Quick Answer: Small apartment balcony ideas work best when you treat the balcony as a small outdoor room. Start with an outdoor rug or deck tiles, add folding seating and a side table, hang plants on the railing and string warm lights. A reed screen or outdoor curtain adds privacy without blocking the light.
Most small balcony advice assumes you have room for a sofa set. You probably don’t. You have a strip of concrete, a railing and maybe a view of the neighbours.
Small balconies have one big advantage, though: they’re quick and cheap to finish. A rug, two chairs and a string of lights can turn one into the best seat in the apartment.
These 15 small apartment balcony ideas cover furniture, plants, lighting, privacy and the floor. Most need no tools, so they work in a rental.
Storage matters outside too. Pick furniture that folds, stacks or doubles as a box for cushions, so the balcony doesn’t fill up with things you only use in July.
Here in Finland, many apartment balconies are glazed, which stretches the season from spring well into autumn. Glazed or not, the same rule applies: make it comfortable enough that you actually go out.
Balcony pieces worth buying
Before you buy anything, measure the depth and width and note which way the balcony faces. A north-facing balcony needs shade plants and warm lights. A south-facing one needs some shade for you.
Furniture and Layout
1. A Folding Bistro Set That Stores Against the Wall
A folding bistro table and two chairs is the basic balcony setup. It fits on balconies as shallow as 1 metre and folds flat against the wall when you need the space or when a storm is coming. Choose metal or acacia wood that handles rain, and add seat cushions you can bring inside.
If you have a ground-floor patio instead, these small apartment patio ideas cover a bit more space.
2. Floor Cushions and a Low Table for a Lounge Setup
On a balcony that’s wide but not very deep, floor cushions and a low table make a relaxed lounge. It’s the cosiest setup for reading or a glass of wine in the evening. Store the cushions inside or in a waterproof box when it rains.
Working with a small budget? These budget patio ideas work on balconies too.
3. A Hanging Chair on Balconies with a Ceiling
If your balcony has a ceiling, a hanging egg chair makes it feel like a getaway. Check the ceiling can take the weight and get permission first, since it usually needs a hook drilled into concrete. A freestanding hanging chair with its own stand is the renter-friendly option.
4. A Small Side Table for Function
Every seat needs a surface for a drink, a phone or a book. A small folding side table, or one that hooks onto the railing, takes almost no floor space. Choose something weatherproof so it can stay out.
To turn the balcony into a growing space, see my small balcony garden ideas.
Plants and Greenery
5. Railing Planter Boxes for Trailing Plants
Railing planters hook over or clamp onto the railing, so they add greenery without using floor space. Trailing plants like petunias, ivy geraniums and strawberries spill over the edge.
Hang them on the inside of the railing if your building doesn’t allow things outside. Check the drainage too, so you’re not watering the neighbour’s balcony below.
6. A Vertical Garden Panel as a Feature Wall
A vertical garden panel on a blank wall turns it into a green feature. Pocket planters, wall-mounted pots or a trellis with climbers all work.
Lean a freestanding panel against the wall if you can’t drill. It holds a lot of plants in very little floor space.
7. A Tiered Plant Stand for Height Variation
A tiered stand holds four to six plants at different heights in the footprint of one pot. It makes a small collection look full and gives you room for herbs, flowers and a trailing plant together.
Not sure what to grow? These plants for small apartments include a few that do well outdoors.
8. Grow Herbs You Actually Use
A balcony herb garden that gives you fresh basil, mint, chives and thyme is the most useful thing you can grow. As a former chef, I’d start with the herbs you buy most often, because those are the ones you’ll actually use.
Lighting and Atmosphere
9. Warm White String Lights Along the Railing
Warm white string lights along the railing or overhead make the balcony glow in the evening. Solar or battery lights need no socket.
Pick a warm 2700K colour rather than cool white. It feels like candlelight and makes the balcony usable long after sunset.
10. Lanterns and Candle Holders at Different Heights
A cluster of lanterns at different heights, some on the floor and some on the table, adds a soft glow and looks good in the day too.
Use LED candles if your building doesn’t allow open flames, or if it’s windy. Many housing companies have rules about this, so check first.
Privacy and Comfort
11. Bamboo Reed Screening on the Railing
A bamboo or reed roll attached to the inside of the railing adds privacy and blocks wind while letting some light through. It’s cheap and quick to install with cable ties.
It also hides plant pots, storage boxes and anything else you don’t want neighbours to see from below.
12. Outdoor Curtain Panels for Side Privacy
Outdoor curtains on a tension rod between walls or columns give you privacy on one side and shade on hot afternoons.
Choose a light, weatherproof fabric so it moves in the breeze but doesn’t fade quickly. Tie them back on days you want the view.
13. An Outdoor Rug to Ground the Space
An outdoor rug under the seating area makes the balcony feel like a room and warms up a cold concrete floor.
14. Interlocking Deck Tiles Over Concrete
Interlocking deck tiles click together on top of concrete with no glue, so they’re easy to remove when you move. Wood or composite tiles both work.
They change the look of the balcony more than anything else on this list. Measure carefully and leave a gap at the drain so water can still run off.
15. A Small Water Feature for Sound
A small tabletop fountain adds the sound of running water, which helps cover traffic noise. Solar versions need no cable.
For outdoor spaces on the ground floor, see my small apartment porch ideas.
Small apartment balcony FAQ
How do you decorate a small apartment balcony on a budget?
Start with an outdoor rug, around 25 to 50 euros, then add a folding chair, a few plants and solar string lights. That’s a cosy balcony for under 150 euros.
What can I put on a balcony to make it cozy?
Soft textiles, warm light and a bit of privacy. An outdoor rug, cushions, string lights and a reed screen make the biggest difference.
What furniture works best for a very small balcony?
A folding bistro set with two chairs and a small round table. It fits shallow balconies and folds away when you need the space.
How do you add privacy to an apartment balcony without losing light?
Sheer outdoor curtains and bamboo reed screens give privacy while still letting light through.
What plants are best for a small apartment balcony?
For sun, try petunias, geraniums, herbs and trailing plants. For shade, ferns, begonias and hostas do better.
Key takeaways
Small apartment balcony ideas work best in layers: a rug or deck tiles on the floor, folding seating, plants on the railing, warm lights and some privacy. Measure first, choose weatherproof pieces and check your building’s rules for hooks and open flames.
Conclusion
A small apartment balcony is an outdoor room waiting to happen. You don’t need much space, just a few pieces that fit and make it comfortable.
Pick two or three of these small apartment balcony ideas this weekend. Start with something for the floor and somewhere to sit, then add plants and lights as the season goes on.
Last update on 2026-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
