Narrow balcony design

Typical apartments, especially old housing stock, rarely boast wide balconies or loggias. These extensions are practically not found wider than two meters. And the narrowness of the space makes it difficult to plan its arrangement the way the owners want. To be more precise, it narrows the range of possibilities, which is why the balcony often turns into a barn or just an empty, vegetating space. But this is fixable.

Repairing a narrow and long balcony is not easy, because you have to take into account a whole list of design rules. Verticalization comes to the fore, you need to choose narrow, elongated furniture, look for transformer options. There are several expert recommendations that can coordinate renovations:

• when glazing, it is wiser to choose sliding windows, because when opened, they significantly save space;
• light materials help the room appear freer, do not narrow it even more - therefore, finishing in light colors is preferable;
• if the balcony is decorated in the colors of the room from which it exits, visually it will look like its continuation, which can be a beautiful and elegant solution;
• glossy materials reflect light, which means they can visually "push apart" the walls;
• what exactly to turn a narrow balcony in a "Khrushchev", should be decided not spontaneously, but carefully, so that the space is actively used and even developed.

Any design is preceded by a rough work. To build the look of the extension, you need to make sure that it is technically ready to change: insulate it, conduct electricity there, think over all the nuances of decoration and lighting.

Internal insulation is considered the most demanded. First, the balcony must be glazed if it is still open. Single glazing will most likely have to be replaced with modern glass units with low thermal conductivity. The following options are used as insulation materials.

• Penoplex (another name for this material is "extruded polystyrene foam") durable and lightweight, becoming a moisture barrier, with low thermal conductivity. To insulate the balcony with them, sheets with a diameter of 4-6 cm are enough.

• Styrofoam (or expanded polystyrene) also a lightweight material, but not particularly durable. If it is decided to use it as insulation, the topcoat must be very strong.

• Penofol considered an effective insulation, this material is applied to aluminum foil, which is a vapor barrier and heat reflector.

• Mineral wool - this is a whole group of fibrous materials for thermal insulation with good performance properties, low price. For insulation, a layer of 5 cm is enough.

To conduct electricity to the balcony, this space must meet a number of requirements. There must be excluded temperature jumps that lead to the formation of condensation. If condensation occurs, there is a high risk of short-circuiting the unprotected wiring. The room must be dry and regularly ventilated.

On the unglazed balcony, almost no electricity is carried out, because few people decide on increased electrical safety measures - this is a troublesome business. All work with power grids is carried out in a de-energized apartment. Before drilling the walls, you need to make sure that there are no hidden wires under the plaster. The equipment is installed with the required protection class (IP).

First, you should decide what type of lighting will be on the balcony, and then choose the type of connection. With the last item, the options are:

• apartment switchboard;
• distribution box between consumers inside the dwelling;
• socket, which is located next to the balcony.

All materials used should have one goal - to increase the space. Of course, this will only be a visual effect, but it is especially valuable on a narrow balcony.

How to succeed in a finish like this:

• on the floor there can be a light cork covering (it looks very cozy) or linoleum or high-class laminate;
• building materials with a relief texture are undesirable, but smooth surfaces for a narrow room are good;
• glossy surfaces do not absorb light, but scatter the sun's rays - this effect must be used;
• less wide walls can be distinguished with large, expressive and bright prints, and let the rest remain monochromatic;
• it is better to install the flooring not along the balcony, but to use the perpendicular type of laying or diagonal;
• horizontal patterns expand the space.

And, of course, a narrow space will not tolerate visual noise, lack of order.

This area can be decorated in exactly the same way as the rest of the ceiling surfaces in the apartment. That is, ceiling lights will be the best solution. If the balcony has a suspended ceiling, spotlights can be mounted there. Spots can be static or rotating. It would also be rash to refuse the chandelier option right away, it can be placed in the center, but, as a rule, it will still be a compact model.

Wall sconces are both practical and decorative. They can illuminate a sofa or bench, but you cannot hang them at the work table, since the lighting level of such devices is insufficient. Table and floor lamps can set the mood for the balcony.

Equipping a narrow balcony is an interesting design challenge. But the small space offers a lot of beautiful ideas.

Let's say that the standard function of the balcony, where things important in everyday life are stored, will not leave this space. But the storage organization can be different.

Storage arrangement methods.

• Open shelves, racks. In many ways, they are interesting and convenient, but they require perfect order. Otherwise, a narrow, modest balcony will turn into a chaotic warehouse.
• Narrow lockers to the ceiling with rack-and-pinion doors they look beautiful, easy, and inside a lot of things will fit. For a narrow space, it is preferable that the color of the cabinets almost merges with the finish or be close to it.
• Combined storage. For example, in the lower part of the balcony there are narrow pedestals, in the upper part there are open shelves. You can put baskets, containers, boxes on the shelves. Now the forms of storage are quite decorative, and you can build a pleasing composition out of ordinary boxes and baskets.

Creating a work room on a narrow balcony is a great idea, especially if before that a person did not have an isolated space for this purpose.A small table (or better - a tabletop fixed on the wall at the corners), a comfortable chair, a couple of shelves for folders and other work little things on the wall - and now the corner has been created. For mood - some pretty flower in a tub, posters on the wall will only decorate the home office.

At another narrow wall of the balcony, you can place a rack, which will also be used for work needs. You can hang a large mirror on almost the entire wall there, and attach a shelf for cosmetics next to it - and now a place with good lighting for applying makeup is also organized. It turns out a multifunctional space on an ordinary narrow balcony.

A small garden on the balcony is the dream of many owners. The most difficult step is the first one, but it's worth starting and it turns out that empty or previously cluttered meters turn into an atmospheric small greenhouse that cheers up and pleases the eye. Usually, such decisions come to the mind of the owners of open balconies, but even on closed, insulated ones, equipping a year-round garden is an interesting thing.

What besides plants can be in this garden: a comfortable wicker chair, in which you can sit right in the middle of this bloom, as well as a bookcase with books, and then the garden will also turn into a green library. And nothing else is needed.

This place is arranged strictly for relaxation, so every element of the interior should contribute to this. For example, even on a narrow balcony, you can make a podium on which a mattress will be placed - you can lie down, practice yoga, read, or just do pleasant idleness.

Also, the lounge area assumes a beautiful lighting system, the presence of objects that help to relax - a coffee table for breakfasts and dinners almost "on the street" or a turntable with records. There may be your favorite plants or just a lot of pillows that are so cool to lie on.

Making a mini workshop out of a narrow balcony is a great option. An easel will definitely fit there, as well as a rack or cabinet where all the necessary accessories will be stored. During the day there will be good natural light, perhaps the best in the apartment.

Also, on a narrow balcony, you can make a space with a bar near the window, in fact, a mini-cafe. And this is convenient, because it is very tempting to have a coffee or a cocktail while looking at the beautiful views from the window, especially in summer.

You will have to decorate a narrow balcony in styles that love light and airiness of space. The first thing that comes to mind is the Scandi style, and it is really capable of presenting at least a dozen design options.

You can “try on” the style with the help of photo illustrations.

• Scandi - not necessarily white, you can use a cozy gray that creates a relaxation area for the whole family. Parents can read, the child is nearby - play, in cold winters, instead of walking in the cold on the insulated balcony, you can spend time. At least for the sake of such a piercing daytime sun.

• Something in between modern style and contemporary. The same version with a bar counter, that is, an additional place for breakfast and evening cocktails. Finally, why not make a place on the balcony where you can just be alone.

• A mixture of styles, somewhere you can guess both Mediterranean and Greek. The colors in this case decided everything, their combination is perfect. If you just imagine that you can meet every morning in this comfortable armchair, with your favorite coffee and in the light of the sun's rays, you want to make repairs right now.

• Country style in all its perfect simplicity, and the narrowness of the premises of its realization is not a hindrance.

• There is something from both scandi and hygge - very rational use of narrow space.