8 Useful Ideas For Your Balcony

By Karmen on 28 Nov 2019

Digital Editor

When it comes to characteristically-small homes in Singapore, a neglected and under-utilised balcony is a sad sight.

The balcony has lots of practical and aesthetic potential that goes beyond using it as a storage area or placing a few chairs there.

Keep reading to find out eight ideas on how to put your balcony to good use!

#1 Outdoor dining

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Dine alfresco in your own home when your balcony is converted into a cute dining area! If you're worried about the heat, you can stick to dinners and early morning breakfasts to enjoy the outdoor dining experience.

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This idea is more practical than you might think. There are plenty of outdoor furniture and fabrics in the market that are designed to withstand the elements and if you want something really fuss-free, you can forego fabrics entirely.

#2 Balcony bar

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If your balcony is too narrow for tables and chairs, you can still use it as a dining spot by building a bar counter which doesn't take much space.

#3 Cosy spot

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Everyone needs a little quiet spot for themselves to relax and enjoy 'me' time. If someone in your household doesn't have their own spot, you could convert the balcony into a cosy corner for reading, Internet-surfing or napping!

#4 Mini garden

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Only the most privileged among us Singaporeans will have the luxury of having a garden in our homes... not! If you live in a HDB flat or condo apartment, your balcony is the perfect spot for you to create a lush mini garden.

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Consider how much sunlight and wind your balcony gets and pick the right plants accordingly. You can't go wrong with certain houseplants that will thrive in most environments such as money plants, dracaenas, snake plants and more. If you have space constraints, vertical green walls and tiered plant stands are some ways you can make the most of the limited space.

#5 Grow herbs & veggies

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Home chefs will relate to cooking woes like the bottle of herbs going stale after just a few uses. But there's a way for you to get fresh herbs on demand without letting any go to waste, and that's if you had your own herb garden!

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The balcony is a great spot to grow herbs and the small pots won't take up too much space. If you're lucky enough to have a spacious balcony, you could have your own veggie garden! For gardening beginners, brinjals and long beans are low maintenance options to start with.

#6 Laundry area

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If your current laundry area is attached to the kitchen and you want to make way for a bigger kitchen, move the laundry area to the balcony!

It's convenient to hang up your clothes straight from the washing machine and the direct sunlight and wind at your balcony will make your clothes dry in no time. Plus, you'll get that fresh sun-dried smell on your clothes!

#7 A study

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Fresh air and natural light can boost your mood and encourage you to be more productive. In that case, wouldn't your balcony be an ideal place for working and studying?

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Turn your balcony into a little study that is comfortable to work in with shutters and fans to provide privacy and protection from the sweltering heat. As URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) Singapore has restrictions in place on how much you can enclose your balcony, make sure to check that your renovation ideas are in line with their regulations!

#8 Extended living room

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Photo from Qanvast

If nothing on the list strikes your fancy so far, you might not need a balcony at all. Since it's a waste to leave your balcony without any use, consider hacking off the walls and extending your living room such that it covers the balcony too! You can install folding glass doors to keep out the rain and keep air conditioning inside.

Similarly to #7, make sure to run through URA Singapore's regulations before going ahead with the renovation.

Share this article with your friends who are getting a new home or giving their homes a makeover!

Text by: GirlStyle SG