5 Beautiful Balconies You’ll Love

We can’t stress it enough—a small space—whether it’s a compact unit, a tiny living area, or a balcony with limited floor space—has potential to become a chic and well-maximized corner. If you have a balcony and you’ve always wanted to turn it into a bright and useful part of your home, you can do so with a few upgrades and by investing in the right pieces. To help you achieve your goals, here are five spaces and tips to keep you inspired:

1. Create a rustic-meets-vintage aesthetic with wooden pieces and a few old must-haves.

Whether you're preparing for an intimate dinner for two or a small gathering with friends, you can update the look of your balcony with furniture pieces sporting a distressed finish, mismatched chairs, and an old cabinet where you can keep essentials and dinnerware.

Do you love working on DIY projects? Let a piece you worked on shine bright in the balcony! String lights reminiscent of stars can illuminate the space. For a complete rustic flair, you can also place votive candles inside mason jars before hanging these up.

2. Build a bright and inviting breakfast nook.

Do you love dining with a view? Enjoy some Zen, appreciate the outdoors, and relish a sandwich or two. Cover your balcony's flooring with bamboo tiles or wooden flooring, invest in floor pillows, and complete the look with a low center table where you can prepare a filling spread.

As an alternative, you can also use the balcony as a reading or study nook. Shop for a sturdy table that can fit in the space, partner it with a comfy chair, and install wall-mounted shelves for an instant setup.

RL Tip: To shop for must-haves, you can visit Wilcon Depot for bamboo tiles and other flooring options, SM Home for huge and comfy pillows, and Habitat for tables you can add to your space.

3. Recreate a garden meets playground feel.

Many condo dwellers miss having a garden where they can take care of a few plants or an outdoor area where the kids can play. With the help of a design professional, make sure you childproof the home—add the necessary barriers and invest in the needed adjustments. Once you're sure that the balcony is safe, you can add seating pieces that can  be enjoyed by the young and young-at-heart.

Still want to have a garden? Explore the possibilities of having a vertical garden or care for indoor plants and herbs. These green wonders don't just add a touch of green, they can be used for cooking or purifying the air in your home, too.

4. Experiment with a color theme.

If your home follows a certain color palette, you can use the balcony as an excuse to work with a bold hue that you love. Whether it's yellow, pink, or blue—use it as a basis when choosing pieces and accessories for your nook. Pair blue cushions with aqua planters—you can even paint your existing planters on your own to save on cash.

Units that don't actually follow a certain theme, may want to take a leap of faith when designing the balcony. It can be your trial area—practice working on a tropical, Scandinavia, or an eclectic style—to see if you can really stick with it.

RL Tip: Looking for color-coded accessories? Check out ROY & BIV, Glorietta 4 for quirky picks.

5. Turn your balcony into a mini oasis.

Feel closer to nature by transforming your balcony into a paradise-like spot. If you've already started your mini garden, take it a notch higher by bringing in wooden pieces with rattan details and even bamboo stools. Whenever you feel stressed or in need of a quick break, you can simply step out to the balcony and relish the quiet time. Complete the look by allotting a portion of your budget for a small indoor fountain.

RL Tip: Tired of the blank walls? See how you can add bamboo fence panels! Manila Bamboo Store has different products you can work with. The store is located at 447 Alegria Street, Sampaloc, Sta. Mesa, Manila. Visit manilabamboostore.com to learn more.