Balcony Designs

With the addition of a new balcony, you can have a functional outdoor space for entertaining, relaxation or even work. These home additions can be as versatile and flexible as you need them to be. Best of all, they add character and tremendous value to the properties on which they are installed.

There are a number of ways to use these spaces as part of your home office. Coming outside with your laptop to enjoy the view can refresh your mind, boost your creativity and increase your productivity. Never underestimate the mood-enhancing benefits of working in an outdoor environment that's surrounded by breathtaking scenery, particularly if you work in a primarily creative role. Look for outdoor laptop stands and small, all-weather tables or desks.

Some people opt to transition their balconies or terraces into functional dining areas. For instance, you can install a covered table for serving breakfast or brunch. Residents can dine outside on warm, sunny days while watching the sun come up. There are even rolling bars that you can put out here for making mimosas and other libations outdoors.

Spaces like these can also be great for hosting outdoor dinner parties, especially if you have a relatively small number of guests. There are small grills, wood fired pizza ovens and other cooking accessories that can be added to this space. Creating entertainment zones in your vertical space is an excellent way to maximise your use of your property area.

If you have yet to construct your balcony and have some flexibility in terms of its overall design, this is a surprisingly great place for a small water feature. You can relax on your balcony in your own hot tub. This will add considerable value to the home and give you the perfect place for unwinding after a long hard day. It can even have year-round functionality.

Another thing that you can do is to implement a multi-layer lighting design that is sufficiently adaptable for creating the right ambiance for different uses and events. Shop around for outdoor wall sconces, miniature lampposts, task lights and overhead lighting. Versatile lighting options can create the same level of aesthetics that you enjoy with your lighting on the inside of the home.

Irrespective of how basic or ornate your balcony design turns out to be, it must have a suitable railing for limiting liability and keeping residents safe. Start by considering simple, tubular balustrades and move on to glass or even stainless steel. Ultimately, however, the enclosure, railing or privacy screen you choose must be stable, in compliance with local building codes and capable of coordinating with all other structural elements on the property.