Dare I say....I think summer in Chicago has finally arrived! We haven't had this many consecutive days of warm weather since I've been living here, and it's beautiful! Feels almost like home :) The lake is bright blue, the trees are bright green, the sailboats are bright white and the view from my balcony is perfect. I'm excited to start using it more often. Keeping a nice balcony is near impossible in this city before June, especially if you live on the lake like I do. The wind actually took my rug out from under my chairs and it flew down to the park below. The flower pots are finally staying put, though, and the cooler is stocked and ready to go for dinner on the balcony a few nights a week. I feel that patios and balconies are an extension of living space and should not be neglected. For those of us in rentals or with small outdoor living spaces (or both), I've gathered a few ideas to easily spruce up your outdoor space for use in the summer. Here's some inspiration.
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Rugs and Flooring
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| World Market, $59.99 |
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| World Market, $139.99 |
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| World Market, $62.99 |
Flooring is an easy way to add color and texture to a balcony. Plus, I hate walking on the always-freezing-cold bare concrete. Rugs are simple and quick to add, and are made to stand up to the elements. The deck tiles from World Market are another great option. The 1'x1' tiles come in a set of 10 and fit together easily. They are eco-friendly and made of eucalyptus which is mold, mildew, fungi, termite, rot and decay resistant.
Seating and Storage
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| Pier 1, $269.95 |
Swap out those old plastic chairs for this fun seating! The Swingasan Chair hangs from a stand (sold seperately, $129.95), so you don't have to install anything. They are durable and give the illusion that you're in the tropics somewhere!
This cooler is awesome because it doesn't look tacky like normal coolers, and can even be used for seating if necessary. Similarly, storage benches are useful for storing pillows and cushions when they're not in use, saving you the hassle of dragging them inside.
Lighting
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| World Market, $10.49 (set of 4) |
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| World Market, $14.99 (set of 10) |
Lighting is a necessity on balconies at night. Candles are useless in windy places, and these lanterns are much cuter anyway. They are battery operated so outlets are not a concern. Pottery Barn has great options for larger, less decorative fixtures.
Accents
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| World Market, $22.49 |
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| World Market, $17.99 |
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| CB2, $24.99 |
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| Pier 1, $69.95 |
Pillows and art can add cheery elements to any space. If your balcony gets a lot of wind, you might opt for chair or bench cushions that tie on rather than pillows. The beverage tub is an attractive alternative to a cooler, and an easy way to add color. You could even line it with plastic and use it as a planter.
Flowers and Plants
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| Home Depot, $70 |
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| Home Depot, $30 |
Whiskey barrels are my absolute favorite. I have this image of 2 barrels overflowing with bougainvilleas on either side of the stairs leading up to my imaginary front door of the future. But, you know, they could also go on a balcony....These flower boxes are great for hanging over the railing. They attach with cheap hangers also sold at Home Depot. I'm not going to pretend I know anything about gardening, but apparently succulents are very low maintenance and thrive in hot weather. Another very interesing choice which I just learned about are living walls like the ones pictured below.
Also known as vertical gardens, living walls are walls which are completely or partially covered in vegetation (anyone else thinking of Wrigley Field?) I like this idea because it doesn't take up any floor space but stills allows for the outdoors to enter your balcony. Learn how to
make your own vertical garden by following the link.
I hope these ideas were helpful! Here is a list of my go-to retailers for outdoor living:
