10 Small Balcony Ideas to Turn Cramped Spaces into Luxe Escapes

Having outdoor space is one of life’s greatest blessings — especially if you’re living in an apartment with access to a balcony. By definition, a balcony is much smaller than features like a patio or a veranda; after all, it’s attached to a building and may be hundreds (or thousands!) of feet off the ground. It can feel tricky to figure out the best use of these small spaces, but editors at Apartment Therapy have seen countless ways to make balconies feel cozy, comfy, and downright luxe — all with room for a gaggle of loved ones.

No matter their size, balconies are blank canvases. Even if you just have a couple of chairs and one or two decor details, you can create a mini oasis. We’ve highlighted 10 of the greatest ways real families have used small bistro sets, cozy loungers, container gardens, and outdoor upholstery to transform cramped balconies into al fresco getaways. If you’re looking for smart ways to transform your small balcony this summer, look no further than this collection of ideas pulled from real homes featured in Apartment Therapy’s House Tour archive.

These 10 exceptionally petite balconies prove you don’t need a ton of space or square footage to be able to enjoy the outdoors while at home in your apartment.

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If your balcony is sized under 60 square feet, most outdoor furniture can feel comically large (after all, they may be made for backyards or front porches!). Bistro chairs, however, are designed with balconies in mind — many also fold up and out of the way when they’re not in use. Even if you don’t plan to eat outside, having access to a tabletop via a bistro table can be great for morning coffee or early evening happy hours. This micro Manhattan balcony feels much more spacious than it actually is, all thanks to a space-saving bistro set, which can be dressed up with tabletop elements of your choice.

Potted plants and live foliage always make a tiny balcony feel more like an escape from the city around you — but their purpose can be twofold. If you’re feeling like your balcony is a metaphorical fishbowl, make the space feel more comfortable by deliberately planting tall trees and evergreen picks (like Norfolk pines!) at your balcony’s edge. It’s an au natural room divider that’ll keep nosy neighbors at bay; this studio apartment in Manhattan does just that.

From an afternoon lounging across a loveseat and stretching your legs onto an ottoman to an evening with enough seating for three people — a modular outdoor sofa set can do it all. This wooden set nestled among a compact balcony in Lisbon, Portugal, showcases how a sofa can be broken apart to accommodate a crowd. Simply rearrange your go-to setup when folks leave.

Floor space is precious on a tight balcony, so while you may be tempted to buy a few container gardens to stick outside, try to utilize vertical space instead. This colorful balcony came together using a DIY painted garden planter that was directly secured to the balcony’s enclosure walls to allow for more room for seating and potted foliage. 

On summer’s hottest days, having shade on your balcony is key — especially if the afternoon sun shines directly down onto your space. Most patio umbrellas are made with a heavy base that needs to be placed smack in the middle of a balcony to work. But a handy cantilever system can enable you to place the heavy umbrella base off to one side, maneuvering and rotating outdoor shade as you see fit. As was done in this rustic Los Angeles balcony, you may even be able to tuck a heavy umbrella base beneath another piece of furniture, like a chair.

The secret to creating a “jungle” feel in a balcony is nailing the art of layering. This Brooklyn condo’s small but mighty terrace centers an adorable aqua bistro set with layers of mini, moderate, and then larger plants that draw the eye up and away from the tiny floor space. Light and airy furniture — slatted chairs and a leggy table, plus white ceramic footed planters — helps to keep the space from looking visually closed-in.

Who says you can’t bring the indoors outside, even in a small apartment balcony? That’s exactly what was done in this Norwegian apartment, where the balconies’ threshold is deliberately tested. Draping a cozy blanket on an upholstered armchair that’s nestled against the doorframe makes this micro balcony seem much larger. The spot is now the perfect place to get some fresh air and curl up to read a book.

This balcony functions like a bonus living room, thanks to a comfy memory foam lounger, a bean bag chair, and textiles like gauzy curtains and cushy pillows. With these furnishings and details, even the outdoor portion of this Toronto studio embodies an “unapologetically cozy” design philosophy. Whether it’s window dressings strewn outside or simply string lights, using the overhang of a neighboring balcony can help make your own feel so much more special.

Your inclination may be to try and situate all elements of your balcony to face outwards towards the “view” it offers — but sometimes, the best way to enjoy a slice of the outdoors is to position seating inwards. In this bedroom-adjacent balcony in Barcelona measuring less than 25 square feet, a chaise lounge fits well alongside a side table and a potted fig tree when it’s positioned inward. 

Going bold in the way you decorate a tiny balcony can make it feel so much more impactful than playing it safe. This petite balcony in a glam home in The Netherlands proves that pattern splicing (deliberately clashing more than one type of pattern!) creates a truly unique look. Bright yellow bistro furniture pairs with black-and-white patterns to create a vibrant and energetic exterior space.