Balcony bliss

Having a good terrace or a balcony is a must as it is one of the most utilised corners of any house. But unfortunately, most homeowners don’t pay much attention to decorating and maintaining it. Consequently, they end up not using their terrace or balcony because of dirt and untidiness. It is important to beautify such open spaces so that it can be used as a hang-out place during house parties, informal get-togethers or just for lounging or reading books. Below are some tips that will help you transform this underutilised corner to an inviting space: Clean your balcony/terrace of weeds and debris to give it a fresh and tidy look for further enhancements to be done. Polish or paint railings or fencing around your balcony/terrace to get rid of paint cracks. Also, you can lightly sandwood the rails and touch up wrought iron nails to get rid of rough spots using outdoor matte black spray paint. People not living on the ground floor can place an outdoor woven grass rug to cover the majority of their terrace area to give it a garden look. If your balcony is facing a parking lot or any other unpleasant view, place potted plants and curtains to add a natural and inviting touch. If your balcony has a good view, place outdoor related accessories and items to maintain the scenic beauty. Furniture is another important thing that needs to be taken care of. You can place a weather-resistant couch or a rocking chair with a lamp placed on a small side table in the balcony. Balcony-related accessories and items can actually enhance the architectural feature of the ambience. You can do so by placing a gazing ball, window frame against the wall or rustic trellis among the plants. Placing a water feature can also be a good idea. A gold fish bowl or a small bubbling fountain will further bring life to your space. Select and assemble potted plants to fit both the view and area of the terrace. Appropriately placing large plants at the edge and small ones in the front create your own in-home beautiful lush landscape. Instead of going for modern lighting you can use outdoor lanterns that connect you to conventional life while belonging to the urban culture. If planning a party or a bonfire over weekends, an ember firepit and a cheers put make a great combo in bringing home party people. The terrace is as important as any other room in your house; you must address this space as you would the interior of the house.

The writer is an interior designer and creative director of Elvy Lifestyle