Show me your balcony and I'll tell you who you are! No joke, you can tell a lot about the owners by looking at the balcony: it’s not for nothing that someone has cleanliness and flowers, while someone has a collection of car tires on display for everyone to see.
It seems like who cares - well, a person stores wheels on the balcony, what’s wrong? But, firstly, there is a more convenient solution - to entrust the tires to the Attic, and secondly, you will feel the difference, how pleasant it is to live in a house when the balcony is used not as a warehouse, but as a place to relax.
However, sometimes the layout and the number of square meters do not allow you to simply empty the balcony of things. In this case, we propose to competently solve the issue of storage on the balcony - we tell you in this article what things can be kept on the balcony and how to properly organize storage on it.
What can be stored on the balcony
The range of things that can be stored on the balcony greatly depends on whether it is insulated or not. If there is no heating on the balcony or loggia, then during the cold season condensation may accumulate there and it will be cold and damp. Accordingly, things can become damp, deformed, become moldy, and their condition cannot be restored. If the loggia is insulated, then most likely it will maintain the optimal temperature even in extreme cold (not lower than +9-10 degrees Celsius), at this temperature things will not deteriorate.
On the insulated balcony you can store:
- clothes;
- shoes;
- documents and paper archives;
- fruits and vegetables;
- organize a greenhouse - winter garden;
- make a work office, a place for yoga or sports, a relaxation area.
On an uninsulated balcony you can store:
- tools;
- building materials;
- furniture;
- hobby items (tents, fishing gear, etc.);
- sports equipment (sleds, skis).
If the balcony is glazed but not insulated, then it is also suitable for storing canned food and vegetable preparations.
Storing hand tools in the garage
If you have a garage, then you can place your workshop in it - usually there is enough space there. Moreover, if you service the car yourself, then everything should be at hand.
If the size of the room allows, then along two walls you can put racks on which all the necessary things will be placed. For safe use, racks must be floor-mounted; you can also use hanging structures made of non-combustible materials. If such cabinets are made of wood, then it must be treated with a special agent. Remember - safety comes first!
If the garage is not wide, then in the back there is space for a work table and cabinets. In the garage, you definitely need to think about good lighting: you will have to install lamps directly above the table. For a small garage, a workbench with a folding table is the ideal solution. Above the table you can install stands to which tools will be attached - this way you won’t have to search for the right item for a long time, everything is immediately in sight.
Preparatory steps for storing things on a balcony or loggia
Before you start arranging storage systems on your balcony and loggia, they should be prepared. The arrangement of the balcony occurs in three stages:
1. Rearrangement. It is worth rearranging if, in all other respects, the balcony is suitable for storing things. Rearrange the storage furniture so that when you enter you can freely open the door, walk onto the balcony and freely take out any item.
2. Cosmetic repairs. If you don’t like the appearance of the balcony, then paint the walls with fresh paint, choosing your favorite color, restore the floor or lay new linoleum.
3. Major repairs. It is carried out if major modifications and insulation of the balcony are required. Major repairs are also carried out when the owners decide to glaze the balcony. When carrying out major renovations, be guided by what you will use the balcony for. If you are planning to organize a work office, then think about the wiring and how the sockets will be located. If you are planning to create a space for yoga and sports, pay attention to the flooring so that it is convenient to lay a mat. To organize a greenhouse, you will also need special lighting - this should be thought through at the renovation stage. If you plan to use a loggia or balcony for drying clothes, then you can calculate and drill special holes in advance in order to hang drying slats.
Dressers
They are made mainly of wood and plastic, so when choosing, you should take into account the characteristics of the material. Very convenient for placing numerous small items. Suitable for installation under a window sill or hanging rack. You can place shoes in furniture - there is always not enough space for them. The tabletop is ideal for decorative flower pots or a decorative corner with your favorite accessories.
Upholstered furniture with niches
Can only be installed in a warm heated room. If year-round use is required in an ordinary glassed-in space with high humidity, then you should pay attention to adapted models for placement in a narrow room of a small area, which can withstand temperature changes, do not give rise to mold, are equipped with sliding doors, and have special compartments for installation oversized or tall items.
Basic principles of organizing space on a balcony or loggia
Even on a small balcony you can arrange your own mini-universe, where each thing has its own place and is easy to find. To prevent your balcony from turning into a dumping ground for things, here are three options on how you can conveniently organize your balcony space for living and storing various property.
1. Zoning storage space. If the loggia is large enough, then zoning can be easily done with your own hands using carpets or furniture.
On the loggia you can organize different zones - one for storage, another for flowers and seedlings, a third for relaxation by placing garden furniture.
2. A work corner is one of the popular options for arranging a balcony. For this purpose, a side wall is usually designed, and the wall opposite can be used for storing things.
3. Lounge area. To design a recreation area, you may need furniture (for example, wicker or garden), floor mats, ottomans and a coffee table. At the same time, you also have access to storage options on the balcony - for example, hanging shelves or wall organizers under the ceiling.
How to organize things correctly
The basis for success in the distribution of territory is calculation and planning. First of all, the total area is determined, and the possibilities for installing various options for cabinets and shelving are outlined. There is complete freedom of ideas and proposals here. At the same time, functionality and beauty are quite successfully combined. The arrangement of objects should allow easy access to each segment, so that you do not have to constantly shift everything from one space to another. The general principle is that what is needed more often is placed closer. It is worth considering that the vertical is used completely, down to the last centimeter, if a balcony is being installed for storage in a glassed room.
Open
If the option is of this type, it becomes ideal for a summer flower garden combined with a recreation area. Often space is allocated for seasonal inventory. Preserving anything else is problematic if we are talking about a long period, but storing fruits or vegetables intended for winter storage for ripening is quite possible. In cold weather everything will have to be removed. It is worth considering that uncontrolled storage instantly turns a promising area into a kind of landfill. At the same time, it is impossible to find something, there is no free space left, and there is no benefit. Before you take out the first thing, you need to clearly plan where and how it will be placed and what good it will do.
Closed and not insulated
A glazed but unheated space has its advantages. Food can be safely stored in cold weather; it will not freeze, but will not spoil quickly. Boxes and shelves made of wood, chipboard, fibreboard, veneer cannot be used - they will quickly become unusable, since the humidity is high. It is recommended to give preference to plastic or metal. Combined use. In summer there is a recreation area, in winter there is a storage area. By the way, on hot days it makes sense to turn the loggia into another room, which all family members will undoubtedly claim if it is on the shady side. You can even temporarily arrange a sleeping area, without compromising the functionality of the rest of the area.
Closed and warm
The most luxurious option for organizing storage space on the balcony. There are practically no restrictions; furniture is selected according to the same criteria as for any room. If the design requires the presence of niches, they are used in various variations, loading according to the full program, but in compliance with the system. This will leave more usable space for the recreation area. For these purposes, it is advisable to order or buy multifunctional furniture and organize storage space in it. Similar models include:
- armchair and daybed with lower drawers;
- folding table;
- chest of drawers with tabletop;
- sectional wall with a retractable panel for handicrafts or laptop installation.
A functional balcony with a system for storing things, the photo of options of which gives room for imagination, will be a real salvation for decluttering your apartment and organizing the necessary order. Many, in the absence of ways to expand their housing, make major repairs, turning the loggia into another living room. Such changes cannot be documented, but no one will make any claims if you do not take drastic actions in the form of erecting a brick wall, but limit yourself to additional insulation and sound insulation while maintaining the original dimensions.
Balcony furniture
1. Cabinets. The storage cabinet on the balcony should be made of moisture-resistant material. Storing clothes on the balcony, as well as shoes, is allowed if it is insulated. A hanger bar is the easiest way to organize a small dressing room.
2. Dressers. To make the most of the space, it is better to combine a chest of drawers with wall-mounted storage systems. On the balcony it is better to install furniture with sliding doors for the most efficient use of space.
3. Shelves and racks. A storage rack on the balcony is a cool solution that will allow you to immediately see what is on the shelves, find the thing you need and quickly use it. In addition, with the help of shelves you can not only store personal belongings, but also decorate the space with photo frames, candles and other accessories.
Vegetable storage cabinets
Such places for storing vegetables on the balcony can be of different sizes depending on the size of your room. There are many options in stores for every taste, but you can make a cabinet for storing food yourself. Foam plastic, penoplex and mineral wool are suitable materials for thermal insulation.
Interesting! How to beautifully and inexpensively decorate the inside of a balcony with your own hands
Cabinets for storing vegetables must be equipped with ventilation and an internal insulation system.
Storage containers on the balcony
1. Boxes. They are ideal for storing tools on the balcony. You can make wooden boxes yourself or buy ready-made options in the store.
2. Containers. Transparent containers are convenient to use when you want to quickly find what you need. If you like color options, use markers and sticky notes to label what's inside.
3. Baskets. If you are decorating a balcony in a fashionable style, for example, creating a Scandi interior, then wicker baskets will fit perfectly into the design of the balcony. You can use vertical high baskets to store linen and home textiles, or you can use small hanging baskets to store magazines, books, and small items.
4. Lari. These are boxes with a hinged lid - a convenient solution for storage on the balcony, since the chests can also be a couch for relaxation. Just throw a thick blanket or blanket on top and use the chest as a small sofa to sit and read a book.
Storing tools in a house or apartment
If a workshop is set up in a house or apartment, then usually a storage room is allocated for this purpose: there is enough space to place everything you need, and there will still be room for storing other things.
In a large pantry you can install a whole system of shelving: some of them can be used for storing tools, you can even fit some construction tools, and the rest for storing other useful things in everyday life.
A good option is a combined wardrobe, which has the usual shelves at the top and drawers at the bottom like a chest of drawers: it can fit a lot of things, although it takes up minimal space. Assembling it yourself is not difficult at all. To carry heavy tools, you can buy or build a mobile cart: it will also come in handy around the house.
Features of seasonal storage
1. Storing tires and wheels on the balcony. Summer car tires are capricious in cold temperatures; they become tanned, which means that by the season they can become deformed and will no longer be so elastic. Therefore, you can only keep tires on an insulated balcony. In addition, the wheels take up a decent amount of space, and when stored on an open balcony they look completely unaesthetic.
2. Bicycle storage on the balcony. The bicycle is not used for 6-7 months (from November to April), which means it is stored on the balcony during the coldest, dampest time of the year, and even with temperature changes. Therefore, you should not keep it on an open, uninsulated balcony - this risks the rubber and mechanisms drying out and the chain rusting.
3. Storage of skis and other sports equipment. It is also better to keep cheesecake sleds and snowboards on an insulated loggia (a snowboard becomes deformed due to temperature changes, and rubber products can crack in the cold).
4. Preservation (snacks). Oddly enough, canned food should not be stored in frosty conditions, that is, it is optimal to keep jars of cucumbers and other pickles at room temperature or on a glazed balcony (temperature about 5-10 degrees Celsius).
A small selection of tricks for storing tools
We offer you several life hacks that will help you organize proper storage of home tools at minimal cost:
- Hardware can be stored in containers with screw-on lids so that they do not spill out if accidentally dropped. With this storage method, you will immediately see all the contents and will not have to search for a long time. The covers are screwed with self-tapping screws to the shelf from below.
- You can also make containers from plastic bottles if you cut a hole in the top and screw rings into the lid for hanging.
- Old cans can also be used to store small items by simply cutting off the top. Using the handle, you can carry objects from place to place.
- You can place magnetic strips on the walls, on which you can attach screwdrivers, bits, screwdrivers, scissors and other metal objects - everything is in sight and at hand
- Cuttings of ordinary polypropylene pipes can be used to store small tools - just cut pieces of pipe with a bevel in one direction at an angle of 45 degrees, self-tapping screws are attached to the beveled sections to fix the pipe sections on the wall
There are also other ways to place tools in a house or garage, but we told you about the most popular and convenient options that require a minimum of investment.
The attic is your personal balcony for everything else
Once you have taken care of your balcony, it will never be the same again. Ideal order, clear organization - all this pleases the eye, but a bunch of seasonal and “extra” (temporarily unnecessary) things make themselves felt. Where now to put the skis and sleds that are not needed in the summer, tool boxes or car tires that you kept on the balcony? Everything seasonal and temporarily unnecessary can be put into the Attic.
How we work: you determine how many things you want to put into storage, the manager suggests a suitable tariff, we come to your home and take the things to a warm warehouse. As soon as you need something, we will bring it back to your home! In the meantime, enjoy order and cleanliness.
Why is the Attic better than a balcony or loggia:
- things in the Attic are stored in the right conditions: here at any time of the year it’s about +18 degrees Celsius, so your things won’t know what winter is like;
- There is always a constant level of humidity in the warehouse;
- we clean and air several times a week - we are willing to bet that such cleanliness is impossible to maintain on the balcony, especially in winter;
- we will provide as much space as you need - no restrictions, everything will fit: from bicycles and tires to boxes of clothes and shoes;
- We are safe: the warehouse is equipped with a video surveillance system without blind spots and 24-hour security;
- we will not lose anything: each client’s belongings are stored on a separate pallet, securely packed and labeled;
- we have home delivery - that is, to hand over or return things, you just need to make a couple of clicks in the mobile application and that’s it! Movers will come home, pack your things, label them, take photographs and take them to the warehouse. You control storage through the application and can order the return of your property at any time.
What we are used to storing on the balcony and what can definitely be put in the Attic:
- bicycles;
- car tires separately;
- wheels assembled;
- skis;
- clothes;
- shoes;
- tool boxes;
- boxes of books or documents;
- Sports Equipment;
- containers with building materials remaining after repairs;
- children's toys or things for growth;
- country accessories;
- gardening tools and equipment;
- household appliances;
- furniture.
You can return several types of items and return any of them upon request. It is not necessary to hand over everything at once and return it in full - you can also then return things as needed. It is very convenient to store seasonal property in the Attic: for example, you give us summer tires and a bicycle in the fall, and we deliver them in the spring right at the beginning of the season.
Idea 3: Freestanding wardrobe
The cabinet can be fully or partially closed
When it comes to storage, the first thing that comes to mind is a closet. It is the most familiar and functional option, moreover, it can be placed on the balcony after the renovation is completed, even if the location of the piece of furniture was not initially planned. Or, if there was already, for example, a chest of drawers on the loggia, but you realized that it is not enough for all your needs, you can instead install a spacious closet up to the ceiling. Of course, a coupe would be a better option, since the limited space for maneuvers does not always allow for a swing seat. However, if the configuration of the balcony allows the doors to open (the protruding window sill does not interfere), you can opt for a hinged wardrobe. It is convenient to store bulky things that are not needed very often, for example, a vacuum cleaner, a mop with a bucket and other things necessary for cleaning.
Out of the balcony, out of the loggia
Why pick a catchphrase, let’s face it: things on the balcony are terrible. Terribly inconvenient, terribly ugly and certainly not modern. Remember that every time someone sees tires on your balcony, there is one sad Attic mover in the world. Don't turn your apartment into a warehouse. After all, somewhere there is already a special warehouse for your things, where all conditions are met and there is even a home delivery service - and this is a warm, clean Attic warehouse. Welcome to a new world where the balcony is a place of power for relaxation and meditation, and not a warehouse for car tires - we will gladly take care of its storage, call us!
Idea 6: Built-in wardrobe
Built-in wardrobe makes the most of the available space
Unlike a free-standing cabinet, which can be installed at any time, the presence of a built-in one should be considered at the renovation stage. The obvious advantage of this solution is that it will be possible to make maximum use of the entire area that is at your disposal. If the cabinet takes up all the necessary space, for example, from floor to ceiling, is equipped with a push-to-open opening system and does not have bright fittings, the piece of furniture will blend in with its surroundings and no one will notice it.
Idea 10: Additional counters and tables
It is convenient to store indoor flowers on the balcony
This option is suitable for you if you are a fan of indoor plants and no longer know where to place them. In this case, additional stands and tables for flowers will be a real salvation. In addition, this idea will help create a cozy atmosphere on the balcony - plants always bring a touch of warmth and romance to the interior, so don’t neglect them. You want even the most cluttered balcony to look nice?
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Idea 9: Open strap hangers
Original shelves with hanging belts
In recent years, open storage has been in great demand, as it does not clutter up space, which is very important in small apartments. If ordinary open shelves are no longer inspiring, place them on belt hangers that can be conveniently attached to the grid and can be easily repositioned if necessary. But do not forget that in this case the contents of the shelves must be beautiful and neat, after all, they will be on display for everyone to see. Of course, such storage will not be very spacious, but if you combine it, for example, with a built-in wardrobe, you will be able to place everything you need and at the same time create an original thing.
