Balcony ideas

A balcony looks good when it has one clear job, a floor that is not crowded, a little green and light, and some shade or privacy where you sit. Below are six balcony ideas shown before and after on real balcony photos, from a small open balcony to a glazed one, with what changed in each, what to check and what a picture cannot tell you.

HomeCompose editorsUpdated October 29, 2026

How do you make a balcony look good? Start with one job

A balcony is a small outdoor space that sticks out of the wall of a flat or house, or sits set into it, usually with a railing and little room to spare. Because it is small, it works best when you decide what it is for before you add anything: a coffee corner, a place to eat, a green screen, somewhere to read. If yours is a rooftop or a ground-level terrace, see terrace ideas instead.

Think upward. Use the wall and the railing for lights, planters and a shelf, and keep the floor free.
Keep a path. Leave a clear way from the door to the seat, so the balcony is not an obstacle course.
Fewer, calmer pieces. One floor look, one or two colours and a few pieces that fold, stack or tuck away.
Add green. A few plants soften the railing and the view of the next building.
Plan the evening. Warm, low light makes a small balcony feel like a room after dark.

6 balcony ideas, before and after

Each example starts from a real licensed photo of a balcony. All six were restyled in Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, a style and Structural Preservation, which keeps the walls, windows and floor plan and refreshes furniture, textiles, lighting and finishes. In the fifth photo the label on a small jar on the table was blurred before the restyle, so it shows as a soft smear in the before picture. The AI also redraws small details nearby, so compare each pair closely and treat every result as an idea.

1. A small open balcony: a rug, a plant and warm terracotta

The same balcony with a cane-backed chair, a plate on its seat, a potted plant, a woven rug and terracotta and cream floor tiles under warmer light — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Mediterranean style and Structural Preservation, the wooden armchair is redrawn as a cane-backed chair with carved arms and a woven seat, with a blue and white plate on the seat. A woven rug and a green plant in a terracotta pot appear. The yellow and cream floor tiles turn terracotta and cream, the concrete parapet and the piers look like warm limewashed plaster, and the light is warmer. The thin top rail, the shape of the piers, the tile pattern and the street view stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

Open concrete balcony with a patterned yellow and cream tile floor, one wooden armchair and a street with trees and apartment blocks beyond the parapet — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Mediterranean style and Structural Preservation, the wooden armchair is redrawn as a cane-backed chair with carved arms and a woven seat, with a blue and white plate on the seat. A woven rug and a green plant in a terracotta pot appear. The yellow and cream floor tiles turn terracotta and cream, the concrete parapet and the piers look like warm limewashed plaster, and the light is warmer. The thin top rail, the shape of the piers, the tile pattern and the street view stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

A small open balcony with a good view needs little: one chair, one plant and a floor that feels finished. The terracotta and plaster tones make the concrete feel sunlit, and the rug marks the sitting spot without crowding it. The chair is a new chair, not the old one made over, so judge your real chair on its own. Keep the railing and the view clear, because they are what this balcony has to offer.

2. A glazed balcony: pale boards, a bench and white walls

The same glazed balcony with white walls and ceiling, a light wood floor, a grey rug, a wooden bench with a cushion and throw, a round side table with a plant and a small shelf — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Scandinavian style and Structural Preservation, the grey-green walls and ceiling turn white, the dark floor becomes light wood boards with a white skirting, and the orange-brown ledge below the glass turns pale wood. A grey and cream rug, a wooden bench with a white cushion and a knitted throw, a small round white table with a plant and a mug, and a small wall shelf with a vase appear. The glass panes, ceiling light, door, light switch and view stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

Glazed balcony of a high-rise flat with frameless glass panes, grey-green walls and ceiling, a dark floor, a light switch by the door and a view over apartment blocks — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Scandinavian style and Structural Preservation, the grey-green walls and ceiling turn white, the dark floor becomes light wood boards with a white skirting, and the orange-brown ledge below the glass turns pale wood. A grey and cream rug, a wooden bench with a white cushion and a knitted throw, a small round white table with a plant and a mug, and a small wall shelf with a vase appear. The glass panes, ceiling light, door, light switch and view stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

A glazed balcony is a closed balcony: the glass stands between you and the weather, so soft things such as a rug, a cushion and a throw are less exposed. White walls, light wood and a pale ceiling tend to make a narrow space feel brighter, and the bench follows the low wall under the glass, so the floor stays open to walk on. This is still a balcony, not a sunroom; see the section on open and closed balconies below.

3. A narrow balcony: a dark rug, one chair and a storage bench

The same narrow balcony with a dark rug, a white chair and a small metal table at the railing and a low grey bench with a small plant against the wall — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Minimalistic style and Structural Preservation, a dark grey outdoor rug covers most of the concrete floor. A white moulded chair and a small round metal side table stand at the railing, and a low dark grey storage bench with a small potted plant stands against the wall by the French doors. The chair hides part of the courtyard tree. The horizontal-bar railing, the wall lamp (drawn paler), the doors, the building behind and the sky stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

Narrow open concrete balcony of an apartment building with a horizontal-bar metal railing, a wall lamp, French doors and a courtyard below — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Minimalistic style and Structural Preservation, a dark grey outdoor rug covers most of the concrete floor. A white moulded chair and a small round metal side table stand at the railing, and a low dark grey storage bench with a small potted plant stands against the wall by the French doors. The chair hides part of the courtyard tree. The horizontal-bar railing, the wall lamp (drawn paler), the doors, the building behind and the sky stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

On a narrow balcony everything goes along the edges. A dark rug, one chair at the railing and a low bench at the wall give you three things to use and leave the middle of the floor open; check that the way to the door stays clear on your own balcony. The bench can hold cushions or tools out of sight, and the plant on top is the only decoration. A light chair like this is easy to move when you want more room. The chair covers part of the tree in the picture, so on your own balcony check which part of the view a piece would block.

4. A small corner: cushions, a runner and string lights

The same corner with a macramé wall hanging, a cushioned patterned chair, a fringed table runner, a macramé plant holder, string lights on the railing and a round jute rug — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Bohemian style and Structural Preservation, a macramé wall hanging with wooden beads appears on the dark wall, and the folding chair is redrawn with arms and a patterned terracotta, cream and green cushion on seat and back. A fringed patterned runner covers the table top, the white plant pot gets a macramé cover, a string of warm lights runs along the wooden railing and a round jute rug lies on the floor. The light is a little warmer. The window, the dark cladding, the railing, the table frame and the trees stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

Small balcony corner of a house with dark vertical cladding, a window, a light wooden railing, a folding bistro table with a plant and a folding chair, with trees beyond — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Bohemian style and Structural Preservation, a macramé wall hanging with wooden beads appears on the dark wall, and the folding chair is redrawn with arms and a patterned terracotta, cream and green cushion on seat and back. A fringed patterned runner covers the table top, the white plant pot gets a macramé cover, a string of warm lights runs along the wooden railing and a round jute rug lies on the floor. The light is a little warmer. The window, the dark cladding, the railing, the table frame and the trees stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

On a small corner, textiles do the work. A cushion on the chair, a runner on the table, a wall hanging and a round rug add pattern with little floor space, and a string of lights on the railing carries the evening. Everything soft needs outdoor fabric, and anything on the wall or the railing should be something you can take down when you move.

5. A covered wooden balcony: a jute rug and pale wood

The same balcony with a large natural-fibre rug, a pale wood bistro table and chair with a cream cushion and a small white vase on the table — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Japandi style and Structural Preservation, a large jute-look rug covers most of the dark plank floor. The dark folding bistro table and chair are redrawn in pale wood, the chair with a cream cushion, and a small white vase with a dry stem stands on the table where the jar was. The light is a little softer. The balustrade, the carved frame and ceiling, the shutters, the courtyard and the buildings beyond stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

Covered balcony of an older house with a turned dark wooden balustrade, a carved frame, a dark plank floor and a dark folding bistro table and chair, with a courtyard and pastel apartment blocks beyond — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Japandi style and Structural Preservation, a large jute-look rug covers most of the dark plank floor. The dark folding bistro table and chair are redrawn in pale wood, the chair with a cream cushion, and a small white vase with a dry stem stands on the table where the jar was. The light is a little softer. The balustrade, the carved frame and ceiling, the shutters, the courtyard and the buildings beyond stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

An older wooden balcony already has character, so the changes stay quiet: pale furniture, a natural-fibre rug over the dark boards and a single vase with a dry stem. The rug turns the floor into a place to sit, and the light chair and table stand out against the dark balustrade. The picture redrew the furniture, so if you like the look, compare it with the table and chair you really have. A scheme this pale needs warm light to avoid feeling cool.

6. A long balcony with a sea view: whitewashed posts and a bench

The same balcony with whitewashed-looking posts, a long jute-look rug, a low white bench with a jute cushion, and a small shelf with a jug on the right wall — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Coastal style and Structural Preservation, the red-brown wooden posts and top rail become weathered whitewashed wood, a jute-look rug runs along the floor and a low white slipcovered bench with a jute cushion stands against the right wall. A small wooden shelf with a grey-blue jug and a hanging cloth is added on that wall, and the pale floor looks lighter and less blue. The iron railing pattern, the roof edge, the white wall with its window recess, the sea and the horizon stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

Long narrow open balcony with white walls, red-brown wooden posts, a black iron railing with a star pattern, a pale tile floor and the sea beyond — In Interior Design, with the room set to Balcony, the Coastal style and Structural Preservation, the red-brown wooden posts and top rail become weathered whitewashed wood, a jute-look rug runs along the floor and a low white slipcovered bench with a jute cushion stands against the right wall. A small wooden shelf with a grey-blue jug and a hanging cloth is added on that wall, and the pale floor looks lighter and less blue. The iron railing pattern, the roof edge, the white wall with its window recess, the sea and the horizon stay. Small details nearby are redrawn too.Redesigned with AI in HomeCompose

On a long balcony with a view, the aim is to keep the view clear. Pale posts, a rug that runs down the length and a low bench against the wall add comfort without blocking the railing, and the shelf takes wall space instead of floor. The rug also makes a clear path to the end. The bench sits near the far end, so on a real balcony check that there is still room to walk past it, and see how the sun and shade fall across the floor at the hours you sit out.

Balcony ideas at a glance

Look	What changes	Effect	Watch out for
Small open balcony	A chair, a plate, a plant, a rug, terracotta tones	A finished corner with warm colour	The picture redrew the chair and recoloured the tiles; test your own
Glazed balcony	White walls, light boards, a bench, a rug, a shelf	A bright, room-like space	Glass does not make it a sunroom; check glare and sun through the day
Narrow balcony	A dark rug, one chair, a low storage bench	Seating and storage on one side, a clear path	Pieces can block the view
Small corner	A cushion, a runner, a wall hanging, string lights	Pattern and evening light without floor space	Needs outdoor fabric; easy to overfill
Covered wooden balcony	Pale wood furniture, a jute-look rug, a vase	Calm and light against dark wood	A pale scheme needs warm light
Long balcony with a view	Pale posts, a long rug, a bench, a shelf	A clear path and a seat that keep the view	Leave room to walk past the bench

Small balcony ideas: think upward

On a small balcony the floor is the scarcest thing, so move the work up. A folding chair and table, a bench that holds storage, a shelf or hooks on the wall and plants on the railing leave the floor for walking and sitting. Choose pieces that fold, stack or can come indoors, and keep one patch of floor clear so you can pull the chair back. Examples 3 and 4 show this: a bench and a chair along one edge, and textiles instead of more furniture.

Narrow and long balcony ideas

Put the seating at one end and keep the other end open to the door, so a clear path runs the whole length. A rug that follows the long side makes the strip look planned, and a change of rug or floor can split a long balcony into two short zones. Keep what you add low and along one edge: pots at the railing or a bench at the wall, not both sides at once. Examples 3 and 6 show a narrow and a long balcony.

Open balcony or closed (glazed) balcony?

An open balcony is open to weather and view, so it suits furniture and textiles made for outdoor use and plants that like fresh air. A closed or glazed balcony has panes between you and the weather, so it can work like an extra corner of the room: a bench, a shelf, a small desk or a storage corner. Example 2 shows one.

A glazed balcony is not a sunroom. It is the same balcony with glass in front of it, while a sunroom is a room-like space of its own. For bigger spaces that are closed in, see sunroom ideas. This page covers how to furnish a balcony that is already glazed, not how to glaze one.

How do you plant a balcony? Plants and vertical greenery

Start with the light, not the plant. Watch where the sun falls at the times you sit out, then ask a local garden centre which plants cope with that sun, the wind and your climate. Plants look best at different heights: a few pots on the floor, some on a shelf or stand and some along the railing or wall, so the green rises instead of spreading across the floor. A row of tall pots or a wall of hanging planters can also work as a green screen. Examples 1, 2 and 3 add a plant; a real one may start smaller than the one in the picture.

Apartment and renter-friendly balcony ideas: sun, shade and privacy

If you rent, keep to what you can lift out and take with you: pots, a rug, a folding table and chairs, free-standing or clip-on lights, a movable screen of plants or slats and a parasol. Look at where the sun falls at the time you sit out, not only at noon. A parasol or a screen of tall pots gives shade and blocks the view from the next balcony without closing you in, and you can move it and test it before you change anything else. Pergola ideas shows what a shaded roof can look like on a bigger outdoor space.

Balcony floor ideas

The floor sets the mood, and a rug is the easiest way to try a new one. Every example adds a rug to change how the floor looks, and in examples 1 and 2 the picture also redrew the floor surface itself, as terracotta-toned tiles and as light boards, so read those as looks to sample. Wood-look boards feel warm, stone or ceramic looks feel calm and a pale floor reflects light. In Floor Restyle you can try a new material on the floor of your photo. Look at real samples outside, in daylight and when wet.

Balcony lighting ideas

Light is what makes a balcony usable after dark. Use several low, warm sources instead of one bright one: a string of lights along the railing, a lantern or small lamp on the table and a wall light by the door. Keep them out of eye level at seat height and choose lights made for outdoor use. Example 4 adds a string of lights along the railing.

A seating and dining corner

Choose by how you use the balcony. For a coffee and a book, one chair with a small side table, or a bench with a cushion, is enough. To eat out, a small table with folding chairs that tuck in works, and a round table leaves more room to walk than a square one. Put the seat where you get the view and the table near the door, so plates do not travel far. Examples 4 and 5 show a bistro table with a chair.

A larger balcony in two zones

A wider balcony can take two corners: a dining or work corner near the door and a lounge corner at the far end, with a rug or a planter between them. Give each corner one job and turn the lounge toward the view. Furniture floating in the middle of the floor looks lost, so anchor each corner with a rug or a wall.

How do you decorate a balcony on a budget?

Paint first. A pot, a chair or a wall you may paint changes more than new furniture. Paint lets you try a wall colour on a photo first.
Plants in pots. Start with a few and add along the railing as you see what does well.
Soft things. A rug, cushions and a throw warm up a bare floor and seat.
Reuse and rearrange. A crate, a stool or a chair you already own can become a table or a plant stand.
One change at a time. Look at the balcony after each one and buy the next thing only if it is still missing.

Balcony styles: Mediterranean, Bohemian, modern, minimalist and Scandinavian

Mediterranean: terracotta, warm plaster tones, a cane or iron chair and plants in pots, as in example 1.
Bohemian: layered textiles, macramé, a round rug and string lights, as in example 4.
Modern: few materials, straight lines and a neutral palette with one dark accent, such as a dark rug or a dark bench.
Minimalist (the app's style is called Minimalistic): very few pieces, a clear floor and one plant, as in example 3.
Scandinavian: pale wood, white, a soft rug and cosy textiles, as in example 2.
Japandi and Coastal are quieter variants: pale wood and jute in example 5, whitewashed wood and soft blue-grey in example 6.

Balcony or terrace?

A balcony sticks out of, or is set into, the wall of a flat or house, usually with a railing and little room. A terrace is bigger and sits on a roof, on a lower roof or at ground level, so it can take a dining corner, a lounge corner and larger plants. For that kind of space see terrace ideas; for a raised wooden platform see deck ideas; for a garden at ground level see small backyard garden ideas and backyard design ideas.

What can you put on a balcony?

A folding or stackable chair, or a bench that holds storage.
A small round or folding table for a drink or a meal.
An outdoor rug.
Plants in pots at different heights, and on the railing.
Warm lights: a string of lights or a lantern.
A parasol or a screen for shade and privacy.
Hooks or a shelf on the wall, for things you can take down.

Choose for what you do there: a reader needs a chair and a lamp, a family that eats out needs a table.

What to check, and common balcony mistakes

Too much furniture. A few pieces that fold or stack look calmer and leave room to walk.
Blocking the door or the path. Keep a clear way from the door to the seat.
Plants chosen for the picture, not the light. Check sun and shade through the day.
One bright light. Several low, warm lights are kinder.
Indoor textiles outside. Choose rugs and cushions made for outdoor use.
Loose things that can blow away. On a high or windy balcony, check that anything light stays put.
Hiding the view. A screen or a big piece can block the best thing the balcony has.
Forgetting the view from inside. You see the balcony through the door every day, so style it for that view too.

What the pictures can and cannot tell you

The pictures show a look on one photo. Interior Design restyles surfaces, furniture, plants, colour, lighting and decor; it does not plan or engineer a balcony. In these examples the AI redrew the chair (1 and 4), recoloured the floor tiles (1), changed the walls, ceiling, floor and ledge of the glazed balcony (2), redrew the table and chair in pale wood (5) and drew the lamp paler (3). Use a result to compare furniture, plants and colours. Sample materials and plants on the real balcony, check the sun through the day and ask a professional about anything structural.

How to test a balcony look before you commit

Try the look on a photo first, then bring real samples to the balcony: a rug, a cushion fabric, a pot and a plant. Look at them in morning and evening light, in sun and in shade, from the door and from the seat. If the look still works, change one thing at a time.

Try a balcony idea on your own photo

Take the photo from the door or from one end, level with the railing, in even daylight, with the floor, the railing and the walls in view. Move loose clutter first, or remove it with Cleanup.

In Interior Design, choose Balcony, a style such as Mediterranean, Scandinavian, Minimalistic, Bohemian, Japandi or Coastal, and Structural Preservation to keep the walls, windows and floor plan. Try a few styles on the same photo and compare them with the real balcony. That is the simplest way to design a balcony with AI before you buy anything.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a balcony look good?

Give it one job, keep the floor clear, use the wall and the railing, and add a few plants and warm, low light. Keep to one or two colours. A rug and a plant do more than many small objects, so try the look on a photo first.

What can I put on a small balcony?

A folding or stackable chair, a small table or a bench with storage, an outdoor rug, a few plants at different heights and a string of lights. Use the wall and the railing for shelves, hooks and planters you can take down, and keep the floor free to walk on.

How can I decorate a balcony on a budget?

Change one thing at a time: a rug, cushions, a few plants in pots and a string of lights. Reuse a chair, crate or stool you already own, and try each idea on a photo first so you only keep what you like.

What can I do about sun and privacy on a balcony?

Look at where the sun falls at the time you sit out, then try a parasol, a screen of slats or a row of tall planters. They give shade and block the view from neighbours, and on a rented balcony you can move or take them away.

Is it free to try?

Yes. You can start on the free plan, and it includes a limited number of designs.