When an apartment has a balcony or loggia, many try to use the square meters to their advantage. According to the law, they cannot be connected to a living room - there is only an option for a loggia with the installation of a sliding French partition. But still the room remains isolated. This option is also missing for the balcony. Of course, it would be ideal to arrange a recreation area there, removing all unnecessary things. But this is not always possible. We found examples and show you exactly what can be stored on a balcony or loggia.
"The Hanging Gardens"
Indoor flowers, which are often placed on an insulated balcony for the winter, should also find their permanent place. Small pots of flowers can be placed on special stands that are attached to the walls of the balcony, window frames or railings. And for hanging pots with hanging crops, you can use hooks attached to the ceiling.
Bench with a surprise
An option for those who are ready to combine storage with relaxation. You can sit on the surface, and inside the bench will store various items. Take a closer look at the wooden models - you can put a soft pillow on top. A chair with a drawer is a great idea for those who don’t know where to put things.
Most often there are models with one storage container, but there can be 2, or 3, or even 4. To make a chair with a surprise, metal, wood, plywood, chipboard are used - there are no restrictions, it all depends on your wallet and taste.
Article on the topic: Design and decoration of walls on the balcony: possible options and non-standard solutions
Low cabinet (nightstand, chest of drawers)
For balconies with solid side walls, this option is, of course, preferable to the previous one. It is hardly advisable to cover a window with tall furniture.
But low cabinets are also installed where the walls are blank. Because visually such furniture looks lighter - for a small balcony or loggia this is important. In addition, cabinets and chests of drawers open up opportunities for “decorative” creativity. You can decorate both the top of the furniture and the wall above it. This makes the mini-veranda more comfortable and elegant.
We install open shelving up to the ceiling
If you don’t want to clutter up the balcony space with massive cabinets, then you can replace them with a more elegant option. A tall rack can hold a lot of useful things without looking too bulky.
To keep things from getting dusty and dirty, use beautiful boxes, wicker baskets or colorful containers to store small items. If after all your tricks the warehouse attribute looks rather dull, try covering it with a nice curtain.
Hidden place for ironing board
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Now we are not talking about simply taking the board to the balcony and forgetting it there (this is what we do without good advice). It turns out that you can set up an ironing room without cluttering the space. How? For example, install a built-in utility cabinet with a compartment for a mobile ironing board. You can also hide an additional socket for an iron in it. It takes a minute to get the board out. And the same amount to remove and disguise it with a special role-door.
Where to look for similar cabinets:
sliding with mirror Unique Furniture, hinged SberMegaMarket
How is a storage room made on a loggia?
The amount of work performed when arranging a storage room or dressing room on a loggia is not so large. But each stage must be performed as carefully as possible. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- It is required to install double-glazed windows, preferring multi-chamber models;
- Level walls and floors;
- Isolate joints and any cracks from water, provide fire hatches;
- Insulate floors, ceilings and walls;
- Finish the outside of the pantry.
If you plan to place large and heavy objects or interior elements inside, you must necessarily calculate all the loads on the floors. A pantry being built sometimes requires additional reinforcement for safety of use. Usually, when arranging a loggia, such problems rarely arise.
When insulating a loggia or balcony, wiring heating systems is considered the best option. A heated floor, an oil-based heating system from an electric power source, and batteries placed outside can also be installed. If a heating system is being installed, the project must be approved by the architectural committee and similar authorities. The management company can advise the authorities; a photo of the balcony can be previously shown to a specialist from the housing inspection for consultation.
Selection of materials for arrangement
The materials used must be carefully selected before starting work. The requirements for them are few: they must retain heat and be resistant to sun and water, fire and pests. You should prefer non-staining color shades.
Experts consider lining, natural wood or its analogue - panels under timber - to be the best option. Natural stone or brick, as well as plastic panels, have proven themselves well. In cases where the loggia is small, the finishing is chosen to be modest so as not to reduce the usable area of the storage room.
What type of steam room is suitable for an apartment?
Apartment owners can visit public baths or set up a steam room at home. There are 10 types of steam rooms that you can convert a bathroom into, but only 4 types of baths are considered popular:
- Infrared saunas. The best option for installation in apartments. They can be seen in sports complexes. They are closed cabins that look like showers. There is a generator installed inside that produces infrared waves that are safe for the body. They are more effective than direct thermal radiation and hot steam.
- Cabins with electric stoves. The structures are similar to shower stalls. An electric heater and bench are installed inside for convenience. To install such units, you need to obtain permission to re-equip the bathroom. Only after this can you begin installing the booth.
- Hammam. It can be installed in large apartments of two-story buildings that have a separate exit to the street. It is important that the room has high ceilings (more than 2.5 meters). A steam generator is used to set up an apartment hammam. Additionally, you need to install a heated floor system to keep the heat inside longer.
- Mini saunas. Compact barrels that can be installed in apartments and private houses. Suitable for installation inside small bathrooms. Modern models of mini-saunas are equipped with a remote control system and precise temperature control.
If you bought a cabin with an electric stove, but you don’t want to refurbish the bathroom and get permission to install it, you can use this trick. To install it, you need to use flexible hoses rather than pipes.
Room design
In most apartments, the balcony is the only place for drying clothes. To properly arrange this area, you need to use folding, retractable or roller structures. They can be hidden behind doors or curtains. Some drying systems can be placed at window sill level. To save space, instead of swing doors you need to make sliding ones.
Decorate the room
Cute interior accessories that do not fit into the interior of the apartment can be placed on the balcony. The area here is not too large, so you should not use a huge amount of decorative decorations. To begin with, you can decorate the walls with original photo frames, make an original shelf with posters, figurines and decorative candles. If there is a bench on the balcony, you can complement it with original bright pillows.
To save space, clothes, shoes, household appliances and other items should be stored in an upright position. It is also recommended to use furniture with open or closed shelves on all sides. Shoes and clothes can be stored on the balcony if this space is well heated in winter.
Photo sources:
- https://www.decorist.com/design-questions/9746/storage-idea-for-a-small-balcony/
- https://www.decoist.com/small-balcony-ideas/?adblock=1&chrome=1
- https://www.hetbalkonbankje.nl/en/product/balcony-lounge-set-s/
- https://flowergardengirl.co.uk/2015/11/05/bespoke-hardwood-storage-unit-balcony-roof-terrace-ipe-hardwood-deck-islington-battersea-clapham-fulham-chelsea-london/
Tools
- Bench hammer;
- Carpenter's miter box;
- Electronic jigsaw and (or) electric circular saw;
- Screwdriver or set of screwdrivers;
- Electric drill and (or hammer drill);
- Wood hacksaw;
- Hatchet;
- Planer (maybe);
- Sandpaper;
- Metric tape measure;
- Ruler and pencil;
- Construction level.
- Bars and slats made of wood (preferably polished);
- Plywood and (or) oriented strand board (OSB);
- Boards (maybe);
- Self-tapping screws of various sizes and plastic dowels;
- Accessories (handles, awnings);
- Paint, stain, varnish.
Wardrobe for loggia and balcony
How is a storage room made on a loggia?
The amount of work performed when arranging a storage room or dressing room on a loggia is not so large. But each stage must be performed as carefully as possible. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- It is required to install double-glazed windows, preferring multi-chamber models;
- Level walls and floors;
- Isolate joints and any cracks from water, provide fire hatches;
- Insulate floors, ceilings and walls;
- Finish the outside of the pantry.
If you plan to place large and heavy objects or interior elements inside, you must necessarily calculate all the loads on the floors. A pantry being built sometimes requires additional reinforcement for safety of use. Usually, when arranging a loggia, such problems rarely arise.
When insulating a loggia or balcony, wiring heating systems is considered the best option. A heated floor, an oil-based heating system from an electric power source, and batteries placed outside can also be installed. If a heating system is being installed, the project must be approved by the architectural committee and similar authorities. The management company can advise the authorities; a photo of the balcony can be previously shown to a specialist from the housing inspection for consultation.
Selection of materials for arrangement
The materials used must be carefully selected before starting work. The requirements for them are few: they must retain heat and be resistant to sun and water, fire and pests. You should prefer non-staining color shades.
Experts consider lining, natural wood or its analogue - panels under timber - to be the best option. Natural stone or brick, as well as plastic panels, have proven themselves well. In cases where the loggia is small, the finishing is chosen to be modest so as not to reduce the usable area of the storage room.
More shelves
If you have a small area, then you need to abandon the cabinets. Large cabinets not only absorb useful space, but over time turn the balcony into a regular warehouse.
In addition, shelves will look good on it, both from the point of view of functionality and from the point of view of design and interior.
Shelves can be made compact so that they do not take up much space. The remaining space will be needed to bring your ideas to life. Shelf designs can be varied and original. They can be made from various materials that look beautiful and are easy to clean.
If the shelves are used for decoration, all kinds of exotic plants and flowers are placed on them. They are made light, in bright colors.
If the shelves will be used for storing certain things, then they should be designed for this. Withstand the weight of stored items.
We use old furniture
If you keep old bedside tables on your balcony, or even better, a spacious chest of drawers, then don’t rush to throw them away. You can store anything in the depths of these interior items. The main thing is that such furniture always has shelves or drawers. Moreover, their contents will be reliably protected from dust and dirt.
In addition, old furniture can be used as a stand for pots with indoor flowers or containers with tomato seedlings.
Compact table
Considering the small size of modern balconies, it is desirable to use folding, dismountable furniture. One example is a small folding table made from wooden slats. This table is mounted on the window rail; when in use, it tilts back and you can use it for its intended purpose. After lunch or when performing any work, so that it does not interfere, it is lowered to the wall.
