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Forget the tiny house; this year it’s all about tiny patios. With more and more of us flocking to urban enclaves, apartment pickings are getting slimmer—literally!—and outdoor areas often feel like an afterthought.
But that doesn’t mean your decor choices are dire. While compact furniture options are certainly more limited, you can fit a surprising amount of bench in a few mere feet of space. And when you’re pressed for space, you should embrace bold design choices—like powerful color combos and patterns that you might not try otherwise.
Even if you won’t be throwing the ultimate porch party anytime soon, you can still get plenty of impact out of your decor in a diminutive space. Here’s how.
Go for the Gold
A small balcony is like the decorating Olympics—you’ve got to pull out all the stops if you want to get recognized. This is the time to try a bold palette that will make your neighbors stop and take notice—no matter how high up in the clouds you are. With that in mind, don’t be afraid to embrace your inner showstopper. Try fiery reds, punchy pinks, glorious golds, and bold black-and-white patterns that will fill your space with color and life from end-to-end.
But that doesn’t mean your decor choices are dire. While compact furniture options are certainly more limited, you can fit a surprising amount of bench in a few mere feet of space. And when you’re pressed for space, you should embrace bold design choices—like powerful color combos and patterns that you might not try otherwise.
Even if you won’t be throwing the ultimate porch party anytime soon, you can still get plenty of impact out of your decor in a diminutive space. Here’s how.
Go for the Gold
A small balcony is like the decorating Olympics—you’ve got to pull out all the stops if you want to get recognized. This is the time to try a bold palette that will make your neighbors stop and take notice—no matter how high up in the clouds you are. With that in mind, don’t be afraid to embrace your inner showstopper. Try fiery reds, punchy pinks, glorious golds, and bold black-and-white patterns that will fill your space with color and life from end-to-end.
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Use Every Square Inch of Space
Want a patio bar but fear you don’t have the room? Hoping to entice your significant other with a romantic outdoor dinner for two, but can’t find the space for a table and chairs on your minuscule deck? The murphy bar—a transforming station that folds out from the wall—fits into even the snuggest situations. The same concept extends to tables, desks, and even seating. Flip them down for the duration of the meal, and push them back up when you want to stretch out your legs. A model that fits your specific needs and dimensions can be hard to find, but luckily, if you’re handy with a hammer and saw, many of them are pretty simple to DIY.
Want a patio bar but fear you don’t have the room? Hoping to entice your significant other with a romantic outdoor dinner for two, but can’t find the space for a table and chairs on your minuscule deck? The murphy bar—a transforming station that folds out from the wall—fits into even the snuggest situations. The same concept extends to tables, desks, and even seating. Flip them down for the duration of the meal, and push them back up when you want to stretch out your legs. A model that fits your specific needs and dimensions can be hard to find, but luckily, if you’re handy with a hammer and saw, many of them are pretty simple to DIY.
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Harness the Power of Hammocks
Stretched-out or scrunched up, hammocks fit in most exterior spots. And it’s a lot easier to imagine yourself on permanent vacation in the coziness of your balcony when you’re lying on one of these babies. With their laid-back shape, they work with your dimensions, not against them. Pair them with some unique hanging lamps and a few Peruvian blankets for the ultimate chilled-out hang.
Stretched-out or scrunched up, hammocks fit in most exterior spots. And it’s a lot easier to imagine yourself on permanent vacation in the coziness of your balcony when you’re lying on one of these babies. With their laid-back shape, they work with your dimensions, not against them. Pair them with some unique hanging lamps and a few Peruvian blankets for the ultimate chilled-out hang.
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18" Vintage Indigo African Mud Cloth Pillow Shibori Bar Pattern Mudcloth
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Embrace the Bistro Aesthetic
The Parisians know how to add luxury to very cramped spaces—after all, they’ve been doing it on sidewalk cafes since the Enlightenment. Use minimalist folding chairs with cheerful cushions and a serviceable round table, and enjoy savoring your morning coffee each day in your own personal outdoor café.
The Parisians know how to add luxury to very cramped spaces—after all, they’ve been doing it on sidewalk cafes since the Enlightenment. Use minimalist folding chairs with cheerful cushions and a serviceable round table, and enjoy savoring your morning coffee each day in your own personal outdoor café.
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Grow Up
No outdoor space is complete without a few inviting plants for added ambiance—but where are you going to put them when you hardly have room to breathe? The answer: mounted planters straddling a vertical wall. Whether you use an assortment of traditional plant hangers or assemble a whimsical living wall made from succulents, there’s really no better way to get more green per square inch. The plants you pick add to the effect, too: Try a hanging plant like a potato vine for an extra dreamy effect or a pert petite geranium for a more poised and charming approach.
No outdoor space is complete without a few inviting plants for added ambiance—but where are you going to put them when you hardly have room to breathe? The answer: mounted planters straddling a vertical wall. Whether you use an assortment of traditional plant hangers or assemble a whimsical living wall made from succulents, there’s really no better way to get more green per square inch. The plants you pick add to the effect, too: Try a hanging plant like a potato vine for an extra dreamy effect or a pert petite geranium for a more poised and charming approach.
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Take the L
You can have all the visions of outdoor fetes that you want, but you can’t beat the facts: Your space isn’t going to get any bigger, no matter how hard you wish. Still, you can use geometry to your advantage with an L-shaped bench, especially if you have a narrow, angular balcony. In fact, you can even create your own out of leftover crates for a super-thrifty, rustic alternative, with storage space for days. It’s the perfect way to truly maximize tiny patio space.
You can have all the visions of outdoor fetes that you want, but you can’t beat the facts: Your space isn’t going to get any bigger, no matter how hard you wish. Still, you can use geometry to your advantage with an L-shaped bench, especially if you have a narrow, angular balcony. In fact, you can even create your own out of leftover crates for a super-thrifty, rustic alternative, with storage space for days. It’s the perfect way to truly maximize tiny patio space.
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Pillow Talk
If your balcony is more of a suggestion than a full-fledged outdoor living space, then this next idea is for you: Tuck a large cushion into the area, and use it as your own private meditation sanctuary or a cozy reading nook for one.
Erin Vaughan is a blogger, gardener and aspiring homeowner. She currently resides in Austin, TX where she writes full time for Modernize, with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on big home projects with confidence.
If your balcony is more of a suggestion than a full-fledged outdoor living space, then this next idea is for you: Tuck a large cushion into the area, and use it as your own private meditation sanctuary or a cozy reading nook for one.
Erin Vaughan is a blogger, gardener and aspiring homeowner. She currently resides in Austin, TX where she writes full time for Modernize, with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on big home projects with confidence.
