4 Completely Different Balcony Designs

Designing and furnishing a balcony is always a challenge. Space is very limited, and most balconies are quite narrow. The balcony’s orientation has a major impact on the design options and choice of plants. Ideally, you’d also like a balcony that complements your home, since it’s usually clearly visible from the living room or kitchen through all the windows. Plus, you’re never alone—you’re usually flanked by your neighbors’ balconies on both sides. All in all, designing a balcony is quite a challenge.

Design Your Dream Balcony

How do you plan to use your balcony—in other words, what purpose will it serve? Do you want it to be a place to enjoy a meal or a drink? Or would you rather do a little gardening there? Maybe you even plan to grow your own food?

Think about what you'd like to do with your balcony, or how you'd like to use it. That way, you can make the right choices (because you'll definitely have to make some!) that align with your wishes and dreams.

The style of your balcony is also important for creating your dream balcony. Choose a style that suits you and your home. Be bold in your choices: don’t use too many different plants and materials. A specific theme can tie everything together. Also, don’t try to incorporate all your ideas—instead, choose only the best ideas and elements.

Location of the balcony

A south-facing balcony is quite different from a north-facing balcony! While a south-facing balcony gets plenty of sun and warmth, a north-facing balcony is in the shade and tends to get cold more quickly. This orientation determines your choice of plants, but it also means that certain colors and materials don’t look as good in every location.

Wind is also a major factor. Is your balcony fairly sheltered? If so, it will be less cold there, and you’ll have more plants to choose from. If your balcony is fully exposed to the wind, this is definitely a limiting factor. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate this.

Enough privacy on the balcony

In apartment buildings, you naturally live close to your neighbors. Often, all the balconies are on the same side of the building—above, next to, and below each other. That also means you can often see into each other’s apartments. If you live on a lower floor, you’re often also visible from the street or the houses across the way.

You can create more privacy and block the view with reed mats, screens, or panels placed against or on the balcony railing. You can also achieve plenty of privacy on your balcony with planters and plants. That way, you can relax comfortably on your balcony.

Inspiring designs for decorating your balcony

To inspire you, we’d like to share a few different designs for your balcony. Each design is for a balcony that’s 5 meters wide and 1.40 meters deep—a size commonly used for balconies. There is a metal balcony railing. On the far right of the balcony is a French door that provides access to your balcony.

1. Stylish outdoor room

A stylish seating area flanked on both sides by attractive planters filled with evergreen plants.

At the far left of the balcony, a beautiful planter serves as a divider, featuring an evergreen hedge plant or bamboo that provides privacy and shelter. Next to the planter is a comfortable chair with soft cushions, a throw blanket, and a cozy footstool. A small side table or stool is perfect for setting down your drink. To create the ultimate outdoor living room feel, there’s a weather-resistant rug on the floor.

Between the chair and the door, there is another sleek but lower planter placed against the facade. It contains a combination of a flowering shrub, low ornamental grass, and a groundcover that spills over the edge of the pot. Optionally, a climbing plant could be added on a trellis in front of the facade. However, care must be taken to ensure that this does not restrict the view from the inside to the outside too much.

On the right side of the balcony, behind the French doors, there is a tall but narrow planter containing a trellis on which an evergreen climbing plant grows. This provides privacy without taking up much space. Mood lighting strung over the balcony railing and/or attached to the balcony above ensures that you can enjoy sitting out there even in the evening.

2. Chilling and grilling on the balcony

A comfortable lounge sofa, complete with a mini outdoor kitchen.

On the far left is a taller planter box filled with evergreen plants, such as bamboo, Portuguese laurel, or photinia. In front of the planter box stands a compact yet comfortable corner sofa, filled with soft cushions. In front of the corner sofa is a sturdy coffee table. Of course, a beautiful outdoor rug under the seating area is a must. Between the corner sofa and the French doors stands a small palm tree or Japanese maple in a large pot.

On the far right, in the corner by the door, there’s a small grill and a mini outdoor kitchen for all your grilling supplies, complete with a handy countertop. Hanging over the railing are flower boxes filled with herbs that smell wonderful and are ready to use right away on the grill.

3. Productive Balcony Garden

A balcony completely filled with pots of herbs, vegetables, and fruit.

On this balcony, there is only a narrow walkway leading from the door to the left corner of the balcony. To grow all your favorite vegetables, fruits, and herbs, you can use many different types of pots, containers, baskets, boxes, etc. As long as they hold soil and allow water to drain. Rectangular and square containers help you make the most of the space.

In the middle of the balcony, there’s a handy planting table placed against the balcony railing, so you can easily sow seeds, take cuttings, transplant plants, and process your harvest. Flower boxes hang all along the railing.

On the far left of the balcony, against the building's facade, there is a trellis, allowing you to plant in multiple layers. There is also a small fruit tree trained in the espalier style in one of the larger planters against the facade.

With this type of setup, you need to be careful not to make it too heavy. Especially when the ground is wet, the combined weight can be significant. This is not recommended for older balconies. It’s best to check what the maximum load capacity is for your balcony and take that into account.

4. Romantic Balcony Scene

A stylish bistro set, wonderfully fragrant Mediterranean plants, and atmospheric lighting.

The (literal) centerpiece of this balcony is a French bistro set. On either side of the balcony is a larger square planter or round pot. The planter on the left side of the balcony, against the facade, is planted with a small olive tree, a standard rose, or a columnar cypress, with fragrant lavender or rosemary as ground cover. If you have a suitable space indoors for overwintering, you could even opt for a small citrus tree.

The planter on the right side of the balcony, against the railing, is planted with a somewhat older olive tree or an old grapevine. The grapevine’s tendrils can be secured to the edge of the balcony above. This creates a beautiful view through the plants (which you’ll need to maintain regularly in the summer).

Right behind the small table is a narrow, low planter containing a wooden trellis. Growing on it is fragrant, evergreen Tuscan jasmine, or a thornless climbing rose (if you haven’t already chosen a standard rose).

Hanging from the balcony railing are planters filled with fragrant herbs and low-growing annuals in pastel shades. For a little more privacy, you can also hang a few reed mats against the railing. A long string of string lights completes the picture.

What does your balcony look like?

So, now you probably have plenty of inspiration to design a nice layout for your own balcony. We’re already curious: What does your balcony look like?