Inspiration for your roof terrace and balcony
14.5.2017
Translation: machine translated
Spring is making its presence felt and the days are getting longer again. It's finally time to say goodbye to dreary balcony life, get the barbecue out of the cellar and set up a cosy and urban feel-good zone outdoors. Teak, bamboo or metal - what furniture can you use to transform your balcony or roof terrace into a retreat for rest, relaxation and socialising? What makes good outdoor furniture and what should you look out for when buying it?
It's wonderful to step outside and enjoy the sunshine for a moment. That's why it's important to create space and get rid of anything unnecessary so that you can start creatively redesigning your balcony or roof terrace. Think about how you want to use the space, for relaxing, for the barbecue season or for relaxed evenings with friends. Depending on your requirements, you may need a table and chairs, daybeds or comfortable lounge elements with a side table.
The next step is to measure the available space so that you can estimate the dimensions when buying furniture. Don't forget the dimensions of the passageway to the balcony/patio area. These can be decisive for later delivery. The personal budget, the orientation and the size of the area are decisive for choosing the right outdoor furniture. The direction of the compass also plays a role in the design of the balcony. It determines whether the balcony receives enough sunlight or is shaded even at the height of summer.
The trend is towards outdoor furniture with a living room character. New, robust materials and modern manufacturing techniques create more possibilities. High-quality synthetic fibres ensure that patio furniture not only looks homely, but also offers better seating comfort. For larger areas in particular, it helps to divide the roof terrace into different areas to create atmospheric zones.
When buying outdoor furniture, pay attention to naturalness, ease of care, weather resistance and durability. In addition to appearance, functions such as stackability, foldability and compactness are also recommended, especially for chairs and tables. This allows the space to be optimally utilised or flexibly changed. The use of lighter materials and colours is advisable to avoid unpleasantly hot surfaces.
A word on care
Some furniture manufacturers offer customised protective covers for their outdoor furniture so that it is also protected from heavy moisture in uncovered areas. Teak is weather-resistant and winter-proof and can be kept outside all year round. It is advisable to invest some time in the care of wooden furniture so that it lasts longer. Special wood oils are available for this purpose, which improve the weather resistance and at the same time prevent the wood from greying. If there is enough space, weatherproof chests are ideal for storing outdoor cushions, pillows and cosy blankets. If it is possible to store the furniture as dry as possible during the winter, this should still be utilised. Not all materials are suitable for sub-zero temperatures and snow. The surface suffers and the longevity is shortened as a result.
Hammocks or hanging chairs are also suitable alternatives for relaxing. These are available in different designs and colours and can be attached in a space-saving and flexible way.
No balcony is too small to be an oasis!
Doesn't matter! Even on a small balcony, you can create a cosy seating area without much effort. Low seating furniture reinforces the feeling of a larger area when you step onto the balcony. Some manufacturers sell flexible modular systems that can be positioned individually. Combine this with cushions with hard-wearing covers and weatherproof filling material as well as cushions of different sizes to create a cosy relaxation zone. Outdoor textiles are now available in various colours and great patterns.
Balconies that are so tiny that you can't really use them are often neglected. However, if you incorporate them from the inside, you can at least create a green outlook for the living areas. By grouping different green plants at different heights, the eye is drawn to a green oasis. If you enquire at a specialist retailer, there are many undemanding, easy-care and fast-growing plants that you can't go far wrong with. Plants that appeal to the senses and spread a pleasant fragrance, such as lavender, create a holiday feeling. Voluminous ornamental grasses, smaller trees or large plants such as bamboo can be planted in large pots. They are ideal room dividers and a practical wind and privacy screen.
Sun sails and parasols are just as important. Providing shade, they make it possible to stay on the roof terrace during the day in exposed locations. At the same time, parasols and awnings provide ideal privacy from above if you want to shield yourself from prying eyes.
Fire bowl & Co.
In the evening, light and fire are important elements for creating a cosy atmosphere on the roof terrace or balcony. The same applies here as in the home: create different lighting areas. Whether wall, tree, floor or pendant lights - many manufacturers now offer various outdoor products that can be used flexibly. Some products are equipped with hidden solar modules and do not require any cables at all. Lanterns with artificial light sources or candlelight also conjure up a unique atmosphere on the balcony in the dark.
With fire bowls, good materials and the right safety measures are essential. If permitted, you can enjoy a crackling campfire in the dark. It is essential to place the bowls on a fireproof stone base plate or on a gravelled surface. If you want to protect yourself against flying sparks and falling embers, you can equip your fire pit with a spark guard made of close-meshed wire mesh. Safety is paramount and patio furniture made of wood, bamboo etc. must be kept at a sufficient distance.
Wood and other natural materials such as natural stone create a cosy atmosphere on the balcony or roof terrace. A wooden deck as a floor covering for the roof terrace can be easily installed with a little craftsmanship.
With this in mind: enjoy many pleasant hours in the open air!
Products that you could use
..even more garden furniture
..everything about barbecues & fire pits
More from Mona & Michael
Header image: The starting point: your cleared out roof terrace.
I like to spend my time with creative projects, friends & family and delicious recipes from all over the world. Travelling to distant countries, discovering foreign cultures and observing people are the cornerstones of my creativity. All this inspires and motivates me in my work. The challenge of giving a room or an object a soul, arousing emotions and at the same time creating something functional and practical fascinates me. I think interests only become passions when you can share them not only with yourself but also with other people. Together with my colleague Michael Sollberger I founded the interior design studio "MOOMII" in 2016.