For many urban residents, apartment life means outdoor spaces connecting to nature like a swimming pool or a garden are a luxury. However, don’t let your balcony or patio go to waste. The key lies in making the most of the space to customize exactly how you’d like.
There are endless ways to personalize your balcony, whether it’s small or big. From planting a herb garden to arranging versatile plant containers, here are solutions to turn a small, drab balcony into your very own outdoor oasis.
#1. Hanging planters
Hanging planters can save space, create privacy, and enhance the look of your outdoor area. If you have a balcony ceiling, you can use hooks or brackets to hang pots, baskets, or macramé plant holders.
#2. Vertical Garden
You can install a vertical garden system or trellis to grow a lush assortment of plants vertically. Some of the best plants for vertical gardening are trailing or creeping plants, such as ivy, pothos, spider plant, string of pearls, or petunias.
#3. Rail Planters
Using railing planters is a great way to add a row of blooms along the edge of the balcony. They can hold a variety of plants, such as flowers, herbs, vegetables, or succulents.
#4. Compact Planters
Another idea is to opt for compact planters that can fit on a small tabletop or railing. Make sure that the planter is not too heavy or too large for your balcony.
#5. Herb Garden
It’s fantastic to have your favorite herb right at your fingertips. Getting go to create a mini herb garden with small pots of culinary herbs like basil, mint, and rosemary.
#6. Climbing Vines
Climbing vines grow quickly and can add texture and greenery to your balcony. Some of the best climbing vines for containers are those that have trailing or creeping habits, such as ivy, pothos, spider plant, string of pearls, or petunia.
#7. Window Boxes
Window boxes are containers that fit on the edge of your window sill or your railing with hooks, ledges, or a cutout in the base. They are often filled with colorful flowers and attached along the balcony railing.
#8. Hanging Baskets
Some of the best plants for hanging baskets are trailing or creeping plants, such as ivy, pothos, spider plant, string of pearls, or petunia. They can create a cascading effect and cover the empty space below the planter.
#9. Succulent Arrangements
Succulents are the best choice for urban gardeners as they are drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. Some of the most popular and easy-to-grow succulents are aloe, jade, zebra cactus, string of pearls, petunia, hens and chicks, and echeveria.
#10. Planter Shelf
A planter shelf is a great way to display your plants on a small balcony. You can use a wooden pallet, a ladder, or even a bookshelf to create a vertical structure for your plants.
#11. Compact Trees
There are still trees with beautiful foliage that’s well-suited to small balconies. You should choose dwarf fruit trees or ornamental trees that won’t overpower the space.
#12. Plant Ladder
To maximize your balcony space, arrange plants on a ladder-style shelf to add visual interest. You can use an old wooden ladder and paint it with your favorite color or buy a metal one.
#13. Flowering Shrubs
There are many flower shrubs that can thrive in containers. Verbena is one of the most popular flowers, which is a drought-tolerant flowering plant that works well in window boxes or railing planters.
#14. Flowering Perennials
Flowering perennials are a good choice for a small balcony because they can provide color and interest for a long time without needing to be replaced. Some of the best flowering perennials for a small balcony are lavender, fuchsia, spirea…
#15. Hanging Plant Shelf
You can install a hanging shelf to display a collection of potted plants. Make sure that your shelf can hold your plants and withstand the weather.
#16. Rose Garden
A rose garden is a lovely way to decorate your small balcony with fragrant and colorful flowers. For a small balcony, you should choose varieties which have compact growth habits and can bloom profusely in pots or baskets, such as miniature roses, patio roses, small floribundas, and hybrid teas.
#17. Scented Plants
Turn your balcony into a retreat with some scented plants and flowers. Depending on your climate, sun exposure, and preferences, you can choose lavender, jasmine or rosemary.
We hope that these inspirational ideas have helped your gardening journey become more enjoyable and rewarding. If you come across any grand ideas, we would like to hear your sharing and experience.
