes. Bell mallow and geranium are two plants that add a bit of color to the patio and that you can also bring inside when the outdoor season is over. Use hanging baskets for the plants to add height, create levels and make the balcony look bigger.
How to create cozy lighting on the balcony?
– Strings of lights are often nice in the evening, but maybe not as cozy during the day. I think the black versions with large bulbs go with most things and can be hung in different ways. Instead of wrapping around the balcony railing, for example, you can put the loop in a loop somewhere. There are often brackets for hanging clothes hangers – they are perfect for winding the loop. If you have it around the balcony railing, I think you should cover much of the loop with plants,” says Hanna Rydman.
Hanna’s quick and super easy tips for a more beautiful patio
- Wipe down seating areas and balcony railings – it goes a long way!
- Use what you have at home. For example, take cushions from inside.
- Keep in mind that even if you have a lot of everything, the impression shouldn’t be cluttered!
- Grow vegetables and sow flower seeds and you’ll get exactly what you want.
- Instead of making holes and putting up trellises on the wall, you can use rebar that you lean against the wall. Perfect for climbing plants!
Text: Amanda Blennborn, freelance journalist
