How to decorate a balcony beautifully
A balcony is a part of an apartment or house, a platform located at a height protruding from the wall of the building. Its area is considered useful, but people do not always use it for its intended purpose. In the warm season, there is a desire to arrange a comfortable resting place there or just somehow decorate it. To understand how to equip a balcony, you need to understand all the intricacies of this process.
The procedure for arranging a loggia or balcony
Improving the balcony and loggia begins with putting things in order. It is necessary to clear the area of all debris, unnecessary items and furniture. The arrangement process can be divided into several stages:
- project and design development;
- choice of materials;
- repairs;
- selection and arrangement of furniture.
Design development (what can be done on a loggia or balcony)
So, the excess has been removed from the balcony or loggia. Now you need to decide on the future interior of the room. For this, the following factors are taken into account:
- which room is the exit to the loggia;
- area, width and length;
- balcony floor;
- view from the window;
- on which side the loggia comes out relative to the sun.
If the approach to the room comes from the kitchen, then it is logical to continue it there or arrange a relaxation area with a dining room.
When the area of the room is not more than 2 sq. m, the possibilities for its device are becoming less. On the 2nd floor, most often a not very good view opens up in the conditions of our courtyards. It is not very pleasant that if there are hills near the house, anyone can look out the window.
A minimum of the 6th floor can offer a beautiful view of the city or park. Nice to sit and sip tea and watch.
Sunshine affects the ability to make a small garden out of a room. If there is no sun, then the plants will develop poorly.
It is also worth exploring some balcony ideas:
- Study - installing a desk or computer desk will turn the room into a work area. It is always more pleasant to work outdoors.
Option for arranging a study on the balcony. - Winter garden or greenhouse - when equipped with climate control systems, favorable conditions for growing plants can be created. You can also place a chair in order to relax with vegetation without leaving the apartment.
When decorating a winter garden on a balcony space, you should think about climate control equipment. - Workshop - for creative people, the balcony will be a great place of solitude where you can do handicrafts. It can be a pottery, art workshop.
A workshop on the balcony will allow you to retire and completely surrender to your ideas and creativity. - Gym - No matter the size, you can install one or two versatile machines in the room and make it easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
If the dimensions of your balcony do not allow you to equip a gym there, then a small Swedish wall will easily fit on one of the walls. - Playroom - with a well-thought-out security system, the balcony turns into a fun room for children.
When arranging a children's room on the balcony, it is important to remember about safety measures.
From the more common options, you can choose a seating area on the balcony or a dining room.
After determining the future purpose of the balcony, the interior of the room is developed. Better to target common styles:
- Classic - the richest design, characterized by luxury, rigor and sophistication.
Balcony decoration in classic style. - Modern - the interior is made using modern materials in soothing shades.
Interior decoration on the balcony in a modern style. - High-tech - arrangement according to the most modern technologies, without the use of textiles, the details are made in straight, strict lines.
High-tech balcony decoration. - Minimalism is an interior with the largest possible free space, without unnecessary furniture and ornaments on the wall.
A minimalist design is very suitable for a small balcony. - Country - rustic style, with a predominance of natural materials.
Country style will create a cozy and pleasant atmosphere on your balcony.
When choosing, do not forget about the interior of the rest of the apartment. The balcony should fit harmoniously into the whole design.
Choice of materials
The choice of materials must be approached responsibly. For closed and open balconies, different materials are used.
Suitable for an open balcony:
- dry mixes;
- paints and varnishes;
- wooden panels;
- metal sheets;
- magnesite slabs;
- porcelain stoneware;
- natural and artificial stone;
- cement-bonded particle sheets.
When choosing materials for a non-glazed balcony, you need to pay attention to their frost and moisture resistance.
To equip a closed balcony, you can use different budget finishes. In this case, the following materials are suitable:
- dry mixes for interior work;
- any decorative tiles;
- PVC and MDF panels;
- paints and varnishes;
- decorative plaster;
- board, parquet, laminate, lining;
- wallpaper;
- natural and artificial stone;
- soft panels;
- panels and slats made of polystyrene.
The choice is very large, but these materials can be used if the loggia is properly insulated.
Warming
One of the main factors for a long-term and correct repair of a loggia is insulation. The main idea of the process is the transfer of the contact plane of negative and positive temperatures into the insulation beyond the walls of the room. Therefore, insulation is carried out only from the outside.
The most common way is a wet facade, when insulation in the form of mineral wool or foam is glued to the walls with a cement mixture. Also, foam glue can be used for this. After gluing, the insulation is putty using a mesh and decorated with paints, bark beetle, lamb or mosaic.
It is important not to forget about the windows. For a good result, at least a three-chamber window is installed.
Without a heat source, the loggia will be cold in winter. Therefore, you need to hang a radiator or equip a system of "warm floors".
Selection of furniture
Furniture for an open balcony is selected according to the following criteria:
- Total weight: the balcony is a cantilever structure that should not be overloaded.
- Size and compactness so as not to obstruct passages and windows.
- Waterproof.
- Frost resistance.
- UV resistance.
- Style and purpose.
It is a little easier to refine the loggia with furniture, because this room is insulated, not affected by atmospheric phenomena, except for ultraviolet radiation. In this case, the choice comes down to the design and purpose of the room.
On small balconies, it is worth choosing furniture that can be transformed.
Redevelopment of the old loggia
Redevelopment is the process of changing the original passport of a dwelling. This process means changing the placement of the walls. To understand how to equip a loggia of an old panel house, you need to divide the loggias into three types by area:
- small - up to 3 square meters;
- medium - from 3 to 6 square meters;
- large - from 6 sq.m.
Redevelopment of a small loggia usually comes down to combining it with the rest of the apartment. At the same time, the doorway with the window is removed, a heat source is added to the loggia and insulation is carried out.
If the loggia occupies the entire width of the adjacent room, then part of the wall is often removed. In this case, it is necessary to recalculate the bearing capacity of the remaining part of the wall and, if necessary, strengthen it. This is done by means of a wide arched passage. You can also sew a metal channel into the walls or install a column.
Separate rooms are arranged in medium-sized loggias. In this case, no special redevelopment is made. However, there are houses in which the loggia is two rooms wide. In this case, the loggia is reduced by expanding, for example, a small kitchen.
With a large enclosed balcony, there are many variations:
- make one room;
- divided into two rooms;
- combine with the next room;
- divided into a separate room and an open balcony;
- combine with an apartment and arrange a separate balcony;
- into two rooms, one of which add a balcony.
At the same time, do not forget that any redevelopment must be legalized.
How to equip an open balcony
Due to the exposure of the balcony to the atmospheric phenomenon, the number of interior options is reduced. In order to decorate a balcony in an interesting style, the following materials are used:
- For finishing:
- porcelain stoneware tiles on the floor and less often on the walls;
- decorative plaster of walls;
- painting walls with front paintwork materials;
- clinker wall decoration;
- steel railings.
- For furniture:
- wooden folding bench;
- rocking chair;
- flower stands;
- sports trainer-transformer.
- For the interior:
- flowers in pots;
- climbing plants;
- stone statues;
- mesh curtains.
When choosing finishing materials, it is worth choosing options with the lowest weight.
Balcony Tips
To equip a balcony with your own hands, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:
- If the wall is solid, then in one of the walls from the bottom you need to leave a small hole for the outflow of rainwater.
- When repairing the floor, the horizon is made at a slight angle so that the lowest point is at the left hole.
- For better preservation of the cantilever plate during repairs, waterproofing must be done.
- Only waterproof materials are used for finishing.
An apartment is a resting place for every person. Therefore, it should always be cozy and relaxing there. Each room should create a good mood. Do not clutter up a balcony or loggia. It is easy to refine it without even carrying out major repairs and without spending money.
Video: tips for equipping a balcony with benefit
