In our country, the problem of old housing stock, morally obsolete, remains relevant. The so-called Khrushchev buildings alone account for 10% of Russia's housing stock. And in subsequent eras, a mansion was not built for the citizens of the country. The construction of new houses on the site of Khrushchev buildings is not proceeding at the pace announced by the authorities. The reasons for this are serious and largely objective, but small kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and balconies remain an everyday reality for many families.
Let's talk about what you can do with a small balcony. Of course, it’s nice to live in a modern, spacious apartment with a huge loggia. Or even with two. But is everything so tragic if the balcony is small? While you don’t have anything else, put your hands to it and turn the “ugly duckling”
if not a beautiful swan, then something cozy and comfortable. In the end, it is not the one who has a lot of money who is rich, but the one who has enough of it!
Features and advantages of a small balcony
A small living space and a compact balcony, of course, cause their owners a lot of trouble, which is associated with the arrangement of the apartment and the lack of free space. The so-called “Khrushchev” and the standard panel house P-44 gained particular fame. The location of the rooms in these properties often forces the owners to undertake a complete redevelopment of the home.
But even a small balcony and loggia have their advantages:
- Glazing a small balcony will cost much less. If you don’t want to save money, you can opt for huge windows that will open up a magnificent panoramic view. For a large balcony, such a project will cost a colossal amount of money, and additional heating of the area will require serious expenses in the winter.
- Compact balconies are practical in terms of maintaining cleanliness.
- Insulating and arranging a small loggia is a relatively inexpensive pleasure, because modern renovation of a small space will require less building materials.
- It is much easier to design in a small room than in a large area. Buying a small amount of decor will also not be expensive.
Choosing finishing materials
For the balcony it is better to choose light colors
The main components of design, as you know, are color and texture. Even before the remodeling, decide what materials you will use and in what color scheme they should be presented. There are a few simple rules here.
The design should not differ much from the overall design of the apartment. According to tradition, on Khrushchev’s balconies he uses light, but quite saturated colors during decoration. They perfectly conduct light into adjacent rooms. In addition, light shades visually expand small spaces. Give preference to light green, white, lilac, light pink, amber and beige shades. The use of gray tones is also possible.
One of the most popular finishing materials today is eurolining. The small area of the balcony decorated with it will look like the veranda of a house in the village.
More profitable in material terms is plastic. The color range of this material is wide, which will allow you to bring any ideas and ideas to life. The “plus” of plastic is its resistance to moisture and temperature changes.
The balconies of Khrushchev-era apartment buildings, finished with plasterboard, look good. With its help, you can quickly and efficiently level walls, ceilings, and create multi-level structures.
Where to start arranging a modern balcony
If the balcony is not yet glazed, you should first think about solving this particular issue. A closed balcony significantly reduces heat loss throughout the entire apartment, reduces the amount of street dust in the house and forever solves the problem of cleaning up natural precipitation.
If the glazing has already been done, start putting things in order and getting rid of old or unnecessary things that so often find a place in this part of the apartment.
Check the condition of the balcony slab. Pay attention to the ceiling, because your neighbors’ balcony slab may also require strengthening.
If there is no lighting or sockets in the loggia, take care of the wiring issue before starting finishing work. Electrification of the balcony is necessary: even if you do not plan to equip this room as a personal office, sockets can be useful both for operating the heater and for recharging the phone.
After all the preparatory work, you can begin the interior design project for a small balcony and draw up a preliminary estimate. You can do the finishing work yourself or invite professional builders.
Basic Rules
The balcony of 2022 must obey certain rules:
- Maximum use of light shades;
- Careful planning of the quantity and location of furniture;
- Functionality of all things.
An excellent option for illuminating a new room and creating coziness in the adjacent room would be panoramic glazing, and you can use curtains to block the prying eyes of neighbors from the house opposite.
An important point in insulating and glazing a balcony
High-quality windows and proper installation are the key to warmth not only in the loggia, but throughout the entire apartment. It is better to entrust glazing, as well as the development of its project, to specialists who can select the required profile and provide all the information about the types of suitable double-glazed windows. Those who gravitate toward natural materials can install wooden frames.
Installing heated floors is a great way to save on heating your balcony. Modern electric floor insulation systems use less energy than conventional heaters, and are equipped with thermostats to regulate temperature and timers that allow the heating to automatically turn on only when needed. Thanks to the small area, installing heated floors on the balcony will not be too expensive.
Don't forget about insulating the ceilings. The most budget option is mineral wool, which will also improve the sound insulation of the room. The voids between the slab and the sheathing can become a breeding ground for fungus and mold, so do not skimp on the amount of insulation.
Selection of materials
To expand the functional space of the apartment, you must first insulate the balcony. For these purposes, various types of thermal insulation materials are used.
As an additional measure, a “warm” floor is installed. Particular attention is paid to the decoration of the room.
For interior wall decoration use:
- Wooden lining;
- Plastic lining;
- Cork;
- Siding;
- PVC panels;
- Block house.
Covering the room with clapboard will be the final stage of surface treatment. In this case, you can use your imagination only when choosing a color.
Cladding with plasterboard will allow you to subsequently wallpaper the walls to your liking.
Cork finishing is the most expensive and environmentally friendly.
On brick balconies, sometimes the walls are left in their original form. Modern room design often offers this idea as an original solution. The brick is processed in a special way: leveled, primed and painted. Such a brick wall will become a decorative element in itself. In this case, the texture of the brick can be made perfectly smooth, rough, or a harmonious combination of different types of textures and colors. A photo gallery in metal frames or a series of abstract paintings will look great on a rough surface.
Please note: Combining a balcony with a room: an ideal solution for a small apartment
The following materials are used to finish the floor:
- Laminate;
- Linoleum;
- Carpet;
- Parquet;
- Ceramics.
Carpet and linoleum are used for balcony structures that do not allow for heavy weighting. Laminate looks richer, but the cost is one step higher than other materials. For the ceiling, it is best to choose lightweight materials with a decorative function. The practice of using suspended ceilings is widespread.
Important! Don't forget about the exterior decoration. It will not only make your balcony beautiful from the street side, but will also additionally insulate it. The best option for these purposes are corrugated sheets.
Stylistic directions appropriate for balconies
The most popular and sought-after interior styles for balconies remain loft, Provence and its country variety.
Provençal motifs will appeal to romantics and vintage fans. Light translucent curtains with a floral print, wooden furniture with a patina effect, ceramic flower pots with a pattern in the French country style will easily convey the spirit of playful and relaxed Provence.
The loft will appeal to those who do not like excesses in the interior and do not plan to allocate a large amount of money to decorate the balcony. To recreate the loft atmosphere, just choose two dominant shades. It is necessary to paint the walls in these colors, choose curtains and flooring to match. The loft is in the details: stylized lamps, a couple of funny paintings, a long-pile carpet and compact furniture from pallets that you can make yourself will help completely complete the design of a small balcony.
Country is simply created for those who cannot imagine an interior without wood products. You can implement a design idea with the help of furniture and finishing materials. Wooden boards and linings are perfect for this purpose.
Creating a greenhouse
A spacious, bright loggia is ideal for creating a greenhouse, but you can also equip a fairly small balcony for it.
For flower lovers, we turn the renovated balcony into a charming greenhouse.
For this you will need
- Wide window sill. Discuss its installation with the company involved in glazing your balcony.
- Blinds on the windows. They will allow you to regulate the level of light and protect the flowers from direct sunlight.
- Shelves on the walls. You can put pots, cache-pots and souvenirs on them.
- Finishing with natural stone effect. Due to the light weight of plastic, it can be used for the design of all balcony walls.
Blinds will protect your pets from direct sunlight.
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Color palette for a small loggia
Small rooms are hostage to light colors. When developing your future interior design, pay attention to the pastel palette and noble gray color. To diversify the decoration, add bright accents in the form of paintings, original shelves, large plants in large flowerpots.
An interesting solution would be to paint the wall using a stencil or a special wall sticker. Such a pattern can become the center of a composition and diversify a plain surface, adding a “zest” to it.
You can also emphasize the interior design with the help of lighting. LED strips with several color modes will create both a romantic and festive atmosphere.
The contrast of light and dark is another win-win color palette for a small loggia. And the presence of horizontal lines makes it possible to visually increase the space of a narrow balcony without much effort and expense.
Style
Provence is a light style of the French countryside. It is characterized by the use of natural materials, floral patterns and light colors. The presence of an abundance of indoor flowers and cute trinkets made of glass and porcelain is a must.
Art Nouveau is characterized by soft colors and curved shapes. He does not recognize strict geometric lines. Although the rooms are decorated in pastel colors, emphasis is artificially placed on individual elements of bright colors. Paintings and photographs on the walls, a small number of vases, lamps and souvenirs enliven the atmosphere. Stained glass windows will emphasize the sophistication of the interior of a balcony in an apartment in the Art Nouveau style.
Minimalism recognizes only the presence of functional interior details. It is characterized by simplicity and conciseness. The style is based on only two basic colors, which are played with shades in large interior details. Minimalism requires open spaces and plenty of natural light.
High-tech is considered a modern style close to minimalism. It recognizes only strict geometric shapes. The colors used are shades of black, white, and gray. It is possible to add red, blue or purple as a backlight. High-tech prefers an abundance of chrome, metal surfaces and glass. The emphasis is on artificial lighting, which diffuses and visually enlarges the space.
Interesting design of balcony rooms
The originality of modern home design largely depends on the decor and furniture. One non-trivial item can set the style direction and become the basis of the interior concept.
Unusual furniture is the first thing you should pay attention to. An ottoman with a frame made of pallets, bean bags, hanging cocoon chairs and even a swing - all these interior items will find a place even on the smallest balcony of up to three square meters.
Floor lamps and lamps are another way to usefully diversify the decoration of your balcony. You can make many sconces yourself from scrap materials. For example, chandeliers made from wine bottles are especially popular.
Original shelves make it possible not only to store all the necessary things at hand, but also to organically complement the interior of the loggia. The wooden frame frame for hanging flower pots looks very interesting, in which hanging ornamental plants, for example, chlorophytum, look very aesthetically pleasing.
Lighting
Properly installed lighting can become the saving grace for a small balcony room. With the help of light you can visually expand the space. There are no restrictions on the choice of lighting fixtures. These can be light bulbs, chandeliers, lamps, sconces, LEDs, floor lamps and entire lighting systems. They can be placed on walls, ceilings and even on the floor.
In order not to spoil the aesthetic appearance of the room with electrical wires, you should take care of their installation at the finishing stage. Then the electrical wiring will be of a hidden type, which will avoid peeping wires. Exposed wiring is masked with decorative elements and special panels. The main advantage of open wiring is its accessibility during repair work, which cannot be said about hidden wiring.
When installing lighting fixtures, you need to pay attention to the direction of the light. Direct light from top to bottom greatly weighs down and reduces the space. Light from bottom to top, which is artificially scattered in the reflective surface of the stretch ceiling, photos and mirrors on the walls, expands the space. For dark rooms, it is better to use diffused light from powerful lamps with a large number of additional small bulbs. The play of shadows and light directly affects the human eye’s perception of the width, length and “depth” of space.
Furniture for small spaces
The choice of furniture for a compact balcony depends solely on the planned purpose of the room:
- when arranging a loggia as a work office, you cannot do without a desk or computer desk;
- those who like to read in the fresh air should get a small bookshelf or newspaper rack;
- soft armchairs, a small table or a narrow bar counter are indispensable for meals and relaxing with friends;
- for needlewomen it is necessary to provide a built-in organizer for creative materials;
- if the balcony will be a storage area, you need to choose a convenient closet
A narrow balcony causes a lot of inconvenience when finding furniture of the required size. If the desired piece of furniture has completely non-standard dimensions, you should contact a company that produces custom-made furniture according to the dimensions specified by the client.
How to “cover” the floor?
Naturally, when making repairs on a balcony, you need to take care of the floor covering, because leaving the floor in its original form - with a concrete base - is not at all aesthetically pleasing. Modern floor coverings will help to create an unusual, cozy design for a small room.
Ceramic tiles hold heat well
Using wood, carpet, ceramic tiles or laminate you can create real comfort. If you are looking for a budget option, take a closer look at linoleum. It is inexpensive, easy to operate, and also retains heat for a long time.
As for tiles, the choice today is really wide - different sizes, colors, textures, various designs. The floor, covered with ceramic tiles with ethnic patterns, gives special exclusivity.
Loggia design options
You can arrange a balcony not only within a certain style, for example, oriental or high-tech. A loggia can become more than just another beautiful room: the functionality of the interior allows you to turn even a limited area of the apartment into a full-fledged area for a specific purpose.
Rest zone
A small balcony can easily turn into a real relaxation area. A soft, comfortable ottoman, which you can make with your own hands, will be the optimal solution for limited space.
If the width of the balcony allows, instead of an ottoman, you can place a folding chair on the balcony. In the warm season it can be used as an additional sleeping place.
You can also install a hammock on the balcony, where you can relax after a hard day at work. The hammock is attractive because of its ease of installation: if desired, it can be removed at any time and the space can be used for another purpose.
When arranging a balcony as a relaxation area, lighting plays a special role. Opt for lamps and floor lamps that allow you to adjust the brightness of the light. Thanks to this option, any member of the household will be able to create a peaceful atmosphere.
Study
Decorating a work office on the balcony is the optimal solution for those who work at home. Arrange the loggia depending on the type of activity. But no mini-office can do without a computer or desk. A small table of non-standard sizes can be ordered from a private furniture studio.
Proper lighting is especially important in occupational hygiene. The undeniable advantage of a balcony is the abundance of natural light. But don’t forget about an additional table lamp, which will be a real salvation in cloudy, gloomy weather.
When thinking about the design of a balcony-office, do not forget about shelves and compact hanging modules. In hollow niches it is convenient to store office supplies, reference books necessary for work, and documents that should always be at hand. Under one of the windows you can add a narrow bar counter or folding table, where you can have a snack during a break.
Storage area
You can unload your apartment by freeing it from things that are rarely used using a balcony. A built-in cabinet with shelves or a niche will help hide tools, small household appliances and boxes from prying eyes.
In the loggia you can provide a separate cabinet for household chemicals or building materials, in which you can store washing powders, detergents for various surfaces, flower fertilizers, varnishes, paints, etc. Inhalation of particles of cleaning powders and fumes of finishing materials can negatively affect health and cause allergies. Placing household chemicals on a constantly ventilated balcony will protect homeowners and prevent the development of diseases.
The balcony will also help to partially free up space in the kitchen. You can move part of your food supplies, groceries, canned goods, vegetables and fruits to the loggia.
Greenhouse on a closed balcony
An open balcony can be used exclusively for growing seasonal light-loving plants. And the glazed room can be turned into a real winter garden. The presence of heated floors will help to grow flowers in an improvised greenhouse even when a duet of blizzards and severe frost is raging outside the window.
The choice of plants that can be placed on the balcony is quite large. Moreover, it is here, in the coolness, that flowers that are difficult to grow in an apartment during the heating season will feel great. For example, luxurious azalea bushes do not tolerate hot air and very quickly shed both leaves and flowers. The loggia with its relatively low temperature will become a real paradise for this capricious plant.
Orchids will also feel great on the balcony. To form a peduncle, these plants need a difference in day and night temperatures, which is easy to achieve in a closed balcony.
In winter, flowers may need additional lighting. Therefore, it is appropriate to place economical phytolamps that will provide plants with light of a certain spectrum, which stimulates flowering and full vegetation.
Cozy place to drink coffee
A small balcony of an old brick house is an ideal place for a morning cup of coffee or a romantic dinner with your loved one. To arrange a place for dining, choose a compact set of furniture, for example, made of rattan.
You can also have a cup of tea on a miniature wooden bench. For comfort, place soft pillows on it that will help complement the interior of the balcony.
A folding table will also be the optimal solution in conditions of limited space. The presence of an additional window sill around the perimeter of the balcony can serve as an impromptu bar counter. Also suitable for breakfast are folding tables, which take up virtually no space when folded.
Volumetric bean bags are a great alternative to sofas. They will appeal to those who like to smoke hookah in the close company of close friends.
Improving storage systems
It is worth choosing storage systems depending on the type of balcony. Add charisma to the interior of a closed balcony with the help of artificially aged wooden shelves located at the ends.
When decorating an open balcony, focus on openwork metal structures.
Make full use of the height of the balcony. This way you will save space, and the cabinets will not have to be increased in depth. To get things from the upper tiers, use an ottoman. It is much more mobile and functional than a stepladder. A ladder is rarely needed, a pouf is needed every day.
The first enemy of a small balcony is bulky cabinets. Let's abandon them and free up interior space.
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