7 Popular Styles for Your Balcony
A balcony is so much more than just a place for a couple of garden chairs. It’s an extension of your home, a place to unwind and enjoy the sun or simply let your mind wander. Whether you prefer a sleek, minimalist style, lush greenery, or dream of an Asian-inspired touch, anything is possible!
In this blog post, we’d like to show you 7 inspiring balcony styles. For each style, we’ll provide tips on plants, materials, colors, and layout, so you can transform your balcony into a space that’s perfectly suited to you.
1. Scandinavian Vibes
Inside the home, you’re seeing more and more people opting for a Scandinavian or “Scandi” style. But this style is also gaining immense popularity in gardens and on balconies. This garden style has a light and airy feel, is somewhat minimalist, yet also warm and cozy. Colors that go well with this style include white, soft gray, (light) wood, and sand. Furniture is often simple, such as a wooden garden bench or a bistro set. Soft cushions and a wool throw soften the look and add warmth. A wooden (tile) floor sets the right mood.
Plants for this style and atmosphere:
People often use a statement plant, along with a few small plants for decoration. A small potted pine tree or a small tree that changes color with the seasons. But a white hydrangea, with ferns as ground cover, also fits in perfectly here. Or a light, airy bamboo. Ornamental grasses are also a perfect fit here. Evergreen hanging plants (such as ivy) in baskets or suspended from ropes add the finishing touch.
Suitable for:
Any balcony: works in both sun and shade.
Please note:
- Potted plants in full sun dry out quickly. Even plants that are drought-tolerant may need extra water.
2. Sleek & stylish or urban chic
Elegant and timeless, with a focus on one or two elements. Urban chic is perfect for small city gardens and balconies. Combine clean lines, modern furniture, and a few eye-catching potted plants. Vertical solutions and (tall) narrow planters ensure maximum use of space without making the garden look cluttered.
Choose sleek pots and planters, such as those made of metal, plastic, or clay fiber. Opt for simple, sleek, yet comfortable furniture. A small lounge sofa remains popular.
Plants for this style and atmosphere:
Consider an evergreen tree or shrub, such as an olive tree or yucca. A hedge plant used as a specimen plant can also look beautiful. Or a topiary. Ornamental grasses like feather grass or Carex go well with this garden style. Keep it simple and airy.
Suitable for:
Any balcony: works in both sun and shade. In direct sunlight, some form of sun protection is recommended.
Please note:
- Potted plants in full sun dry out quickly. Even plants that are drought-tolerant may need extra water.
3. A Mediterranean touch
Does your balcony face south, and do you love the sun? If so, your balcony is perfect for a Mediterranean-style garden. Opt for natural and sturdy materials, and choose colors like terracotta, chalk white, light blue, or olive green.
Use terracotta pots at different heights and create a cozy seating area with soft cushions. A mini pergola or shade cloth provides some shade and adds to the Mediterranean atmosphere. Hang up some string lights, and your Mediterranean vacation can begin.
Plants for this style and atmosphere:
Fragrant herbs like rosemary, lavender, and thyme. A small tree or shrub in a pot or planter with gray-green foliage (such as an olive or holm oak), or choose your favorite citrus tree (not winter-hardy). A fig tree is also a good choice. French geraniums (Pelargonium) are, of course, a must. The Mexican daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus) or the creeping bellflower (Campanula) add color to even the smallest nooks and crannies.
Suitable for:
- A sunny (and preferably somewhat sheltered) south-facing balcony.
Please note:
- Potted plants in full sun dry out quickly. Even plants that can tolerate drought well may need extra water.
- Not all Mediterranean plants are very hardy. You may need to provide winter protection, or they may need to overwinter in a frost-free location.
4. Bohemian on the Balcony
Do you love things that are vibrant and colorful? Then Boho or Bohemian might just be the style for you… Think of a playful and colorful interior with unique decorations and a lavish look.
Use soft, brightly colored cushions, elegant hanging chairs, and wooden or wicker furniture. Mix and match different styles of pots and planters, and add macramé hangers. A rug is also a must. And mood lighting, of course.
Plants for this style and atmosphere:
Colorful plants (such as annuals like geraniums, petunias, begonias, and verbenas) are a perfect fit for this style. Move your most beautiful houseplants outside starting in mid-May, and plant swaying ornamental grasses for extra ambiance. Let climbing plants grow up your wall. A mini palm tree can be a nice addition. Or perhaps a patio fruit tree. You can also fill a pot with tasty and fragrant herbs.
Suitable for:
Any balcony: works in both sun and shade.
Please note:
- Potted plants in full sun dry out quickly. Even plants that are drought-tolerant may need extra water.
- If you want to add a lot of items and decorations to your balcony, be sure to take into account its maximum weight capacity.
5. Balcony Vegetable Garden
Have you always wanted to eat fresh produce from your own garden, but don’t have a garden at all—just a balcony? No problem! You can easily create a small vegetable garden, fruit garden, or herb garden on a balcony. Grow only the vegetables, fruits, and herbs that you really like and can actually use in the kitchen. That way, you’ll save a lot of space right away.
Use raised planters, grow bags, herb racks, and trellises. Place balcony planters over the railing of your balcony to make the most of all available space.
Plants for this style and atmosphere:
Choose plants that grow (or can grow) vertically and vegetable plants that don’t get too big or take up a lot of space. Many varieties have cultivars that stay small. Go for just vegetables, fruits, or herbs, or mix them together. Climbing plants are perfect. Choose only your favorites, because space is, of course, limited.
Suitable for:
A balcony that gets plenty of sun and is preferably a little larger, so there's still room to walk around and sit.
Please note:
- Adequate sunlight is needed for good growth and production (at least 4–6 hours a day). Otherwise, choose shade-tolerant plants such as mint, chives, parsley, leaf lettuce, and arugula.
- Most vegetable garden plants need a lot of water to grow well. Mediterranean herbs require much less water.
- Vegetable plants and fruit trees also need sufficient (and high-quality) nutrients to produce a good harvest.
- Rotate your crops and combine fast-growing plants with slow-growing ones in the same container so you can harvest for as long as possible.
- When you're sowing seeds, always put out plant labels so you'll know later what's growing where.
6. Tropical Balcony
Is your balcony fairly sheltered (for example, in the middle of the city)? Then you can create a real tropical balcony! This works just as well on a balcony in the shade as it does in partial shade. For a truly sunny balcony, it’s a good idea to install some kind of sunshade, since many tropical plants prefer filtered light.
Use materials like rattan, reed, or bamboo. Place pots and planters on stools and raised platforms to create a truly layered effect. You can use both sleek plastic planters and elegant terracotta pots. Both fit right into a jungle vibe. After all, it’s the plants that truly set the mood. Plant from low to high (as seen from where you’re sitting).
Plants for this style and atmosphere:
Tropical plants such as palms, banana trees, and rice paper plants fit perfectly with this style and add variety in leaf shapes. Hardy plants with a tropical look are also ideal (such as finger plants, New Zealand flax, hostas, and daylilies). Of course, bamboo is a must, and evergreen ornamental grasses also add to the atmosphere. Don’t forget to plant groundcovers, either. And hanging and climbing plants, of course, for a truly green look. By the way, did you know that your houseplants enjoy a long summer vacation outside on your balcony?
Suitable for:
- A sheltered balcony in partial shade or full shade.
Please note:
- Most tropical plants need a lot of water to grow well.
- Not all plants are sufficiently hardy. You may need to provide winter protection, or they may need to overwinter in a frost-free environment.
7. Zen Balcony
Imagine this: a little spot in the city where the hustle and bustle fades away. A place where you can take a moment to breathe, close your eyes, and feel as if the world has come to a standstill. That’s the Zen Balcony.
Here, it’s all about peace, harmony, and simplicity. The colors are soft and natural: wood, sand, stone, green. No stark contrasts or overcrowded pots, just calm shades that let your eyes relax. A small wooden stool or mat invites you to sit down, hold a cup of tea, and just be.
Plants for this style and ambiance:
The plants have been carefully selected. A Japanese maple stands as an elegant focal point in a pot, its leaves gently swaying in the wind. Bamboo in one corner adds vertical structure and produces a subtle sound with every breeze. Ferns and evergreen ornamental grasses fill the balcony with lush greenery and create a sense of depth. In a small corner, moss serves as a soft, soothing base. A small flowering tree also complements the Japanese style well.
Suitable for:
- A balcony in the shade or partial shade.
Please keep the following in mind:
- Potted plants in full sun dry out quickly. Even plants that are drought-tolerant may need extra water.
