Photos of rental apartments in Marbella lean heavily on the balcony, and with reason. A table, two chairs and a view do more for a stay than a new sofa ever will. Most balconies are small, though, and plenty look worse in person than they did in the listing. Whether you own a flat with a few square metres of outdoor space or you are furnishing one, a bit of planning makes the difference between somewhere you use every day and a spot where the bicycle lives.
Check the rules and the weight first
Before buying anything, read the building’s rules. Many blocks restrict what can hang from the railings, what colour awnings can be, and whether you can put plants where water might drip onto a neighbour. Weight matters too. Large planters full of wet soil are heavier than they look, and a balcony has a load limit. As a rough guide, keep heavy items near the wall where the structure is strongest and ask the building’s management if you plan anything substantial.
Choose furniture that folds or stacks
A fixed table takes up space even when nobody is using it. A folding bistro table and two folding chairs can be put away in a minute, which leaves the floor free for a yoga mat or a drying rack. A small bench with storage underneath holds cushions and watering cans. If the balcony is narrow, a wall-mounted drop-leaf table works well, and it comes down only when you need it.
Deal with the sun and the wind
A balcony facing south or west will be unbearable in the afternoon without shade. A clamp-on parasol, a retractable awning or a sail fixed to the railings changes how the space feels. Wind is the other problem, especially higher up a building. Bamboo or reed screening on the railings cuts the breeze and adds privacy, and it is inexpensive. Heavy pots stay put, while lightweight ones end up in the street below.
Plants that cope in pots
Rosemary, lavender, thyme and bay do well in containers and tolerate a dry spell. Geraniums, which are properly called pelargoniums, flower for months in full sun. Herbs near the door get used, which is more than can be said for most decorative planting. Use pots with drainage holes and saucers underneath, and water early in the morning so the soil isn’t baked by midday. A self-watering planter or a small drip kit makes a week away less of a worry.
Light for the evenings
Most of the use a balcony gets happens after dark in a warm climate. A string of warm-white lights, a solar lantern or two and a candle in a glass holder are enough. Keep the colour warm, around 2700 kelvin, because cooler light looks harsh outdoors and attracts more insects. If neighbours are close, point the light down and keep it low.
Leave some floor showing
The urge is to fill every square centimetre. Resist it. A balcony with a clear walking line looks bigger and feels calmer, and an outdoor rug in a light colour makes the floor look deliberate. Two good chairs, one table, a few plants and one source of light will do more than a crowd of accessories.
