Owners of apartments with a balcony or loggia, as a rule, consider themselves very lucky. After all, they received additional space, which they can dispose of at their own discretion. Of course, for some this is just a place to store unnecessary things, but many are still more attracted by the opportunity to create a cozy place to relax or a full-fledged room here.
If you decide to build your own home, you need to think about the need for a balcony and its shape at the design stage. This is due to the fact that, in accordance with the concept of modern architecture, it is necessary to ensure that the shape of the balconies fully matches the structure and even complement the intended image of the house with them.
Types and types of balconies
A balcony or loggia is an additional space in the apartment, which can be used as a storage area for unnecessary things and a smoking room, or it can be turned into an additional room in the house, functional and cozy.
Often, a balcony and a loggia mean any structure outside the house, but there are significant differences between them: a balcony is an external structure protruding beyond the facade and open on two or three sides, and a loggia is an open structure located inside a building , the walls of which are its side walls. In most cases, the loggia is open only on one side.
Both balconies and loggias are divided into conventional types:
1. Open . Such a balcony or loggia has a transparent or solid parapet and is cold. Open balconies make excellent mini-patios in a Mediterranean style.
2. Closed . A balcony with glazing and a continuous parapet can be insulated or even combined with the adjacent room into one whole.
2. Panoramic . Floor-to-ceiling glazing of a balcony is indispensable if the apartment has a beautiful view or when creating a winter garden.
3. Bay window, complex shape . Some standard and many modern loggias have a complex shape, which can be successfully combined with built-in furniture and turn the inconvenience into undoubted advantages.
4. French . This variety is not a balcony as such, but is more reminiscent of a panoramic window with a small platform or no platform at all. A characteristic feature of French balconies is wrought-iron patterned railings and hanging flower pots.
Redevelopment
Combining a balcony with a kitchen or room requires permission from the BTI. If the changes are approved, a new technical passport is issued for modern repairs of balconies.
The moment of approval of redevelopment cannot be ignored; serious problems with fines may arise.
The living room should only be connected to a carefully insulated balcony. So that in winter the room does not lose heat due to poorly prepared walls. If heat is lost, more financial investments will be required for heating.
When connecting two zones, you can completely remove the walls, or just the door and windows. Complete dismantling of walls is not bad for small apartments. In the second option, the saved partition can be converted into a bar counter in the kitchen.
Balconies in Stalinist, Khrushchev and P44/P44T type houses
Stalin's balconies
Balconies in Stalin buildings come in different sizes and shapes, but they are united by the very respectable age of the houses. Despite all the thoroughness with which construction was approached at that time, the Stalinist buildings are from 70 to 90 years old, and the base slabs of these balconies are dilapidated. Therefore, before starting any work on the balcony, you need to make sure it is safe.
Another, more harmless feature of balconies in such houses is stucco or decorative parapet gratings, which have historical value. In this case, making any changes to the appearance of the facade may be prohibited and the repair of such a balcony turns into a real restoration.
Khrushchev balconies
Khrushchev houses are younger buildings, and the use of reinforcing mesh in balcony slabs makes their construction more reliable and durable. Thanks to this, many owners slightly expand the area of the balcony, making some kind of extensions beyond it. This is facilitated by the fact that expanding the balcony up to half a meter in each direction does not require obtaining permits.
Loggias type P44/P44T
Some of the most interesting in a typical building are boots, boats and scarves in houses of the P44 and P44T series.
Loggias owe such funny names to their unusual shape, which can lead to confusion when planning a room.
Loggias of this type in most cases have a solid concrete parapet, so the most obvious solution is to insulate the loggia and combine it with the living room.
What is a loggia
A loggia is a room built into a building or attached to it, having walls on three sides (or two in a corner location) to the full height of the floor and a fence on the open side [1].
The word comes from the Italian loggia and translates as “gazebo” or “covered gallery.” Loggias have become widespread in the architecture of southern countries. They can be found in houses in Italy, Spain, Greece dating back to the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. Initially, loggias were built on the ground floor along the facade with columns or decorative arches.
The main purpose of loggias is outdoor recreation. They served for walks and as a place where you could wait out the summer heat in the shade or hide from the rain and wind. Nowadays, loggias (like balconies) are most often used for storing things.
In the mass housing development of the Soviet era, loggias have appeared since the second half of the 20th century. They can be found in the construction of panel, monolithic and brick houses of almost all series.
The apartment can have up to three loggias with access from the room or, for example, the kitchen. Most often loggias are rectangular. Their area, in theory, can be of any size, since the length is limited by the size of the room to which the loggia adjoins.
Balcony layout
In addition to the most obvious options for using a balcony as an office, winter garden and storage room, there are many interesting and useful ways to refurbish and plan a balcony or loggia:
- A place to relax . A couple of armchairs or a small sofa, shelves with your favorite books and a cozy lamp on the coffee table - and the balcony turns from a warehouse of unnecessary things into a favorite place to relax.
- Children's playroom . A soft and warm floor, several soft ottomans and a playhouse will turn the loggia into a lifesaver for parents.
- Sauna . Modern infrared saunas are compact enough to fit even on a small balcony.
- Gym . A multifunctional exercise machine, good soundproofing of the floor and several dumbbells can be purchased with the money saved on a gym membership.
- Dog, cat or bird room . Owners of our little brothers can pamper their pets with a separate room, insulated and equipped to suit their needs.
Before planning the future baklon, it is worth considering that there are a number of prohibitions and restrictions when carrying out repair work.
Absolutely forbidden:
- Install central heating radiators on the balcony;
- Change or hide escape passages and fire escapes;
- Affect load-bearing walls;
- Change ventilation systems;
- Change the appearance of the balcony if the house has historical value;
- Redesign balconies and loggias located above the 9th floor.
Combining a balcony and a living room is in most cases permitted after receiving documents from the relevant authorities.
Interior styles on balconies
The area of a loggia or balcony is small, and to create a harmonious interior you have to use the minimum of expressive means that fits in it. In this case, there can be no talk of any stucco molding or multi-arm chandeliers.
However, there are several styles that are ideal for decorating such a space:
- Scandinavian . Light colors, wood, compact furniture and colored accents - the Scandinavian balcony is spacious, bright and incredibly cozy.
- Modern . Built-in wardrobes, bright upholstered furniture, walls with an unusual print, fresco or photo illusion, convenience and functionality are the hallmarks of the style.
- Loft . The rich texture of brick and wood, an abundance of metal and unusual lamps - loft loggias as a study, home bar or just a place to relax are invariably spectacular.
- Provence . A real country corner in the center of the metropolis is a loggia in the Provence style: delicate floral prints, plants in wrought-iron stands, aged furniture and many little things on carved shelves.
Which color should I choose?
When choosing a color scheme, it should be taken into account that white, gray, beige and any other light colors contribute to the visual increase in area.
The photo shows a glazed balcony room, designed in light colors.
A balcony facing the sunny side can be decorated in a cool blue or purple palette, and the design of a loggia located on the shady side can be diluted with bright yellow, orange or other colorful shades.
The photo shows the design of the recreation area, made in a beige color palette.
Balcony finishing materials
Even when implementing an already drawn up design project for the interior of a loggia, you need to choose materials, guided primarily by the safety and practicality of the future decoration.
An insulated but not heated balcony is subject to seasonal temperature changes and humidity fluctuations, so all materials used in finishing must be resistant to such influences.
If natural wood is used, it must be painted, varnished, varnished or treated with special means to prevent further rotting, fading or deformation.
Instead of wallpaper, it is advisable to use decorative plaster, paint or various types of panels, because even a durable fiberglass-based canvas can peel off over time and become unusable due to changes in hot/cold conditions.
When finishing the floor, you should avoid slippery tiles or porcelain stoneware for safety reasons. During the off-season, moisture can condense on cold surfaces and turn a beautiful glossy floor into a dangerous trap for the owner.
Balcony furniture
Furniture for a balcony of any size and configuration should be chosen based on two main criteria: compactness and functionality. If the balcony is very small, then it would be appropriate to use folding furniture, and a spacious loggia will allow you to place a stylish and comfortable wicker rattan set.
Hanging chairs “cocoons” look very interesting on the balcony, which, moreover, are incredibly comfortable. For open balconies and loggias, it is better to choose models made from artificial wicker, and in a warm, glazed room you can use natural materials - bamboo, rattan or reed.
If the balcony has a purely utilitarian purpose - for storing things, then it is worth ordering built-in cabinets and shelves made to the customer’s size. This technique will save space and rid the interior of unnecessary cracks and gaps between the wall and the cabinet.
Elegant wrought iron furniture and flower stands will help turn your balcony into a corner of a real garden.
Functional arrangement
Mini bedrooms are increasingly being built from warm loggias and these are balconies in a modern style. It is enough to install a small bed or just a mattress.
Decorate the window with blinds and complete the picture with cushions. Such a personal corner will be appreciated by a teenager who wants personal space in a small apartment.
To organize your office, place a comfortable chair with a table and a shelving unit. It is worth remembering about high-quality lighting in the dark. This will require installation work to conduct electricity.
Place a convenient cabinet, organize storage for toys, lay down carpet and you will have a wonderful play area for children.
You should not forget about window safety. And if the space allows, then everything can be supplemented with a swing, and in the summer even with a swimming pool.
Open your own mini gym. All you need is a training device, a horizontal bar and a punching bag. Complete the look by installing acoustics.
If the path to the balcony goes through the bedroom, then organizing a dressing room would be a great idea. Furniture should consist of moisture-resistant material that is resistant to sunlight; modern balcony decoration takes this into account paramountly. Place a mirror and, if space allows, install a dressing table.
Curtains for the balcony
Of course, hanging bulky curtains on a tiny balcony will not work, but there are many types of compact and elegant solutions that you can resort to.
1. Roman blinds . When folded, this type of curtain forms very decorative folds that will fit perfectly into both minimalistic and classic interiors.
2. Roller blinds . Neat and compact roller blinds fit very tightly to the glazing and are able to repel up to 100% of daylight, depending on the type of fabric.
3. Roller blinds day-night . An interesting option with strips of fabric of varying degrees of transparency, by moving them relative to each other you can select the appropriate level of illumination.
4. Japanese screens . Screen curtains are fairly rigid fabric panels that are ideal for a minimalist loft interior. However, it can only be used on loggias with sliding glazing.
5. Pleated curtains . Curtains made of thick fabric folded like an accordion can become a very bright and stylish interior detail.
6. Blinds . Metal, wood or plastic - the choice of modern blinds is huge. There are models with patterns, metallic shine and unusual textures, made from natural or artificial materials, literally for every taste and budget. Due to their ease of use and variety of types, blinds remain the most popular option for darkening balconies and loggias.
Office on the balcony
Due to the small area, a mini-office for work or study is often set up on a warm balcony. When designing such a room, the key points are insulation, lighting and furniture of the future workplace.
1. Insulation . A study in its essence is the same living room, and the level of comfort in it should not be lower than in the rest of the apartment. In this case, it is better to carry out insulation with a small margin and pay special attention to sealing all kinds of cracks and crevices in the walls to eliminate the possibility of drafts. The best method of heating a balcony-office is an electric or water heated floor, since a simple heater may not be enough for comfort when sitting in one place for a long time.
2. Lighting . Incorrectly selected lighting contributes to rapid eye fatigue and, over time, harms human health. It is with choosing a suitable place for your desk that you need to start renovating your balcony-office. Natural light should fall on the table from the side and not create glare on the surface of the monitor, and artificial lighting will have to be combined - in addition to the general overhead light, provide individual lamps on the side or above the workplace, the light from which will fall parallel to the line of the pupils, without falling on the monitor or into the eyes a person sitting at a table.
3. Furniture . Choosing furniture for a compact workplace is not an easy task, because it is not possible to place your favorite “director’s” chair or a standard table on it. It is best to order a workspace from a furniture workshop, where it will be adjusted not only to the size of the loggia, but also to the convenience of the customer, taking into account his height, weight, and so on. And instead of a bulky chair, purchase a lightweight and anatomical modern model.
How to make a brick imitation?
If there is uncertainty about how much weight a balcony can support, the best solution is to decorate the balcony with decorative bricks: laying clinker tiles, facing tiles, brick-look wallpaper or PVC panels. Tiles can be smooth or rough, like brick, but they are used only inside a glazed balcony.
Tiles "Bricks"
Install the material in a row, inserting plastic crosses between the tiles. Afterwards, immediately remove the glue that comes to the surface during installation, since frozen glue is difficult to remove, and smeared glue can be easily wiped off with a damp cloth. After a day, when the material sticks well, you need to remove all the plastic crosses and clean the seams in order to fill them with grout later.
Soft tiles
Installation is carried out using PVA construction adhesive, which is applied to the walls. Then the material is attached monolithically. You need to know its structure: the base is plasterboard, the softness regulator is foam rubber and decorative material in the form of leather, suede or textiles. If the tile is damaged, all the decorative brick on the balcony does not need to be demolished, since the damaged part can be removed easily and quickly - you just need to lay a new one in its place.
Garden and vegetable garden on the balcony
If you decide to use the balcony for landscaping, it is necessary to prepare the most important conditions for plants: light, heat and humidity.
1. Light . When creating a winter garden, it is best to use maximum opportunities for natural light - panoramic glazing instead of blind parapets and, in the case of a balcony on the top floor, a transparent glass roof. But in winter, ordinary daylight will not be enough for most plants, so you will also have to worry about installing special ultraviolet lamps in the greenhouse to compensate for the sun's rays for the greenery.
2. Warmth . Some types of exotic plants require a level of heat that will be higher than in the rest of the apartment, so you will have to approach the insulation of the winter garden with all responsibility and create a kind of “thermos” on the balcony.
3. Humidity . Leaves evaporate moisture around the clock and a greenhouse balcony can easily turn into a stuffy greenhouse if additional ventilation of the room is not provided. But excessive dry air will be detrimental to many species, so to control the balance you need to install a humidifier that will automatically maintain the required level of moisture in the room.
Balcony insulation
Let's talk in more detail about creating heat in a room.
1. Elimination of cracks . Before starting the main work, you need to take care of sealing all, even the smallest cracks and crevices. By simply covering the cracks with insulation, the owner risks encountering constant drafts, ingress of street moisture and damage to building materials.
2. Glazing . When choosing glazing for a balcony or loggia, you need to remember not only insulation, but also the level of illumination and ventilation. If there is an excess of sunlight, it is worth ordering tinted window glass, sash fittings with different ventilation modes and choosing a double-glazed window with the number of glasses that will ensure optimal temperature throughout the year.
3. Insulation of the ceiling and walls . The most common mistake when insulating a balcony is incorrectly calculated dew point. Using insulation indoors without a ventilation gap can result in wet walls, cold and mold instead of warmth and comfort.
4. Floor insulation . Since central heating radiators are prohibited from being installed on the balcony, the best option for heating the loggia is a “warm floor” system. It is laid on a cake made of insulation, insulation and lathing and allows you to go out barefoot even in the most severe frost to admire the view and breathe fresh air.
Ways to open the doors
Now the most common options are:
- Tilt and turn opening. The fitting mechanism is reliable, resistant to burglary, ensures a tight connection of the sashes to the frame, there is the possibility of micro-ventilation, installation of additional protection against child access, a microlift and other useful functions.
- Rotary. The sash opens by rotating in a horizontal plane around its left or right axis.
- Folding. The sash opens by turning in a vertical plane around the lower axis.
- Hanging. Similar to folding ones, but the hinges are at the bottom.
- Sliding vertical sashes. They are equipped with English-type wooden windows and aluminum structures. Just like the horizontal version, they are mainly used for cold balconies.
- Sliding horizontal sashes. More often observed in aluminum structures. The only advantage is saving space on the balcony; the window sill can be used for flowers and other household needs. Does not provide a tight connection sufficient for the normal implementation of warm glazing. In winter, ice may form in the guides, which makes opening difficult.
