Here's how to turn a boring balcony into a beautiful balcony garden!

Don't have a yard, just a balcony?

That doesn't have to be a problem. You can turn even a boring balcony into the most beautiful balcony garden!

Of course, there are challenges: wind, sun, drought, and especially limited space… But even the smallest balcony can be turned into a charming mini-garden using pots, planters, and (hanging) baskets.

Every plant you add has an immediate impact on such a small (and often gray) space. Plus, a balcony often serves as the view from the living room or kitchen. So it’s especially important to turn it into a beautiful green space!

25 Tips for a Beautiful, Safe, and Enjoyable Balcony Garden

Decorating Your Balcony

When designing a balcony, it’s all about the limited space. Weight is also an important factor to consider. It’s quite a challenge to strike a balance between everything you’d like to have and what actually fits in the space. To get the most out of the different seasons, you can, of course, adjust your plants and even your furniture accordingly. That way, you’ll make the most of your small outdoor space.

• Take into account the weight of all materials and the maximum load capacity of your balcony.

• Keep in mind that your balcony isn’t just a place to enjoy sitting outdoors, but also a view you can enjoy from your living room.

• Don’t overcrowd your balcony: while we understand that you want to make the most of every centimeter of your balcony, this can quickly make the space look cluttered. It also gives it a messy appearance. Limit your use of different materials. Choose just one table and set of chairs, and don’t use your balcony as storage as well.

• Make sure to sufficient privacy. It’s often nice to add something near your seating area so you don’t look right through the balcony railing. Think of a willow screen, a reed mat, or bamboo. Of course, building your own structure for plants is also a great solution.

• Install mood lighting on your balcony. That way, you can enjoy your balcony longer in the evening, and you won’t be looking out at a dark void from inside your home.

• Make sure there is proper drainage so that water does not pool on the balcony.

• Install special (lightweight) roof tiles on the balcony. Or use wooden or composite patio tiles. This will completely transform the look of your balcony!

What is the orientation of your balcony?

It makes quite a difference whether your balcony gets full sun or is in the shade. Is it an open balcony, or is it fairly enclosed? Is your balcony surrounded by greenery, or is it a green oasis in the gray city? All of these factors determine which plants you can grow on your balcony and whether you can expect visits from birds, butterflies, and bees.

• A balcony in full sun can get very hot very quickly. Choose plants that can tolerate drought well.

• On a balcony in deep shade, you'll probably have better luck with attractive foliage plants or flowering plants that...or in the shade.

• It can get very windy on a balcony, especially the higher up it is. Install a solid (but possibly transparent) screen, or use dense hedge plants to reduce the impact of the wind.

Outdoor furniture on your balcony

Of course, the furniture is an important part of your balcony. You want to be able to sit outside comfortably, but it shouldn't take up too much space.

• Choose your furniture wisely: Opt for attractive, space-saving pieces. Consider folding chairs, (partially open) bistro chairs, a narrow corner sofa, etc.

• See if your furniture can also double as storage space. A custom-made corner sofa, for example, works very well for this.

• Consider a folding table that attaches to the wall or the balcony railing. This will save you a lot of space, and you can fold the table away when you're not using it.

Plants in pots, planters, baskets, tins…

On a balcony, you’ll need to use pots and containers for your plants. It’s best to avoid very heavy pots, but also don’t choose pots that are too small. A larger container or pot is generally easier to care for. Anything that isn’t too small, can hold soil, and allows water to drain through can be used as a pot. In addition to pots, containers, and baskets, you can use tin cans, small crates, old boots, or shoes, for example…

• The larger the pot or container, the easier it is to care for the plants. This reduces the risk of them drying out or becoming nutrient-deficient.

• Special (patio) potting soil is lighter and retains moisture longer. It’s good for your plants and for you (you’ll have to lug the bags up to your balcony anyway…

• Use pots with drainage holes (or make some). Although plants in pots can dry out quickly, there’s also a chance they’ll sit in water (without you really noticing). The roots will then start to rot. Good drainage is important.

• Placing a plant tray or saucer under the pot prevents water from being wasted and gives your plants a little water reserve, so to speak. This is especially helpful during the growing season on a sunny balcony!

• Consider installing an irrigation system (such as a drip hose). This saves a lot of time and effort, and your plants will stay in top condition.

Read much more Tips for Plants in Pots and Containers

Plants for the balcony

The selection of plants is enormous: as long as you keep in mind that they shouldn’t get too big and can manage with limited growing space. Consider how much sun the plants get on your balcony and how much time you have to care for them. Popular balcony plants include annual summer bloomers, ornamental grasses, herbs, compact evergreen shrubs, bamboo, olive trees, and small fruit bushes.

• Fill your balcony planters with annual summer-blooming plants such as geraniums, petunias, fuchsias, marigolds, dwarf dahlias, lobelias, begonias, or ice flowers for maximum color during the growing season.

• Take advantage of climbing plants! Many climbing plants require very little space to grow (both underground and above ground).

• You can also use the wall for climbing plants. Keep in mind, however, that some Climbing plants leave traces on wood or on stone.

• Climbing plants are usually suitable for hanging as well. This means you can let them grow across your balcony from a balcony planter, or even let them grow directly from it.

• Plants that can tolerate drought well are ideal for a (sunny) balcony. But even drought-tolerant plants need water!

• You can even grow a (mini) fruit tree on your balcony: choose a mini tree, a dwarf variety, or a columnar variety.

• You might also want to consider vertical gardening. This involves creating a structure in which you, as it were, stack different layers of plants on top of each other or attach them one above the other. The result is a beautiful green wall that takes up very little space. Foliage plants, ground covers, and sedum, for example, are very well-suited for this.

Birds, Butterflies, and Bees on Your Balcony

You might not think so at first, but even on a balcony, you can have birds, butterflies, bees, and other insects stop by. The higher up you are, the less common this might be, but it’s definitely possible. If you choose the right plants, they’ll come on their own—no matter how high up you live!

• You can attract bees and butterflies even on a balcony. Choose plants rich in nectar so that butterflies and bees will find their way to your balcony. Check out our list of good butterfly plants, or good plants for bees.

• If you don't live too high up, you can definitely attract birds to your balcony. For example, set up a bird feeder or hang a feed silo. You can also plant a few shrubs with berries for birds in a pot or container.