The days are getting longer and the sunsets are getting prettier. What better way to appreciate the warmer weather than to prep your balcony for summer?

1. Set the mood with string lights.

Gonna be spending the evenings on your balcony? String lights are the perfect way to complete create an ambient mood. Places like Lowe’s and AtHome have tons of options including solar ones if your balcony gets some sun during the day.

Want a cheap option? The Christmas lights you have sitting in the back of your closets work great as well!

2. Hang some curtains or tapestries for extra privacy.

One of the biggest downsides of living in a city is the lack of privacy. Have a balcony that’s really close to neighbors? Hang a tapestry or curtain to act as second wall to your balcony. Will you seem anti-social and unfriendly? Maybe a little. But aren’t you past pretending at this point?

3. Rugs add homeyness to your balcony.

Rugs are the ultimate way to make your space extra cozy (and prevent foot splinters). From a design perspective, use a rug that doesn’t cover the entire balcony. It’s visually pleasing to pair a rug with the wood or concrete elements of the balcony’s floor.

4. Create your own world with plants.

Plants are a great way to accentuate the homey feel of your balcony. They can also be functional for chefs (or wannabe chefs). Some easy herbs to get started with are rosemary, basil, cilantro, thyme and mint. You can pick up seeds or seedlings at your local nursery, garden center or home improvement store.

Pro tip: Get a hanging planter like the one above to save you some precious floor space!

5. Don’t go overboard on furniture.

Furniture really depends on what you want the functionality of your space to be. When furnishing your balcony though, it’s important to remember that less is more in small spaces. If you want to entertain people (we envy the fact that your balcony is large enough for this), you probably need at least a few chairs. If you’re creating more of an unwinding space, maybe a sofa or even a day bed will do the trick.

The most important thing is to get creative! Find unique seating options like this hanging chair (pictured above) that is super comfy and also gives the illusion of more floor space, making your balcony feel bigger.

Want some extra balcony inspiration. Keep scrolling:

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