Australia
Small Apartment Balcony Ideas: Turning Your Balcony into an Outdoor Room
How to turn a small apartment balcony into an outdoor room: layout by size, cushions cut to fit, fabric for strong UV, wind on high floors, plants, lighting and checking your building's by-laws.
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Quick answer: Treat an apartment balcony like a small room. Ground it with an outdoor rug, choose compact furniture that suits the depth, and fit cushions cut to the exact seat size so nothing overhangs or lifts in the wind. Use UV-resistant outdoor fabric and quick-drain foam for uncovered balconies, tie everything down on high floors, and check your building's by-laws before fixing anything to walls or railings.
For many people in Australian apartments, the balcony is the only outdoor space they have. Yet it often ends up holding a clothes airer, a lonely chair and a pot plant that didn't survive summer. With a bit of planning, even a narrow balcony can work like an extra room for morning coffee, a drink after work or a quiet read. This guide covers layout, cushions, sun, wind, plants and lighting, with Australian apartment living in mind.
Why do so many balconies go unused?
The rooms we use most have a few things in common: something soft underfoot, a comfortable seat, light that suits the time of day, and a sense that the pieces belong together. Most balconies have none of these. Bare tiles, a hard chair and harsh sun or wind make it easier to stay inside.
Fix those basics and the balcony starts to feel like part of the home rather than a corridor to the view.
Start with the floor
An outdoor rug changes a balcony faster than anything else. It marks out the space, adds warmth underfoot and makes the furniture look settled rather than parked.
- Uncovered balconies: polypropylene rugs dry quickly and are hard-wearing, which suits balconies that get rain and full sun.
- Size up: a rug that nearly reaches the edges looks like a floor. A small one in the middle looks like a doormat. Leave around 150 mm clear at the edges.
- Drainage: make sure the rug doesn't sit over floor drains or trap water against the tiles.
How much furniture fits on an apartment balcony?
Measure before you shop, and choose fewer, smaller pieces. As a rough guide:
| Balcony size | What usually works |
|---|---|
| Under 4 m² | One armchair, a small side table and perhaps a footstool or floor cushion |
| 4 to 8 m² | A bistro table and two chairs, or a slim two-seater with a small coffee table |
| Over 8 m² | Two zones, such as a lounge corner and a dining spot |
Pieces with exposed legs look lighter and let you see more floor, which makes the space feel bigger. A built-in ledge or a slim bench along the wall gives seating without bulky furniture. Add a cushion cut to its exact length and depth, and it becomes a comfortable perch. Our bench seat cushion sizing guide shows how to measure one in millimetres.
Cushions: the comfort layer
A balcony that looks good but feels hard won't get used. Cushions make the difference, and on a small balcony, fit matters even more. A cushion that overhangs the seat eats into a narrow walkway, and a loose one is more likely to shift or lift in a breeze.
We make outdoor chair cushions, bench cushions and floor cushions to your measurements, cut within 6 mm (maximum ±25 mm) and remade free if we miss. Every cover has a zip, piping is optional, and ties in matching fabric come standard. Order a cover only, foam only or the complete cushion, with no minimum order. Our mm measuring guide walks you through it.
Which foam suits a balcony?
- Dryfast: an open-cell foam that lets rain drain straight through. Best for uncovered balconies. 5-year foam warranty.
- HD36-R: a medium, everyday seat foam for covered balconies. 7-year warranty.
- Lux-R: a firmer seat foam. 7-year warranty.
- Super Soft: for back cushions only, never seats. 3-year warranty.
Foam for Australian orders is Australian-made, and covers are sewn in India. Read more about what Australian-made foam means for your cushions.
How do you protect balcony cushions from strong sun?
Choose outdoor fabric made for UV, because ordinary fabric can fade fast on a sunny balcony. According to ARPANSA and Cancer Council, the UV Index in January is forecast to average 11 or more across most of Australia on clear days, which counts as extreme. North- and west-facing balconies with no overhang take the most sun.
Sunbrella is solution-dyed acrylic, so the colour goes right through the fibre rather than sitting on the surface. It comes in more than 160 colours, is machine washable and has a 5-year fabric warranty. Most Sunbrella is water-repellent rather than waterproof, so a long downpour can soak through. For a fully exposed balcony, ask about Sunbrella's marine and Rain ranges, which are waterproof. Our guide to why outdoor cushions fade so fast in Australia explains more.
Warwick is a much-loved Australian design house, but its upholstery ranges are made for indoors. Keep them for an enclosed sunroom or inside, and use outdoor fabric on the balcony. See Sunbrella or Warwick? for the full comparison.
How do you deal with wind on a high-rise balcony?
Wind is usually stronger the higher you go, and anything light can move. Plan for it from the start.
- Tie cushions on. Matching fabric ties come standard and loop round legs or slats. For flat ledges, Velcro is available on request.
- Choose a snug fit. Cushions cut to the frame give the wind less to catch than loose, oversized ones.
- Bring things in before storms. Scatter cushions, throws and lightweight chairs should come inside when strong winds are forecast.
- Avoid loose, light décor. Skip anything that could blow over the balustrade.
Check your building's rules first
Apartment buildings often have strata or owners corporation by-laws covering balconies. They can affect what you may fix to walls or railings, what can be seen from the street, and items such as planters, screens, shade sails or anything hung over the balustrade. Before you drill, fix or hang anything, read your by-laws or ask your strata manager or building manager. Renters should also check with their property manager.
Walls, screens and privacy
Use the vertical space and you leave the floor free. Outdoor curtains on a covered balcony soften the view from neighbours and filter afternoon sun. See our guide to outdoor curtains for shade, privacy and wind, or browse custom outdoor curtains. Freestanding screens and potted plants are a good alternative where fixings aren't allowed.
Plants that cope with balcony life
Balconies are tougher on plants than gardens. Wind dries soil quickly, sun can be fierce with no tree cover, and weight matters.
- Choose lightweight plastic or fibreglass pots rather than heavy terracotta or concrete.
- Group pots together, which looks tidier and helps them hold moisture.
- In full sun, pick drought-tolerant plants such as rosemary, succulents and hardy grasses.
- In shade, foliage plants and ferns usually do better than flowering ones.
Lighting for warm evenings
Warm, low light keeps the balcony usable after dark. Solar string lights along the railing need no wiring, and a battery lantern on the table adds a second layer. Two or three small light sources at different heights feel far cosier than one bright overhead light.
Make it feel like part of your home
Carry one element from the room inside out onto the balcony: a colour, a texture or a material. If your living room is full of natural linen tones, pick balcony cushions in similar shades. With over 10,000 colours to choose from, matching is easy. Order fabric swatches for a small charge to see them in your balcony's light; the cost comes back as a one-time code on your order.
Standard shapes are made in 2 to 3 weeks, and shipping within Australia is free. When you're ready, start with custom cushions.
Frequently asked questions
What cushions work best on a small balcony?
Slim seat pads, bench cushions and floor cushions cut to the exact size of your seating work best, because nothing overhangs the walkway. Use outdoor fabric such as Sunbrella and Dryfast foam on uncovered balconies.
How do I stop balcony cushions blowing away?
Use the matching fabric ties around legs or slats, or Velcro on flat ledges. Choose cushions that fit the frame snugly, and bring scatter cushions inside before strong winds.
Can I leave cushions on an uncovered balcony?
Yes, if they use outdoor fabric and quick-drain Dryfast foam, which lets rain run through. Most Sunbrella fabric is water-repellent rather than waterproof, so stand cushions on edge after heavy rain to help them dry.
Can I use indoor fabric on a covered balcony?
It's best not to. Indoor upholstery fabrics, including Warwick's indoor ranges, aren't made for outdoor sun and damp and can fade or mark even under cover. Choose an outdoor fabric instead.
Do I need permission to change my apartment balcony?
It depends on your building. Many strata schemes have by-laws about balconies, so check them, or ask your strata or building manager, before fixing screens, planters or anything else to walls or railings.
