Everyday tip: Visual barrier for a ground-floor balcony

When your rental apartment is on the ground floor, adding a visual barrier to your balcony significantly enhances your living comfort and privacy. We've compiled some tips that transform your ground floor balcony or patio into a cosy secondary living room.

Tips for a glassed-in balcony:

There are numerous protective decoration options for a glassed-in balcony. Plants also thrive well on this sort of balcony. Here are three tips for a glassed-in balcony:

1. Balcony curtains offer shield from the sun and the eyes of passers-by

Curtains create a homely atmosphere on your balcony. Outdoor curtains are available in various colours, allowing you to decorate your balcony in a style that matches the rest of your home. We at SATO prefer plain light-coloured curtains for balconies to maintain a unified façade appearance. Curtains also help regulate the amount of sunlight pouring onto the balcony.

Curtains will be long-lasting when you ensure they are made of weather and sun-resistant material while shopping.

Especially when decorating a balcony in a rental property, it's wise to check how, for example, curtains can be hung. In a SATOhome, drilling holes into balcony surfaces is not allowed, so it’s advisable to opt for a tension rod that fits between the walls. If necessary, you can seek advice from our customer service.

2. Get a movable privacy screen

A bamboo or wooden screen works as a pleasant decorative element on your balcony, also hiding your seating area from view. A screen made of natural material softly enhances the balcony's look and can be moved as the sun shifts or your decoration preferences change. On a glassed-in balcony, you don’t have to worry about the screen being blown away in a summer storm.

3. Green plants provide privacy

If you’ve got a green thumb, a good choice for balcony privacy is, of course, green plants. A sheltered and verdant oasis can be created with ornamental grasses, hanging flowers, and vines. The key is to place plants at different heights to achieve as much privacy as possible.

Tips for an open balcony:

When choosing visual barriers for an open balcony, special attention must be paid to their weather resistance. Here are three tips for portable visual barrier that require no installation and are suitable for an open balcony:

1. Tensioned roller blind hides even an open balcony

Hanging curtains on an open balcony isn’t always straightforward. However, there are roller blinds available for outdoor use, which are tensioned between the balcony floor and ceiling with the help of support poles. You can find an example by clicking here. The roller blind requires no special installation and can be easily stored away for winter. You can explore more curtain options by searching for “outdoor roller blind”.

2. Planter box with a trellis for the balcony

A convenient solution for an open balcony is a planter box equipped with a trellis. If possible, the box can be attached to the balcony railing using cable ties, or you can choose a floor-standing planter box.

The trellis itself provides privacy, and once a lush vine grows, it's delightful to relax under the shade of green leaves.

3. Parasol is an easy visual barrier

A freestanding parasol is a low-threshold privacy solution for your balcony. Just make sure it has a bendable arm, so you can angle it in your desired direction. If there’s not enough room on your balcony for a large one, a half-parasol might be a suitable alternative.