Outdoor harmony
Balconies, terraces and gardens can be true oases of well-being. At least when they are designed accordingly.
Outdoor spaces are like indoor spaces: the more carefully they are planned and the more lovingly they are designed, the more comfortable you feel there. “The question of how much space you have available is not decisive for this. You can conjure up true oases even from small balconies and terraces,” says Beata Gombos of Livinggarden. The most important thing in turning previously stepmotherly treated and thus hardly used outdoor areas into harmonious-looking, inviting balconies, terraces and gardens is structure, he says. “Before you do that, though, you have to define the functions,” Gombos explains.
Well planned it can be enjoyed better
Should there be room for a dining table, a barbecue or even an outdoor kitchen on the balcony and terrace? Do you also need to accommodate an area for chilling out? And should plants, from herb pots to columnar fruit, provide atmosphere? Is a privacy screen or sunshade needed? “If there are small children in the house, you could possibly include an area in the garden for them to play,” Gombos advises.
Speaking of the garden, it makes sense to determine in advance whether it should follow a theme or color scheme, for example, and/or be low-maintenance. The compass direction should be included in the considerations. Last but not least, it is advisable to consider at what time of day the outdoor living room is most likely to be used and how it should be shaded, he said. Awnings and awnings have the advantage that they are installed at height, leaving the floor space free.
Avoid mistakes
Of course, the terrace and balcony can also be themed to become as attractive and cozy as possible. Those who dream of splashing around in their own pool should also include it in their considerations, even if the cool water won’t become a reality for a few years. “Especially with the garden, it pays to work out a precise concept in advance. Because the biggest mistake is to lay it out without much thought and then always plant something in addition. That ruins the proportions,” says Gombos.
Once all this has been clarified, the next step is then to make the room layout. Plants, walls, fence and privacy elements, but also furniture are well suited to visually separate the individual zones. “It can also be harmonious to design individual spaces in the garden at different heights and connect them with steps,” the landscape architect knows.
Size matters
In the case of furniture, she strongly advises to adjust its size to that of the terrace. “Small furniture seems to disappear on large patios and balconies. Too large furniture, in turn, makes it impossible to move around,” says Gombos, who advises reaching for furniture with integrated storage space and/or foldable furniture for small balconies and terraces. Lastly, it is important to create targeted eye-catchers with decorative elements. This can be individual plants as well as colorful pots, vases, fountains, statues and the like. And something else must not be missing: Atmospheric lighting to put the open space in the right light in the evening.
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