apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

What a great space! I'd be having cocktail parties every week if I had a balcony like that.

The first thing I'd do is get seating that wouldn't impede moving around the balcony. Sometimes in antique or salvage stores, I see rows of old movie theater or train station seats that spring closed unless you're sitting on them. They're usually quite inexpensive and provide a lot of seating for a small footprint.

I'd also put in a bar behind where your exercise bike is, but clearly you have a healthier lifestyle than I do!

Great sunny space! Put benches or shelves with flowerpots across both narrow ends - this will make them visually wider. It's not clear where the doors are or how many, but try to divide the space into two or more areas, maybe separating them by a mosquito net or bead curtain. A table that folds flat against the railing would be great, as well as anything folding and easy to move. Can you hang a hammock or two securely? Keep one corner for comfortable loungers so they don't need to be moved. And most importantly - enjoy!

Other than the presence of the exercycle - It doesn't look bad to me at all...
...perhaps some more plants in tall containers - but I would be pleased with this balcony.

I would use it as storage!! Great space.

I would find a comfortable outdoor wicker couch, with bright & happy cushions. Lounging is so much more fun than sitting on patio chairs!

i would get a lot more plants ... you could use both ends for groups of planters, or maybe those stair like shelves you get in garden centers. that would make it look less long, i think. something green that is climbing/creeping would break up the long yellow walls, too.
i really envy you this great outdoor space :-)
and the suggestion of an outdoor couch gets my vote, too.

ooh, I dream of something like this. I'd have some small lantern lights on a string (seen 'em at Target) and maybe some bigger lighted lanterns for decor. Something simple. Then a row of IKEA urban chairs - they're perfect for outside. A bug candle, some music, and a cart/table for drinks. Simple, but totally cool.

I second (third) the idea of an outdoor couch.

Also, I would consider more plant boxes on the railing, but hang them on the outside to preserve space.

I think I might also lose the umbrella, purely cause it seems out of scale.

The end farthest away from the door is the nicest spot for a comfortable chaise or couch. I'd put the biggest thing you can in that space, preferably something as wide as the balcony facing the other end (so, against the short wall and parallel to the railing). Maybe you could find a single-width futon and cover it with some kind of outdoor fabric? (Keeping it in an "upright" position would look best.)

For the rest of the seating, I would just have a bunch of cute folding chairs available--try Pier 1, World Market, or a vintage shop. Make it nice for YOU to spend time on after work and then when people come you will feel that it is a welcoming place.

And whatever you do, don't take NewYorker's advice (and if possible, remove the exercycle--I mean really, do you ever use it?)--do not use a single inch of that lovely space for storage!

it's cool already but here are some of my ideas.

good suggestions so far. i'd get some sort of long, narrow bench/love seat or wicker sofa and put cushions out when in use - great for parties. chairs take up more space. i'd get a lower, rectangular or small square table instead of round.

i'd use long narrow planter boxes. i'd go for a blind that you can draw up when not in use instead of the umbrella - no footprint on the balcony that way.

cluster your plants more. they do better when they're next to each other and it leaves more sitting, socialising space.

if you use the exercise bike keep it - if not, ditch!

sorry to hijack, i just did a blog post about my decked balcony if anyone is inclined to look - i need some advice on helping my herbs flourish.

http://reddoorread.blogspot.com/

I had a balcony similar in dimensions once upon a time. At one end I put a teak steamer chaise and small end table. It was a nice "me" zone, because no one could sit down right next to me while reading or dozing.

I had a bistro set set up as well, the tables and chairs folded up out of the way and were easy to move.

There was also a bench with storage in the seat for the cushions I used out there.

And I had a beautiful flowering vine growing around the railing (gee, I'm getting sentimental).

Enjoy!

Just a thought about hanging more planters on the rail, where I live you can't hang them on the outside because they may fall and bump someone on the noggin. Heaven forbid someone gets killed by a sunflower.

Install a bench seat running the full length of the balcony on the wall side... but instead of a plain straight bench, give its horizontal edge a curving wave, with about 6 feet from each "peak" (about 2/3 of the depth of the balcony) to each "trough" (about a couple of inches).

At the "trough" points, put a potted tree or a large plant on the railing side of the balcony to break up the straight line of the railing. At the "peak" points, put terracotta pots of herbs or flowers in small clusters. At the in-between points, where the bench is around half the depth of the balcony or less, put colourful cushions for seating.

The undulating line of the bench, with potted trees breaking up the lines, will cause the eye to wander back and forth along the balcony rather than seeing straight to the end. It's also totally flexible for seating.

Large items, such as your exercycle or a barbecue, can go at either end of the balcony.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of your help! LOVE your ideas.

Yes, I will ditch the exercycle and lose the storage area behind the tomato plant (wood divider). The idea of the roll-down blind instead of the umbrella is inspired.

You KNOW a bench/love seat will be residing on that deck as soon as it warms up. It's such an obvious choice!

I'm also going to work in as many of the other suggestions as possible. I'm a lousy gardener so I can't vouch on the safety of more plants :)

I think lighting is huge too -- how about stringing some white christmas lights around the balcony? And spreading some votives around.
Just as important is adding some color -- you can spray paint the metal part of the chairs, or at least add some bright pillows in outdoor fabric.

I just googled 'decorate balcony' and here are some of the pretty images it returned:
-can you put painted shutters on the outside of the windows?
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif
-some lights along the balcony like I was mentioning:
http://www.jjmoon.com/ph2005_Fethiye_J&B1.JPG
-cute outdoor chandelier from AT:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/how-to/how-to-make-an-outdoor-chandeliersunset-magazine-077406

I honestly think you have just enough plants - you don't need more than you can take care of. The only thing there I'd recommend is getting more similar pots/vases for each grouping.

I like the idea of a bench/loveseat on one of the two ends - with lots of cushions for the back. Then setting up the two patio chairs on the other end with a small table. After that, placing the bistro table near the center. I would use the plants as visual dividers of the zones. I'd leave the outdoor rugs - I need to get one for my space this spring.

At one end (where your dining set is now), I would do like others suggested - a very comfy outdoor sofa, chaise, more comfortable chairs, etc. for lounging. Remove the umbrella (is it necessary/serve any real function?). Add more/taller plants and cluster them together either in the middle by the current chairs (looks like it gets the best light). Opposite side could be a dining area (a fold-down table is a great idea!) with either long benches with storage underneath or smaller patio chairs.

Google for _decorating long hallways_ for some inspiration and photos.

Consider breaking up the length by hanging some narrow curtains/screens (||) plus potted plants to create little rooms along the balcony. If you like to exercycle outside, make a space for it. Add a water feature for coolness.
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