If you’re ready for a greener, more sustainable garden, consider growing your favorite fruits and vegetables in pots on your balcony or deck.
Containers are easy to make, and there are plenty of resources online and in gardening stores to help you choose the right to grow pots.
Apartment dwellers do not have the luxury of big outdoor spaces that they can use for gardening or creating a peaceful backyard oasis.
It’s a tradeoff many people have to make to live in the hearts of big cities. But just because you don’t have a yard doesn’t mean you can only dream of having a private garden.
You can create one on your apartment’s balcony!
It won’t be the same as having a big, landscaped garden with a deck, grilling station, fire pit, and pool, but it will be better than not having any garden space at all.
And if you do it right, you will have your own peaceful retreat to destress and unwind within your home.
Check out our ideas for garden balconies and create your very own micro-space.
How to Create a Garden in an Apartment?
Small apartment balconies often feel more like a curse than a positive feature. However, there is a lot that you can do, even with the tiniest balconies, to create a relaxing private green space amidst the concrete jungle. Here are some tips for doing it:
Check out our ideas for garden balconies and create your very own micro-space.
Install Artificial Turf
Do you want to feel the grass beneath your feet? You can hide dull balcony floors with artificial green turf.
The artificial green turf will transform your balcony into a lush, manicured lawn that doesn’t require any maintenance.
This trick is great for balconies, regardless of weather conditions. It’s easy to maintain and doesn’t require watering.
Vibrant flowerpots
Although flowerpots are essential to balcony gardening, they don’t have to be bland or generic.
You don’t have to buy fancy flowering plants to add color to your balcony, but you can make them beautiful or patterned.
You can repurpose regular pots and paint them vivid colors if you have a tight budget.
Grow your own vegetables
You don’t necessarily need a large garden to grow your own herbs and vegetables.
Because they are protected from the wind and can be placed in sunny spots, garden balconies make excellent mini allotments. Walls are great for hanging herbs.
Many small-container vegetable stations will fit in your space. You can store your produce higher, so pests are less likely to attack it.
Create a cozy corner
A large corner sofa with lots of cushions can transform your garden balcony into a relaxing space. Many include concealed storage spaces to keep the seating material dry and protected in wet weather.
A matching low-level coffee table maintains the casual look. Various beautiful structural pots with African daisies or lavender soften the design.
Beautiful storm lanterns will keep your outdoor space lit well into the evening.
Include sun and wind protection
On a sunny day, spending time outdoors feels wonderful. Spending time outside will be more comfortable if you have things that shield you from the outside environment.
You can use an umbrella or canopy to protect you from the sun’s rays. You could also set up a tent. Or enjoy a relaxing afternoon outdoors with a few pillows and a comfortable resting place.
Place plant holders
Do not settle for plastic pots. Place your plants in plant holders to make your balcony stand out.
Plant holders instantly give your balcony a modern look and elevate it.
They allow you to add metallic finishes and colors to your balcony without having to sacrifice the space for plants.
You can choose holders from different heights to add dimension and highlight certain plants.
Make it Green
First things first – convert your balcony’s concrete or marbled floor into a garden floor with grass. What’s a garden without grass, after all?
Since you can’t grow real grass on your balcony, your best bet is to use some artificial turf.
Available in rug-like sheets, the artificial turf may not feel the same as real grass under your feet, but it looks quite similar and will instantly enliven your space and make your balcony look like a living garden.
It can also withstand weather changes and doesn’t require any maintenance work like natural grass, no water, and no mowing.
Grow climbers and creepers
You only need a few climbers to transform your balcony into a tropical paradise. They can be used as supports for climbing plants and allow the green to flourish.
The cover can also serve as privacy curtains. They are especially useful for small apartments and homes that are tightly packed because they can screen your balcony from prying eyes but not block the view entirely.
Create a mini landscape
Landscape gardening is possible on a smaller scale than on large land areas.
Consider adding garden gnomes, miniature fountains, and pebbles to your garden balcony. You can add succulents, cacti, and other easy-care plants to your garden.
This idea works best when combined with artificial turf-lined floors, but it will work equally well if you have a dedicated area. To complete the look, you can add garden lighting or lanterns.
Add a splash of color
A big splash of color can bring life to your balcony. Outdoor rugs and cushions will transform your outside space, and paper flower garlands come spring.
Even if the flowers are fake, they will bring a smile to your face every time you place them in vases or vessels. Geraniums can bring color and life to any space.
They are also easy to grow and will last for many years. You can arrange them around your balcony in hanging baskets, planters, or old watering cans.
Arrange plants at various heights
Consider arranging your plants at different heights to make your balcony feel larger and more jungle-like.
Raised planters work well for this purpose, but you can also place your plants on side tables, benches, stools, and shelves to increase the greenery’s visual appeal.
It’s a good idea to hang planters from your balcony railings, so your space looks as lush from the outside as from the inside.
Matching planters can create a clean and neat look that allows you to move your plants around with the seasons.
Keep it minimalistic
Don’t add too much decor to avoid making your already limited space feel more cramped. The balcony garden is just big enough to hold all the necessary ingredients.
It has enough greenery for urban gardening.
Add Real Plants
Limit the use of artificial greenery to grass only. When it comes to plants, you should use the real ones.
But make sure you choose the right kinds of plants according to your space and lifestyle. Consider the sun, watering, and maintenance requirements of the plants, and make sure you can provide it all consistently.
Nothing ruins the look of a garden than dead plants, and when you have a small space, they are instantly noticed. So, make sure you choose the right plants and care for them to keep them alive and healthy.
Here are a few things to remember when buying plants for your balcony:
- Considering that most apartment balconies do not get adequate sunlight, you should choose plants that can grow well in little to no sunlight.
- If you have a busy lifestyle, it’s better to choose plants that only need watering two to three times a week.
- Mix up different types of plants to improve your garden’s visual appeal.
- Add a few insect-repelling plants to your balcony garden. Bugs and insects are a common problem in outdoor spaces. While there are numerous ways to deal with them, using plants with bug-repelling properties is a great natural way to keep them away.
- Make up for the absence of trees in your balcony garden by planting herbs. They require very little space and are also easy to grow.
Make Use of Walls and Railings to Place Plants
As we all know, space is the biggest concern in balconies. Even if you’re lucky to have a big balcony, you will only have so much space.
And you can’t use it all for your plants. You’re creating a garden, not a nursery. You need to use the space wisely. Instead of placing all your plants on the floor, make use of the vertical space.
You can add a shelf on one wall for small plants, place the vines and climbers in hanging planters, and create beautiful borders with some railing planters.
Create a Seating Area
You’re converting your balcony into a garden because you want to spend time outdoors, amongst plants, enjoying the fresh air.
You can’t do that without creating a seating area. There are countless ways to do it, but it essentially comes down to two things – the amount of space and purpose.
You can’t buy a garden swing chair just because you like it without considering the fact that it may take up the majority of space on your apartment balcony.
Similarly, you may want to go all out and buy fancy outdoor furniture to create a proper seating area, but your limited space may not allow it.
When working with a balcony, you also don’t have the liberty to create multiple seating areas for different purposes.
You can only create one, so it’s important to determine the purpose you’re setting up the space for. Do you want to enjoy your morning coffee or dinner outdoors?
Do you plan to utilize the space to study? Or do you want to create a cozy, comfy space where you can just relax after a long day at work?
If you want to use your balcony garden to enjoy food outside, you can use a café table and a bar stool or chair to create a small dining area.
If you’re just looking to have a place to sit and relax, you can use a lounge chair and add some cushions and a throw to make it comfy and cozy.
You may also install a hammock or use floor pillows and/or bean bags to create a space to curl up with a book or just lie down and relax with some music.
And if you really wanted a swing chair but can’t have it due to limited space, you can always have a hanging chair.
Another great tip for balcony gardens is to choose folding furniture, especially if you won’t be spending time on the balcony every day. Not only will this give you more floor space, but it will also help keep the furniture clean.
Light It Up
Even if you do not initially plan to use your balcony garden at night, it’s only wise that you add lighting to it because you may want to spend time outside under the night sky someday.
There are plenty of lighting choices available on the market. And while you can use any of them, it’s good to have layered lighting to create the right mood.
You can have a traditional ceiling or wall light and layer it with fairy lights, lanterns, or string bulbs.
Play With Colors, Patterns, and Textures
Elevate your balcony décor with colors, patterns, and textures. Use a patterned rug, plush throws, and colorful cushions to add more character to your balcony garden and give it a personalized feel.
Don’t Overlook Your Privacy
Privacy, or the lack thereof, is probably the biggest issue with apartment balconies. You don’t want your nosy neighbor to be watching you from their balcony when you’re in your zone, relaxing, and having some quality ‘me-time.’
While you can’t have absolute privacy on a balcony, you can give yourself some of it either by creating a barrier with tall plants, like bamboo, a privacy fence, or some basic linen curtains.
Linen curtains are not only inexpensive, but they will also add another layer, depth, and drama to your balcony décor.
Install Shade
If you love spending time outdoors and plan to spend your lazy weekends relaxing in your balcony garden, make sure you create shade over the seating area to protect yourself from the sun.
Bright yellow, warm sunlight may feel really good early in the day, but as the day goes on and the sun comes further up in the sky, it can get uncomfortable to stay outside without shade.
Make your outdoor living more comfortable by installing an umbrella, canopy, or a retractable awning.
Add a Water Feature
You may consider water features as just another design element, but they have more to offer than just improving the visual appeal of your outdoor space.
A water feature is probably the only item that can add sound, movement, and texture, all at the same time, to your garden.
The sound of running water is also known to have soothing, calming, and relaxing effects on your brain.
Adding a water feature to your balcony is also one of the quickest and simplest ways to make your surroundings feel more natural.
There are numerous varieties of water fixtures available on the market that are specially prepared for small outdoor spaces.
Look around, and you’ll surely find one that can easily fit on your balcony and goes with the design theme and overall vibe.
Add Some Fun to Your Décor with Wall Art
Traditional gardens give you plenty of room to be creative and add various design elements to build a perfect relaxing oasis for yourself.
But you don’t have many options when building a garden on an apartment’s balcony. This doesn’t mean you have to stick with just the basics, though.
You can still add character to your décor. Adding some wall art is a great way to do it, or if you happen to have an artistic side, you can do a mural or graffiti on one of the walls, too.
Curtains for privacy
Don’t let a lackluster view or your neighbor’s nosy gaze prevent you from taking advantage of your beautiful garden space.
Inexpensive curtains can add drama and privacy to a small balcony. You can hang the curtain higher from an overhang or frame to have a view while still keeping some privacy.
Get the most out of your trellis
Add some crafty touches to make your balcony garden a welcoming evening space. You can make your balcony garden unique and private by decorating everyday items.
You can fill easy-to-make planters and tealight holders with a trellis. Spray cans with two coats of paint.
Once dry, wrap wire through the pierced holes to create a hanger. Punch patterns for the tealight holders and drainage holes in the cans. To repel midges, place citronella candles inside the tin holder.
Convert Your Boring Balcony into an Inviting Outdoor Space That You Don’t Want to Leave
Due to their small sizes, apartment balconies often become the most ignored area of the house. It’s either the home of some dying potted plants or a cluttered space that stores all the junk of the house.
A few people may add a chair or two. But it’s rare to see apartment balconies that are well-decorated. Even many well-furnished homes have boring balconies. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Just because you have a small outdoor space doesn’t mean you ignore it. You can still create a relaxing green space for yourself.
We have given you the ideas. Now, all you need is a little motivation to transform your unloved cluttered balcony into an inviting garden.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can grow herbs, vegetables, and flowers in containers/Grow bags on a balcony or patio. A balcony garden can have all the color, fragrance, and flavor of an outdoor garden. Good soil, water, and sunlight are all you need.
Building a balcony garden is easier than you think. Even if you live in an apartment, you can still grow plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is good to grow on a balcony?
Most plants like to grow on a balcony. You can grow all kinds of plants on a balcony, including flowers, herbs, vegetables, or yard plants.
There are a lot of plants that can be used to grow on a balcony. The most popular ones are:
- Lavender
- Petunia
- Geranium
- Begonia
- Spider plant
- Rose geranium
What is the easiest vegetable to grow?
The best vegetables to grow are those that you grow yourself. They will taste fresher than store-bought, and you won’t have to worry about pesticides.
In addition, growing your own vegetables can help you develop a sense of responsibility and pride.
How can I arrange my balcony garden?
Consider which spots receive direct sunlight and which are mostly shaded.
Sunbathing might be your thing, so you may want to keep the sunnier areas for seating while your plants can enjoy the shade.
You might be more comfortable sitting in the shade while your plants enjoy the sun’s warmth. Also, think about your view from your home.
Don’t place large plants too close to your eyes. Large plants look best in corners and up against your house.
These planters are best for smaller plants placed around the base and on raised platforms. Consider how far you can reach with a hose and how easy it is to access water.
What can I grow on a shaded balcony?
Many plants can thrive in the shade, but you might also consider artificial plants, which don’t require any natural light.
There are many options available that look just like real plants and won’t deteriorate or fade in the sun.
You can choose from potted plants that trail on trellises, flowers arranged in planters, or hanging baskets to bring life and color to your balcony garden.
You could also opt for artificial grass to be your balcony flooring. This is a great way to add greenery to your small space.
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