Ever looked at your small balcony and felt, “How the f**k am I supposed to try any small balcony garden ideas here?” Don’t worry, you are not alone! In fact, over 10 of my Pinterest followers asked me the same this month! And yeah! I personally feel how a small balcony feels like a dead end. You just place a big corner plant and voilà! There’s no place to stand, sit or relax all of a sudden!
But don’t give up just as yet! This blog is finally here to show the way out!
Like first, we’ll learn some basics – planters, hammocks and so. And then, we’ll eventually move to creating a cozy, life-bursting space with 22 easy hacks. Yes, all there in your balcony! So let’s start, shall we?
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Top Insights
- You can give your small balcony a free makeover by repurposing old furniture and making mandalas or tile art.
- Enclosed garden roofs, slatted walls and pergolas are the best climate-responsive open balcony garden ideas for small spaces.
- Consider adding a vertical garden, balcony bar, library, or rockery if you have adequate vertical balcony space.
- Top Insights
- 1. Plant a Living Vertical Wall
- 2. Unique Balcony Garden Ideas with Reading Nooks
- 3. Arrange a Worship Place
- 4. Small Balcony Garden Ideas with a Barbecue!
- 5. Canopy-style Small Balcony Garden Ideas
- 6. Illuminate the Balcony Space!
- 7. Devise a Slatted Wall
- 8. Small Balcony Garden Ideas Using a Private Bar
- 9. Hang ‘em up!
- 10. Small Balcony Garden Ideas with DIY Bird Boxes
- 11. Apartment Balcony Garden Ideas with a Foot Bath
- 12. Floral Balcony Garden Ideas
- 13. Use the Macramé Small Balcony Garden Ideas!
- 14. Flaunt the Mandala!
- 15. Recycle 'em up!
- 16. Devise Faux Rock Garden Ideas!
- 17. Opt for Broken Tile Art
- 18. Invest in a Comic-Themed Wall
- 19. Don’t be Afraid to Go Monochrome!
- 20. Drape the Curtains
- 21. Curate a Meditation Area
- 22. Balcony Garden Ideas for Growing Food
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- External Resources
1. Plant a Living Vertical Wall
Average Installation Cost: ₹650–1600 or $100-300 per square foot
Are you looking for a way to implement Pinterest or selfie-spot worthy apartment balcony garden ideas in your space? If yes, vertical gardening is the perfect solution for you!
Basically, you can stack plants on any vertical space using Wood or PVC frames, removable planters and hydroponic systems. Plus, the best part is that the plastic cladding will keep your walls free of mold and damage. Additionally, you can also place in a small water body or bamboo-node waterfall along your vertical garden for a unique, zen-style small balcony garden ideas.
And you know, the best part? You can also use vertical gardens to grow your own food! Yes, beans, squashes, kale or even the easier ones like basil & lettuce. Trust me, they’ll save you so much money in the long run! Or, simply plant in some flowers, and you’ll have an ever-lasting source of worship flowers. Not to mention the butterflies, of course!
Want to know which plants to go for small vertical balcony garden ideas? Well, here’s a ready list for you:
| Indoor Plants | Pothos (Money Plant), Lipstick Plant, Ferns, Spider Plant, Nerve Plant, etc. |
| Sun-loving Plants | Asparagus Fern, Cradle Flower, Song of India, Ficus Panda, Hostas, etc. |
| Vegetables | Cucumber, Tomatoes, Bitter Gourd, Lettuce, Spinach, Green Peas, etc. |
| Flowers | Bougainvillea, Jasmine, Ixora, Wedelia, Rangoon Creeper, etc. |
Quick Tip: Spray a diluted rubbing alcohol or neem oil solution on your vertical garden at least once a month to save it from mealy bugs & fungi. Or simply mix in 2 drops of Apple Cider Vinegar in your pouring spray as a natural insecticide.
2. Unique Balcony Garden Ideas with Reading Nooks
Estimated Cost (Concealed Bookshelf): ₹3,000 – 20,000 or $150 – 1,200 as per the design
Get cozy chairs, loveseats, and bookshelves if you are up for some intimate, reading or closed balcony garden ideas. Like, you can also use a bookshelf door or fabric canopies for extra comfort. Sliding bookshelves under a raised balcony deck can also create a sleek look!
Alternately, you can also conceal your bookshelves in one of the balcony niche walls rightly. And eventually, you can also add sturdy shutters or glass to save your copies from rain! Furthermore, you can also stock in some books inside your furniture if you want!
3. Arrange a Worship Place
Estimated Price Range: ₹5,000 – 40,000 for temples + up to ₹15,000 for a small deck
Well, we know that people usually design east-facing worship places. But did you know that you can design the same in a north or west-facing balcony too? Well, one, it aligns you with the earth’s magnetic field. And two, it promotes inner peace & focus of the sunsets!
So first, clean the balcony and add in spiritual temples, screens, or rugs. Then, you can also add fragrant or blooming plants, garlands and soft lights to help city balcony garden ideas take a spiritual turn!
Below is a tabular list to help you in choosing plants easily:
| Sacred Plants | Tulsi, White Sandalwood, Peepal, Bermuda Grass, Neem |
| Flowering Plants | Jasmine, Marigold, Rose, Hibiscus, Aster, Gardenia, etc. |
Moreover, you can also purchase some of our ethnic plastic bead decorations to decorate your balcony temple with typical, traditional accessories! Or, you can also DIY a mandala or ethnic paintings to personalize your worship space.
4. Small Balcony Garden Ideas with a Barbecue!
Average Setup Price: ₹4,000 – 18,000 or over $500 for a premium charcoal grill
If you love outdoor barbecue like me, then a balcony grill is a perfect fit! Like, you can even add a herb or vegetable garden, perhaps basil or tomatoes for mega-fresh ingredients. Here are some options to try:
| Veggies | Cole crops, Beans, Chilies, Peppers, Tomatoes, Squash, etc. |
| Kitchen Herbs | Curry leaves, Mint, Sweet Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Carom, etc. |
But if outdoor cooking isn’t your style, stick to mini balcony garden ideas with just a dining area or pantry with wicker furniture, potted plants and turf. Additionally, you can even hang some macramé hammocks or recliners to curate your own lazy cozy Sunday hot coffee spot!
5. Canopy-style Small Balcony Garden Ideas
Estimated Cost: ₹100 – 200 per square foot for awnings and ₹300 – 900 per square foot for a pergola, or over $250 – 3,500 as per the design and area.
Fabric Canopies or Pergolas with hanging planters are obviously one of the best balcony garden ideas for tropical regions like India. Why you ask? Well, one, they protect your balcony from extreme sun / rain & two, they sync in well with the colorful Indian vibe!
And you don’t even need to keep them that plain! You can add hammocks, hanging baskets or trellis for a boho-chic pergola, for example. Or, you can also add colorful textile panes for a traditional vibe! One more option is to hang bougainvillea trellises all over your pergola. Ah! The colorful ‘desi’ vibe!
6. Illuminate the Balcony Space!
Average Lighting Cost: ₹40–900 or $10 – 300 depending on the brand
Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of the most influential American essayists of all time, famously said that “Light is the first painter.” And we can’t agree more!
Light certainly has the ability to transform any space. Like, you put warm lights, you’ll get a cozy, inviting balcony. You tweak them with cool lights, and it’s suddenly so modern & urbane. So yeah! You should definitely add some string lights, perhaps on the pergolas or furniture, to amp the look!
And it’ll also help you with the plants, surprisingly! Warm light helps flowers bloom, while cool light grows herbs. So when in doubt, let your balcony string lights do a round-about! And if you still don’t want them, try lanterns, LED-strip lights & pendants, perhaps!
Caution: Always use certified lights with high weatherproof, waterproof and fire-retardant ratings to prevent electrical hazards.
7. Devise a Slatted Wall
Average Installation Cost: ₹400–1000 / $6 – 20 per square foot
Ever felt uneasy in your own balcony? Well, you are not alone! Over 30 people from my Pinterest group shared the same last month!
Slatted walls are a total lifesaver in this case! These cool grilled walls give you a privy, semi-open gardening space without blocking the outdoors. And the slats create a regal Scandinavian vibe while protecting balcony goers from the harsh winds and sun.
8. Small Balcony Garden Ideas Using a Private Bar
Estimated Furniture Cost: ₹20,000–60,000 or over $300 for a Folding Balcony Bar Table
Traffic has indeed become a nuisance these days, right? Like, you seriously take over 2–3 hours just to visit your favorite club or restaurant, right? But don’t worry!
You can have your own private bar right there, on your balcony, so your party animals don’t have to wait to hit the bars! So, basically you can mount a small wine rack against your balcony railing or wall for extra floor space. Or you can even hide the winery against your balcony partition wall! I personally find this one of the most useful & functional small balcony garden ideas out there!
Quick Tip: Install sound-absorbing foam, mineral wool or fiber panels to avoid disturbing your neighbors.
9. Hang ‘em up!
Average Costing: ₹60–1,500 or $5 – 40 per plant
Looking for some balcony garden ideas for small spaces? Surprisingly, hanging baskets and planters are your go-to-option! All you need are steel tension rods (or slatted railings) and a bunch of pots.
Basically, you’ll have to mix and match plants of different colors, textures and leaf designs to make your display stand out. Furthermore, you can even hang high trellis curtains for some privacy!
Below are some colored plants and herbs that you can consider:
| Green Plants | Ferns, Spider Plant, Strawberries, Pothos, Susan Vine, Dichondra, Sweet Potato Vine, Creeping Charlie, etc. |
| Purple Plants | Petunia, Bacopa, Lobelia, Blue Wonder, Purple Shamrock, Pansies, and Sweet Caroline Vine |
| Red Plants | Verbena, Ivy Geranium, Hanging Fuchsia, Coleus, Chenille, etc. |
10. Small Balcony Garden Ideas with DIY Bird Boxes
Regular Price: Over ₹300 or $10-50 for a ready-made bird-box, and ₹50–500 / $2 – 15 for the seeds
If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, it’s the importance of living in harmony with nature, right? And one way to do so is to feed birds. Yes, right there in your balcony! Through a DIY bird box created by you!
And yes, the process is really easy! Simply grab an old shoebox, cut two holes in it and seal the box with tape. Once it’s dry, pierce some holes and thread to hang it up. Done! Easy, isn’t it?
But that’s not all! You can also pair your birdhouse with vibrant potted plants like Sunflowers, Asters, Dogwoods, Lavender, Marigolds, or Roses to attract butterflies! Or, you can also plant some Milkweed, Dandelions or Bedstraws to breed them further. Your choice, obviously!
11. Apartment Balcony Garden Ideas with a Foot Bath
Estimated Cost: ₹50,000–1,00,000 or $3,000 for a basic hot tub.
If you’ve ever wanted to soak your feet in a hot tub while enjoying the fresh air and beauty of your balcony garden, then you’ve come to the right place.
But first, get an approval from your homeowners’ association or property manager. Then have the building architect or engineer evaluate the weight and water pressure. Finally, contact your local plumber for the drainage & plant a lot of aromatic plants around. Voilà! Your Turkish balcony ideas are ready!
12. Floral Balcony Garden Ideas
Rough Cost: ₹30 – 400 for one flowering plant
If you’re looking for the best small balcony garden ideas, you can’t go wrong with a touch of flowering plants and trellises! Trellises on your pergolas. On your railings. On your balcony walls. Literally everywhere!
Here, you can hang terracotta pot holders and decorative kolam tiles if you want to add an ethnic, pan-Asia touch to your balcony design. Or, you can also paint the wall space a bright yellow or teal color to evoke the picturesque French villas of Pondicherry!
Here’s a list of the best flowering plants and creepers that you can use:
| Flowering Plants | Hydrangea, Vervain, Lobelia, Begonia, Geranium, Mandevilla, etc. |
| Flowering Creepers | Climbing Roses, Star Jasmine, Bougainvillea, Moon flower, Trumpet Vine, Cypress Vine, Rangoon Creeper, etc. |
13. Use the Macramé Small Balcony Garden Ideas!
Cost of Macramé Hammocks: ₹5,000–13,000 or $50-300, depending on the size
One of the most affordable small balcony garden ideas is to try Macramé. So, Macramé is the art of knotting decorative patterns using fibers like jute, hemp, linen, etc.
And while planters and dream catchers are popular Macramé pieces, you can create a cozy Scandinavian retreat by using Macramé swings, hammocks, and rugs. In fact, you can even club macramé with boho art for a funky pop of color. Otherwise, use it with wooden floors or panels for a cottage vibe.
14. Flaunt the Mandala!
Estimated Cost: Large & intricate mandala pieces usually start from ₹7,000 or $200
The beautiful circular designs of mandala art have become a worldwide trend! So, if you are an artist, you can simply sketch a circular graph with ethnic designs on your balcony walls.
If you are not an artist, hire a mandala artist or purchase some of our mandala and lippan frames to decorate your home. You can also add Indian-style seating, rugs and plants to give your home a cultural setting.
15. Recycle ’em up!
Estimated Value: Literally free of cost!
If you want to live more sustainably and breathe more life into your household ‘rubbish’, try these DIY apartment balcony garden ideas:
- Paint old bottles and containers into unique planters for your balcony or patio.
- Use bicycle tires and spokes to build an industrial-chic railing.
- Turn large tires into stools, and arrange broken pots into charming rock gardens.
- Sew leftover fabric into a colorful patchwork curtain for your balcony entrance.
- Convert an old, unused aquarium tank into a balcony terrarium
16. Devise Faux Rock Garden Ideas!
Estimated Value: ₹200–2,000 / $50-100 for faux, acrylic rocks!
Raised rock gardens are basically a great way to add a touch of Japanese balcony garden ideas to your space. All you have to do is place a weed barrier, landscape sheet, and stacked rocks on the floor. Then, plant succulents and cacti or grasses in the gaps.
You can also add a rocky texture by using faux acrylic rocks on screws or brackets. Or, you can also opt for a low maintenance option with stone veneers or wallpaper.
17. Opt for Broken Tile Art
Rough Cost: Almost Free!
If you’re looking for a way to decorate your balcony garden sustainably, you can create your very own broken tile art. All you have to do is collect 5-6 colored tiles, smash them together with a hammer, lay them out as you like, and add colored grout to fill in the gaps.
18. Invest in a Comic-Themed Wall
Estimated Price: Over ₹2,000 for a comic wallpaper
Were you into Archie’s or Garfield when you were a teenager? Surprisingly, you can still relive those memories right on your balcony! How you ask?
Just put up some comic posters, panels, or even get a full-wall comic wallpaper. You can also use your favourite cartoon-related accessories, say a rock garden to depict flintstones, a van miniature planter for Scooby Doo, cheese-shaped seats for Tom & Jerry, etc. Finally, complete this nostalgic hangout with some teal or pink furniture.
19. Don’t be Afraid to Go Monochrome!
Remember the green lady of Brooklyn who made headlines for sporting it all green? Well, you can too! But just for some other color, maybe!
First, select a dominant color such as black, red, blue, or white for your furniture and accessories. Next, incorporate cool geometric patterns, checks, or stripes for more visual interest. You can also add some metallic gold or silver accents or railings to amp the luxury!
20. Drape the Curtains
Well, we know that private balconies are often overlooked, right? But don’t worry! You can now accessorize your space with pastel or vibrant curtains! How, you may ask!
Well, pick a dream curtain of your choice and set up a basic grid of beams and stanchions along your balcony walls. Then, just install the curtains and secure them with ethnic curtain clips to reduce their blowing.
Alternately, you can also pair matching flower pots with matching couches for a royal Italian daisy look!
21. Curate a Meditation Area
If you’re into chill vibes and getting your Zen on, a meditation balcony is the perfect option for you. Just throw in some cozy lights, Indian seats, aromatic plants, and a spot for incense sticks. Also don’t forget to add acoustic mineral wool panels on the balcony parapet; they really help you concentrate well!
22. Balcony Garden Ideas for Growing Food
Average Cost: Around ₹2,000 or $10 -700 for one composter
If you’re a foodie, you’ve probably heard of growing your own vegetables, herbs, and spices on your balcony. Well yes! Balcony gardens are indeed a great way to grow your own food with no pesticides or chemicals.
You can also use the plant material from your balcony garden to make fertilizer for future crops. It’s like having an endless supply of delicious food!
FAQs
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, you basically don’t have to break the bank to turn your balcony into an oasis. You can reuse things you already own, paint walls, or use tile art to create your own unique balcony garden ideas. And if you’re looking to add nature, you can choose from vertical garden ideas, rocks, or trellises too!
And if you need more inspiration or ideas about ‘Balcony Floor Tiles,’ or ‘Balcony Tiles Ideas’ I’ll be happy to help! But if you are confused in selecting an idea for yourself, you can hop onto our detailed ‘Balcony Design Guide,’ or contact our expert designers now!
External Resources
- How to Grow Vegetables in Your Backyard or Balcony?
- Balcony, Terrace, and Patio Gardening by Margaret Davis
About Me
I'm an architectural writer with a passion for demystifying design. For over 5 years, I've been using SEO & architectural expertise to create content that not only informs but sells & inspires. Basically, I like to break complex concepts to bite-sized pieces & conversational dialogues for the masses. So be it architectural expertise, graphics, digital content curation or even SEO optimization, I bring it all to the table!
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