Fundamentals of Balcony Design
There is no doubt that Australian’s love their outdoors but what do you do if your apartment complex doesn’t offer a communal outdoor space or terrace? Living in an apartment should never be a barrier to having a garden and when the sky’s the limit, so to speak, you have the opportunity to send your imagination soring, with a myriad of opportunities and concepts.
As with all landscape endeavors, it is important to start with some key design considerations and this generally starts with a decision of whether it will be a DIY project or a reach for the phone to call in the professionals. As with most projects, your budget will be a contributing factor also.
Don’t be surprised and discouraged when encountering restraints such as structural elements which may affect your outdoor space. Professional engineering advice will guide you on safe weight limits which is important, especially if you are wanting heavy sculptural or planting elements. Consider your living situation. You may be renting and so will require a more portable garden setting rather than a permanent option for those owning their apartments.
Working with what you have
The next item to tick off and it’s a pretty important one, is how do you intend to utilize your space? Will the area be used for relaxation, outdoor eating, entertainment or all of the above? If you decide the foundation for your design will be based around entertainment, but you are concerned about seating space, consider the option for a built-in seating plan which could also incorporate storage facilities for those all-important cushions and hideaway items. Take time to sit down and really think about what it is that you wish to achieve with your outdoor space and always make sure that your wants and needs are being catered for.
Borrowing views and vistas
If you are lucky enough to have a view from your castle in the sky, then take the opportunity to utilize such aspects by placing seating in advantage points or framing a particular view through planting arrangements. Such opportunities should not be missed as they will encourage visitors and yourself to be drawn out onto your balcony to appreciate such beautifully framed vistas. On the other hand, if your view is not a desirable one, there are always screening options in the form of vertical gardens and the like to assist with such design aspects.
Outdoor cooking
Outdoor cooking facilities are a must for some and there is no shortage of compact barbeques designed specifically for balconies and the like. Be mindful and consider your other design intents for your space when purchasing your BBQ setting; the last thing you need is an oversized BBQ which detracts from all the work you have done in styling the other areas of your balcony.
The flow on effect
Bring the indoors outside by choosing flooring that will ensure a visual flow from inside to out. For example, you may have timber floors inside, so consideration for a timber decking on your balcony is a viable option. Another option might be pavers if you have tiled flooring inside; creating a seamless surface effect. Building restrictions might prevent you from putting paving down, however there are a myriad of non-permanent paving options on the market that are easy to install.
Plant palette
When every centimeter of your outdoor space is precious, it is important to have a restrained palette of plants. Some of the key aspects to keep in mind are:
Simplicity
Don’t over-do it! As much as you would love to include all your favourite plant varieties, stick to what works best because trust me when I say, you will never be able to include them all.
Style & Theme
Plants are packed with personality, so choose one or a few of what fits and run with it. It is important to bring unity to your design through style and theme and the best way to achieve this is through your plant selection.
Harmony through Repetition and Rhythm
Repetition brings to any garden design a sense of oneness and rhythm. It provides sense to your garden and there are many methods of achieving this through such elements as shapes and colour.
Layering
Layering is a crucial element to any garden design and it applies for both large and small areas. Plants are always layered in sequence of height and in small gardens this allows for good use of space while also allowing neighbouring plants to blend with those around them.
Your ideal balcony
There are many design trends out in the market at the moment however the objective of a great balcony garden design is based on creating an outdoor space that allows an extension of your apartments interior; creating a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Through careful planning, you can achieve a balcony garden that features aspects of a larger garden, just on a more intimate scale.
