Balcony decks offer excellent views, the ability to store items safely underneath them, and a great way to transition from your home to your backyard. That is, if you actually do more with them than leave the builder’s-grade timber in place.
If you’re ready to upgrade your backyard and finally get more use out of your outdoor space, you’ve come to the right place. This guide covers what design elements you’ll need to build the ultimate patio deck space for your home:
Consider Expanding Your Balcony Deck
One thing you’ll notice with any builder’s-grade floating deck is that it’s, quite frankly, small. It often offers a bare minimum amount of space, and acts more as a stairwell down to your backyard than as a functioning living space.
The good news is you can always upgrade. You can even reuse the timber or even the base of your existing patio to expand for less.
While there are tutorials available for the handy people out there, this is one area you will want to ensure is structurally sound. Not only can investing in professional builders and contractors ensure that your deck is sturdy and able to weather all types of, well, weather, it’s also how you can upgrade your space with luxury improvements.
You can skip the standard wood railings, for example, and opt for a luxury deck railing installation instead. This way, you can choose a railing that meets building code requirements while also adding beautiful details that match the aesthetic of your home.
Repaint Your Deck
Regardless of whether you expand it or not, one thing you should absolutely consider is repainting or re-staining your deck to match your home’s exterior. If you have white siding outside your home, choose a white railing or repaint it to match. If the deck stain is old, redo it. A new coat of paint or a new layer of stain, or even just using linseed oil, can do wonders when it comes to refreshing your deck and making it look like a natural part of your home.
Add Balcony Flowers
You have railings, so use them. Add flower pots that hang over the railing (or even sit on the railings themselves) to add greenery right to your space. There are even options that have a water trough in the bottom, allowing you to top up your balcony plants and minimize watering.
Vertical plants, which hang off a hook or even lattice, are another great way to add greenery to your patio. Finish it all up with, of course, a few potted plants that sit in the corners of your balcony.
All three options help blend your deck with your landscaping beyond, giving the eye a natural transition from your interior to your garden spaces.
Make Use of the Underside of Your Deck
Unless you have a floating deck with just a foot or so of space, the underside of your balcony is the perfect place for storage. You can create a BBQ space underneath, for example, and protect yourself, your equipment, and your food from the rain during inclement weather. You could also add hooks underneath to hang outdoor equipment, or even build a shed underneath, allowing you to store essentials safely without taking up any additional space in your backyard.
These top tips will help you design a deck that beautifully blends with your home’s design, while also letting you get more out of the space.
