In city apartments, unfortunately, quite often you have to deal with a lack of space. I really want to create a personal space where I can work quietly or sit with a book. This is all the more necessary because more and more people are switching to remote work or taking work home. And what if there are not enough free rooms? A way out can be found if you use a balcony or loggia.
Necessary preparatory work
To make this place more functional, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work . To turn a balcony into a full-fledged room that can be used in winter, you must:
- Remove everything unnecessary; if you previously used the balcony as a storage area for unnecessary things, find another place for them or simply throw them away.
- Install double-glazed windows: they are sealed and will protect from noise, dust and cold.
- The walls of the balcony also need to be insulated, carefully sealing all the cracks, if any. For insulation, use a material that has low thermal conductivity, that is, a high ability to retain heat, high vapor permeability, hygiene, durability and environmental friendliness. The most popular material that meets all these requirements is polystyrene foam. In addition, it is easy to install and inexpensive. It has a long service life, but, unfortunately, is flammable. For safety reasons, it is better not to save money, but to use other, more expensive options. In this article, we will not dwell on the best way to insulate a balcony; we now have a different task.
- Conduct electricity - in addition to natural light, there must also be artificial light. This is only possible when there are no sudden temperature changes on the balcony and condensation does not form, which can become a source of short circuit. Installation of electrical wiring depends on the type of lighting: it will be spot, wall or general. In any case, do not create a labyrinth of wires; make sure that they do not get under your feet.
- Place heating radiators or install a heated floor system. This task requires coordination with special services.
All this, of course, is associated with high costs, but if you do this, then from the technical area you will get a full-fledged living space. Now you can start arranging it.
Nuances of workplace equipment
A place to work is a relative concept. For one, this is a comfortable computer desk with a chair on casters, for another, a small table with a comfortable soft chair, for a third, a workbench, near which you need to work while standing rather than sitting. Each of them has its own characteristics and distinctive features. The rest of the environment in the room also depends on the purpose of the workplace.
Cabinet for office work
An office is called both the place of work of an adult who solves important problems and earns money through household work, and the corner of a schoolchild, where he has to write, read and type a lot.
So that nothing interferes with the work or creative process, it is necessary to create an appropriate atmosphere, which is characterized by such features as:
- neutral, calm colors in the decoration of walls and furniture;
- local full lighting in the table area;
- comfortable chair or armchair;
- ergonomics - everything should be at hand;
- silence.
The last point is ensured by double/triple glazing and a closed door to the room.
A home-like study corner
If you are setting up a place where you will have to write a lot or use a computer, you need a comfortable table. A modern workplace for a schoolchild on the balcony requires, in addition to a PC or laptop, additional equipment: a copy machine, printer, scanner or MFP, which combines the listed devices.
Compact mini-office on the balcony with a set of office equipment and an aquarium
At the same time, materials that are not quite usual for an office may be involved in the decoration of the walls. For example, to create an industrial-style environment, you can decorate the walls to look like concrete or brick.
Unexpected balcony loft
Girls are not characterized by overly strict canons in creating an interior, so a more lively palette in the design, the use of indoor flowers to decorate the work area, and a lot of decor on the walls, shelves and walls are quite appropriate.
Office project for a flower lover
Adults, as a rule, do not like to clutter the room with unnecessary objects in order to achieve a truly business-like atmosphere. Nothing should interfere with accounting calculations or the creation of a new engineering project.
If your goal is a home mini-office, read more about how to furnish and decorate an office on the balcony in a separate publication.
Handicraft workshop
Having a separate corner for home handicrafts is the dream of many women who, in their free time from their main work, like to knit, sew, embroider or engage in other types of arts and crafts. The small area of standard city apartments does not always make it possible to allocate not only a room, but even a small cozy area for needlewomen. Many people “move” to the kitchen or bedroom, but there is also usually a shortage of space there.
Air conditioning in the workshop will help avoid drafts
The balcony is a great way out. Using the additional space, you can make a real workshop, with a work table and cabinets, which will include hundreds of spools of thread, skeins of yarn, needle cases, blanks for decoupage and scrapbooking, paints and pencils, sets of beads and sequins.
Original and functional design of the table with a glass lid: the contents of the drawers are visible
Applied home art can hardly be called work, it is more of a hobby, so there should not be any strictness in the design of the needlewoman’s workplace on the balcony. The main thing is that the craftswoman feels comfortable, and this means a comfortable chair, a table of the right size, and a well-thought-out storage system. Boxes with numerous consumables can be installed under the table or on shelves, or mounted on the walls. Shelves, cabinets and mezzanines will come in handy.
Beginning artist's workshop
If creativity does not involve the use of a large number of materials and tools, then the wall can be reserved for storing the results of labor.
Home utility room
If a home craftsman lives in the apartment, then you can safely present the balcony to him as a workshop. There is plenty of space for working with wood or metal, soldering or assembling electronic gadgets. Thanks to a separate workshop, the younger generation will learn from childhood to draw up electrical circuits, carve boats from wood and sharpen knives.
A real man's place to work
As a basis for a workbench or just a desktop, you can use old furniture - the same kitchen or desk. It can be upgraded by adding a cabinet with drawers, shelves or tool racks.
Economical option for arranging a workplace
Small tools and consumables can be placed in drawers or boxes, large ones can be placed on the countertop. If there is not enough space on a small table in the corner, then you can fix a long narrow tabletop along the glass wall and use it for cutting parts or installing machines.
There was also room for a sharpening machine
In order not to rummage through drawers for a long time in search of wire cutters or a screwdriver, part of the free wall is allocated for storing the tools that are needed most often. A panel with hooks or pockets is quite suitable as a compact but very convenient storage system.
Wall Tool Organizer
Men, like women, love order and comfort. If you take furniture arrangement seriously, find suitable options for storing tools, correctly route electrical cables and install sockets, you will get a comfortable workshop.
Cozy place for wood carving
As you can see, finding a corner for creativity, work or study in a city apartment is not so difficult. Numerous photos with the design of workplaces on the balcony will help you decide on the choice of style and design nuances.
What are the advantages of a balcony?
The work area on the balcony has a number of advantages:
- There is a lot of natural light, as the balcony windows are larger and wider.
- There is much more air in it, and it is much easier to ventilate this area.
- The office on the balcony is a fairly isolated room that will allow you to completely abstract yourself from others and concentrate on work.
- This will free up space in the apartment for other purposes.
If you have thought through the heat and sound insulation on the balcony well, you are not bothered by the limited space, and you are ready to spend money on major repairs, then feel free to start equipping the work area.
Where to put the computer
In some cases, a window sill serves as an excellent replacement for a computer desk. It doesn't take up extra space. A computer can easily fit on it.
And the most important thing is that its height allows you to place an office chair next to it.
The work surface can be a balcony window sill.
If it is not possible to implement such an idea, and the work requires a large presence of folders and papers, then you can purchase a narrow computer desk with many shelves.
Such a small-sized office desk will fit perfectly into the interior!
A small-sized office desk will fit perfectly into the interior of a balcony
It is very rare to find square loggias in shape. Most often, balconies are elongated. But even in a small room, shelves are simply necessary. There are a large number of creative ideas and options on how to build shelves on the balcony.
Shelves in the interior of the balcony
Shelves can be either wooden or plastic. You just need to show a little imagination and imagination.
Child's office
If the main occupant of the office is a child, then be sure to take into account age. The environment in this area should “grow” with the child. For younger schoolchildren, bright colors and images of favorite characters are suitable. The atmosphere may even be a little frivolous. Focus on the child's tastes and preferences. Classes in his office should give him pleasure. But for fruitful work, adopt a minimalist design with its laconicism and simplicity. An older student needs a different interior and different decor. These can be elements of a loft or modern style.
Choose furniture in accordance with the chosen style - whether it will be brutal made of solid wood or elegant with thin legs. It all depends on the preferences of the owner.
Examples of ready-made design solutions
Designers offer many options for creating a beautiful, cozy room. Great idea for decorating a balcony as a bar. The walls are made in brown-coffee tones, light tiles on the floor, a wide window sill as a table and black bar stools. A cozy corner for relaxation is presented in the decoration of the loggia wall with coral-colored stone, decorated with flower pots, and a sofa with pink pillows on the floor. The windows have matching blinds.
The open balcony is decorated with wood in red-brown tones - ceiling, floor, long bench. The white tiled side walls are decorated with paintings. The second option is wrought iron railings and furniture in dark colors. The walls on the balcony are covered with lilac-blue wallpaper, the floor is tiled in a rich gray shade, the small sofa has blue upholstery and pink striped pillows. The surface of the walls on the loggia is decorated with natural stone, there are forged shelves on it, and on the side there is an antique lantern. A small round table with a tablecloth, a rocking chair, indoor plants, and colored curtains complete the decor.
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Beauty salon on the balcony
There is a lot of natural light on the balcony, and this circumstance can be used by equipping a kind of beauty salon there. Place a dressing table, a dressing table, a comfortable chair, drawers for cosmetics and beauty accessories - scissors, a hair dryer, curling irons, curlers and other things - and get yourself in order. An abundance of natural light will help create flawless makeup. The overall tone of the room is soft and light. You can put a small computer on your dressing table to keep up to date with all the new products in the world of beauty.
The design of the balcony should match the overall style of your apartment, then it will be a harmonious continuation of it. Of course, limited square meters do not allow for expansion. It doesn’t matter if the style of your apartment is minimalism or Provence; they allow you to effectively organize space even in a small area. In other cases, you can combine the balcony with the living room, bedroom or any other room. This will give you the necessary space and allow you not to limit yourself in choosing style solutions.
Types of models
Special attention should be paid to creating the interior of the office. For these purposes, ready-made or built-in furniture is used.
The first type does not require additional installation work. If necessary, it can be moved or even taken outside the balcony. However, when choosing, you should take into account the dimensions of the model so as not to overload the space.
The built-in option is the optimal solution for a small room. Its feature: the absence of side and rear walls. Their role is played by the walls. Typically, such models are made to order, taking into account the geometry of the room and the user’s wishes. Unfortunately, once installed, the product cannot be moved.
A common condition for all types of structures is rounded corners. This shape will reduce the risk of injury in confined spaces.
Color palette in the interior of a balcony and loggia
The color palette directly depends on the chosen style:
- the oriental style is characterized by bright, rich shades of red, burgundy, and blue;
- Japanese motifs can be seen in red, beige and brown;
- Provence is distinguished by pastel colors and light walls with floral patterns;
- loft is characterized by light gray and black tones;
- For eco-style, natural colors and materials are suitable: green, beige, straw.
Using light colors you can visually enlarge a cramped space. Vertical stripes will “stretch” the loggia, horizontal stripes will “expand” it.
When choosing a color palette, the location of the balcony relative to the cardinal directions is decisive.
