If you are wondering about the heat outdoors that makes it impossible to sit even in the evenings, then an enclosed balcony is the right solution for you. An enclosed balcony can perfect the balance between the indoors and outdoors while keeping you easily connected to moderate indoor temperatures, even during the hotter months. They can be used all year long and are versatile for various needs, such as a relaxing zone, a home office, a gym, a reading corner, or even an outdoor dining space.
Therefore, we have gathered some ideas on how to enclose a balcony and design inspirations to decorate your enclosed balcony space on a budget.
Inspiring Enclosed Balcony Ideas
Sliding Glass Windows
If it’s outdoors, it should have an abundant view of the sky and nature nearby, and what’s a better way to improve visibility in a closed balcony than big windows? Nothing beats the concept of timeless and versatile sliding glass windows. You can open them, step out when needed and close them to enjoy the view from the other end of the glass.
Wooden Enclosure
If your outdoors is partially in the garden, you can surely bring the garden indoors! With a wooden enclosure wall that practically allows air and sunlight to flow in, you will get the best vibe of a backyard, even in an enclosed space. Cover it with plants and branches to make it look more natural and green, so you get fresh air too.
The Right Seating
With an open backyard, couch vs. sofa is not even a question, but an enclosed balcony offers protection from the weather, so you can pick all the fancy and upholstered couches you want. You can work on a combination of fabric and wooden DIY outdoor sofa or can even easily work on a L-shape outdoor sofa to increase the seating space even on a tiny balcony.
A Living Room Style
Even if it’s smaller, your outdoor seating area should be equally as comfortable as the one inside. Put candles, cushions, and other luxuries on your balcony to decorate it. This enables you to include elements from balcony decoration ideas that promote discussion and coziness, such as an upholstered couch, soft blankets, and mood lighting.
Small Balcony
Having a small balcony is tenfold better than having no balcony, and here is an idea on how to improvise to maximize the space. For a small enclosed balcony ideas system, lay the entire floor with cushions and cover them with throws and blankets. You can enjoy reading a nice book, having coffee in bed with an outdoor view, or even watching a movie to have a romantic outdoor/indoor night.
The Lighting
Unlike an open outdoor space, an enclosed balcony needs a blend of natural and artificial light to complete the functionality. During the day, you can enjoy most of the natural light, but for the evening and the night, you need to install proper lighting. Our best bet is fairy lights, which create the finest vibe for a balcony setup. But along with fairy lights, you also need to work on basic white lights on the ceiling in case of balcony meetings, a balcony office, or simply just for reading a book while relaxing on the balcony.
Don’t Forget the Lights
Sure, you need a balcony space to be as lighted as possible, but what about the days when the sun is too bright? This is why an enclosed balcony needs blinds. They let you filter the light or prevent direct sunlight from entering the room, especially during the day, preventing overheating. If possible, stay away from opaque blinds since, even if they let light in, you’ll want to be able to control it as you wish.
A Fireplace
Why not apply the same principles to an enclosed balcony? Every garden space is complete with a fireplace. A distinctive element would be to add a little fireplace on one of the enclosure’s sides. It will take up little room and will contribute to warmth. This is crucial because it will still be more exposed to the cold, even with a decent enclosure.
Add Lots of Plants
Since it will be enclosed, trees aren’t the exact favorable pick for you, but you can always go right with a few plants. Instead of just allowing the view of outdoor greenery, bring in some fresh greens. Line the wall with pots of green plants, or you can even create a vertical garden by hanging pots on the wall or covering the entire wall with lace of plants and leaves. This way, fresh air will be breathed in, and you will effectively separate your indoors from the outdoors.
Pros and Cons of Enclosed Balcony
Summers are perfect for finally leaving the indoors and spending warm, breezy evenings outdoors. This is why as the summer approaches, many people start working on those cozy small balcony ideas or head out in search of outdoor furniture for a small patio. While an open backyard is common and more normal, an enclosed balcony also has pros. Here are some pros and cons of having an enclosed balcony instead of an open backyard.
Protected Furnishing
The main reason many people opt for an enclosed balcony is the benefit of getting furniture protection. An outdoor space under an open sky has a lot of restrictions when it comes to furniture choice, as rain and similar weather conditions can affect them. Still, for an upholstered outdoor sofa, you can easily place it in an enclosed balcony setting. You are also free to choose any outdoor sofa cushions, as the fear of ruining your expensive sofa upholstery is no longer valid.
Affordable
Decorating and maintaining an enclosed balcony is much more affordable than open space. Open-space furniture sofa materials are comparatively expensive as they need to fulfill the criteria of being weather friendly and durable.
Protection from Bugs
Bugs, no more bugging you! We all become uncomfortable, especially with bloodsucking insects that emerge at night. Fortunately, temporary wall enclosures like screens effectively keep flying pests outside.
Inadequate Lighting
The major reason for heading out outdoors is to soak in the sun and breathe fresh air. One thing that enclosed balconies limit is the sun exposure and fresh air. Hence a closed balcony may altogether disrupt the purpose of heading outdoors.
Can Become Humid
Since ventilation is not the best quality of an enclosed balcony, you might suffer from humidity and suffocation, especially during the hotter months. This will call for fans or temperature control methods installed in a closed-off space.
