5 best ideas for decorating an open balcony

While a glazed balcony is a top wish for many urban dwellers, not all balconies can be glazed due to architectural or technical reasons. Despite its openness, an unglazed balcony can still bring a lot of joy during the summer. Here are five of the best ideas for successfully decorating an open balcony.

1. Hide the concrete floor

An open balcony often has a concrete floor, which can feel cold underfoot, especially when wet. The balcony becomes much more comfortable when you cover the floor with a warm-feeling material, like beautiful wooden decking tiles.

You can also soften the look of an open balcony with thin rag rugs. If possible, these should be spread over wooden decking tiles, as rugs wet from rain dry slowly when directly on concrete.

If the rugs are very thin, make sure they don't blow away in the wind.

2. Invest in Weather-Resistant Furniture

The furniture on an open balcony should be weather- and sun-resistant. Suitable materials include weather-resistant wood, rattan furniture, polyrattan, aluminium, or steel. Opt for furniture without solid surfaces, as they dry faster.

It’s worth investing in furniture that is comfortable to sit on without cushions. However, if you want to bring a homely feel to your open balcony with textiles and cushions, try a tablecloth made of oilcloth or other water-repellent fabric.

3. A parasol for protection and fun

A parasol provides protection from both scorching sun and rain on an unglazed balcony. An adjustable pole and tilting function help direct the shade as desired, and a freestanding parasol doesn’t even require installation.

A parasol also adds a cosy look to the balcony. A frilly-edged parasol gives a retro vibe, while a red-striped parasol evokes thoughts of Italian holidays. Bellissima!

4. Colourful joy and good mood with plants

Hanging baskets, perennials, bulbous plants, climbers – many beautifully blooming varieties thrive on an open balcony.

Choose plants for your dream balcony garden primarily based on your balcony's light conditions. On an open balcony, remember that wind blowing freely increases the need for watering. In case of rain, it's good for the pots to have a hole or two at the bottom to let excess water drain away.

When watering plants, keep the downstairs residents in mind and ensure water doesn’t spill over to their side.

By choosing climbing plants and guiding them to grow along a trellis or even decorative ladders, you can also create some privacy for the balcony.

Remember, in SATO RentHomes, you cannot attach anything to the balcony structures, and the decoration must stay within the balcony railings. If you don’t live in a SATOhome, check this with your landlord.

5. Atmosphere with Candles

On cool spring and autumn evenings, candles bring a warm atmosphere to the open balcony.

Ensure they are in a sheltered holder, and never leave a candle unattended. Keep a fire blanket within reach. Safe LED candles also offer a quite natural candlelight effect and are worth trying.

Maintaining Your Open Balcony

• Move the furniture to storage for the winter if possible. If storage space is limited, a protective cover is a good alternative.
• Treat wooden decking tiles with oil or a protective agent every 1-2 years to keep them looking good for longer.
• Empty plant pots in the autumn. Disposing of soil in the compost bin in autumn prevents having to move cracked pots in freezing weather. It also makes it nicer to start the balcony season in spring when the autumn cleaning is done.

And one more tip for the open balcony: Keep it simple!

This article was originally published in the summer of 2016. It was updated and refreshed in the spring of 2024.