Do It Yourself: 6 Insanely Clever Ways to do a Balcony Makeover

 Do It Yourself: 6 Insanely Clever Ways to do a Balcony Makeover

Any balcony, patio or terrace can be transformed into a comfortable outdoor living space in a few simple steps. Your balcony can be a natural hideout for you where you can sit and relax after an exhausting day. Here is a gorgeous collection of balcony makeover ideas that you can implement yourself without worrying about your budget.



    

1. First things first: Do away with the concrete floor.

Nothing looks better than wood when it comes to flooring. But the beauty comes at its own price and with its own maintenance issues. You can rather go for interlocking deck tiles which are easily available in any hardware store. They are extremely durable and can be easily installed without any professional help.

Watch this youtube video to check how easily they can be installed.

2. Now that your balcony floor is ready, its time to build some furniture. And yes these are all Do-It-Yourself tricks.

Look from a designer's eyes and you will see that those old crates can be used to provide a raw-looking, cozy seating.

They are extremely effective if you have space constraints. Just line them in a corner and cover partially with a cushion. You can even paint them up to match them with the rest of your balcony.

You can even turn them vertically and use them as open faced end tables.

Any balcony is incomplete without a hanging lounge chair.

A hanging chair in your balcony can be your favorite spot for magazine reading or beer sipping. You can buy a hanging chair for less than Rs 2000. But if you are really one of those Do-it-yourself freaks, why not build one yourself ! There are many tutorials available online from where you can learn to make a hanging chair but this one is our favorite.

 Enough of seating space. Its time to get an amazingly creative herb coffee table for your balcony.

Yes it is also a Do-It-Yourself idea. Check out this link to learn how to build one.  

3. Lighting: Perhaps the most underrated aspect of balcony makeover

Lighting can be a make or break for any interior design. The same applies to the balcony and terrace. Your dream of the perfect outdoor extension for your home can never be realized without perfect lighting. Continue reading to find out some balcony lightening ideas that will make you mesmerized and your neighbors jealous.

Solar Powered Balcony Lights

There are hundreds of designs of balcony lights available online. Some of them use solar energy. Solar powered lights are particularly suited for outdoor utility. Check out these beautiful Sun Jars we found online.

Why not use those cheap Diwali Lights perennially ?

Diwali Lights come in a variety of designs and sizes. They are cheap and beautiful LEDs that don't really contribute much to your electricity bills. You can even buy simple LED strips and transform them into beautiful globe lights. Here is a tutorial to do it yourself. 

 4. Beware : Those lights are going to attract swarms of mosquitoes. Get a Bug Repellent!

Imagine yourself relaxing in your lush green balcony in a fine summer evening, sitting on a hanging chair, sipping your favorite beer and listening to classics. And there comes flying a lonely mosquito looking for company. That finger nail sized bug just spoiled all your balcony makeover efforts and screwed your perfect evening.
You must find out a way to deal with those mosquitoes lest you want to be flown away. Here are some simple tricks to keep those bugs at bay.

Turn your used wine bottle into a mosquito repellent.

Not only do they look stylish but also they are effective in repelling mosquitoes and other bugs. Here is a tutorial to help you make one for yourself.

The wine bottles are effective but there is nothing better than mosquito repelling plants.

Yes you read it right ! There are many plants that can help you keep the bugs away from your natural hideout.  Lemon Balms, Marigolds, Catnip, Basil, Rosemary, Peppermint and Eucalyptus are just some of the plants. We will write more about such mosquito repellent plants in one of our other posts.

5. You are just one step away from creating your dream outdoor lounge. Paint it green with plants !

This is the most crucial step in transforming your balcony or terrace. There are thousands of varieties of plants to choose from. Here are some creative ideas to create a green space.

Use plants as a privacy screen

A feeling of privacy is important when you are relaxing with your loved ones. Using visual blockers, like plants or shrubs, can lend itself to a much more tranquil environment. Ivy, Cypress and Gourian Clematis are some great plants to be used as screens.
Apart from maintaining privacy, they can also help in keeping your home cool.

You can also use climbers to decorate the walls:

Vertical Gardening: Hanging Plants

Hanging plants on the walls or suspending them from the ceiling is a fantastic way to decorate small balconies. It can save an enormous amount of space and yet look superbly classy. There are various designs of wall mounted planters and pots that can be easily purchased for a few bucks. But for our Do-It-Yourself freaks, here is the link.

6. Treat yourself with a Bonus! A home-made firepit.  

You can build a small firepit to keep yourself warm during the winters. Follow this tutorial to know how !

When it comes to decorating your houses or outdoor spaces, sky is the limit. There are infinite an number of things that you can do. You must consider your budget, personal preferences and space constraints before heading for a makeover. When it comes to choosing plants for your balcony, you need to be even more careful as you will also need to consider environmental factors in your decoration plans.

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