apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Small cedars in small modern boxes (not hanged but just on the ground)? Hard to kill since they need little water.

2 colorful outside cushions.

Paint the furniture. Get some easy-care plants.

I agree with Marie-Eve - potted shrubs!

I agree: plants will give you a view and privacy, and the color/comfort of cushions will invite you outside. Add other indoor elements to make it an outdoor room - like an area rug and a vase.

Paint the furniture something cheery, add some cushions. A tall pot in the corner with a tall tree/plant or shrub that will grow in that particular condition.

I see sunny bright yellow paint for the furniture, cushion could be a stripe in whatever color. I guess you can't grow a lemon tree there but that would of been pretty in a big dark charcoal or deep green pot.

Since you want to keep the furniture you have, maybe you could use tie-on seat cushions and a table cloth (the Dollar Store sells clips that hold tablecloths in place outside). That would make it look more substantial.

Target actually has great faux plants and greenery, usually in the same aisle as its Smith & Hawken products.

I agree with the recommendation for an indoor/outdoor rug. The Pompey rug from Ballard Designs has nice colors: http://www.ballarddesigns.com/Outdoor-Living/Outdoor-Rugs/Striped-Outdoor-Rugs/Pompey-Indoor-Outdoor-Rug/p/6582?path=1%2C2%2C1464%2C1504%2C2202&iProductID=6582

Chair cushions in a weatherproof, fade-resistant fabric that works with the rug will also perk up the balcony (and keep your a*s from freezing or frying on the metal seats).

It looks like a very peaceful spot.

For privacy on our deck we use a spring loaded shower curtain rod between the posts and hang Ikea sheer curtains from them. They move in the breeze, and you can weight them to keep them from flying around too much. It's soothing to watch them and they also filter out bright sunlight.

Besides hanging some curtains from a spring-loaded curtain rod (great suggestion), you could build a three-section divider that can be used indoors (in the winter) or out in the summer for privacy. There are many designs out there from lattice wood that you could paint to using fabric inside the frame. Using fabric and paint to coordinate with an outdoor rug, cushions, and planters would look great.

one of those outdoor rugs might bring some color to the space.

Yes, an outdoor rug for sure! Makes it feel like an actual room. Box planters around the balcony, even on the ground makes it feel much more cozy.

I would put a room divider off to one side for some privacy and put a tall potted shade plant with it. (Oh, I just re-read this and see that you don't care for plants. Could you try a large peace lily or pothos? Those can take a lot of neglect.)

I would also paint the furniture a bright, cheery color and add an outdoor rug.

Outdoor rugs can go a long way!

I have created privacy screens by planting climbing vines in a rectangular box planter with a lattice attached behind, that extends up to the overhang. The trellis by itself is even nice, or with other flowers or grasses in the planters. Not so hard to care for.

I am looking at all the ideas (this is my place btw) - LOL -- and I am liking most. I really am wanting to do the outdoor rug because the table is very dark. I do not want to paint it since I love the charcoal black color...it was a great find for seeing it sitting beside a dumpster. Cushions would be nice, but they are hard to find for the more narrow seats. This entire set folds down and I store it in the winter - I reset it up to take the photos.

Again, I really do not want to go with plants since I am better at killing them then keeping them alive. I have considered putting up some lattice between the two balconies...I recently noticed another set of tenants had done this and it looked nice to have the privacy.

I would love the room divider idea - but since I store this furniture indoors in the winter along with all our other stuff, it's not ideal since I'd be cluttering up the inside. The inside of the apartment is half one open area that is the living room and eat in kitchen and the other half is the two bedrooms and a small bath.

I forgot to mention this balcony is out the door in our kitchen - that's one of the reasons I want to keep the table there.

Well, you have a lot of "can'ts".

What crosses my mind is that you could get a colorful plastic rug meant for outdoor use (and roll it up under the bed in winter.) MAKE cushions for your chairs (easy!) and hang something colorful and bannerlike from tension rods -- or maybe those cheap "bead" curtains from IKEA that are rings of raffia or something... I'd put them on the sides to disguise the neighboring balconies. If they let you! (The wind chimes remark suggests that they might not.)

You don't have room for much if you want to use the space, so apart from that, maybe just some kind of outdoor-safe knick-knack for the table top. (I just got a pair of resin doves, fairly realistic style, at a secondhand shop for $4. They are good because they look natural out on my balcony, they won't tip or blow away in the wind, and they don't fade or jangle or otherwide cause issues. (I had potted flowers, they died.))

Most of the "can'ts" are in our lease as to things we aren't allowed to do. I did see one or two other apartments with lattice work between them, so I'm considering trying that as soon as the weather evens out. Previously I thought we weren't allowed to hang anything...confusion in the matter...sorry.

I have liked a lot of ideas on here so far. I already have a few written down to do asap - the outside area rug, seat cushions, some kind of divider, and at least some faux plants. I don't plan to paint the bistro set since I love it as is and it matches our outdoor light.

The only things I would like to do on the balcony is have a place to have breakfast (or maybe a romantic dinner occasionally) and to be able to sit out there and read on occasion. I read there now by pulling the short wooden stool up by a chair and resting my feet on it.