Christmas on the balcony? We say yes, without hesitation!
All summer, you have enjoyed the breathtaking views of the rooftops and enjoyed your aperitif with the sweet sound of birds singing. Only here, with the days that shorten and the freshness that settles, you have gradually abandoned your balcony, yet darling in the summer. It's time to reinvest this space with undeniable potential charm: make it your winter landmark, the time for a hot drink, a reading break or an evening with friends. Some well-chosen decorations and elements of decoration will take care of ensuring smooth transition.
To wake up the winter by taking care of the decoration
Rule number 1, never store anything useless : the place is not a storage room! This is goodbye to the cupboards or tote boxes that destroy the harmony of the place. There is no point in storing empty flowerpots or planters waiting. Your balcony must be in order and accessible to fully play its part of living room.
From the first days of autumn, you usually hasten to store your outdoor furniture in the cellar. Do not do anything! Depending on the space available, keep one or two chairs, painted in bright and tart colors, to brighten foggy days. You can also leave in place your armchairs and benches (that lovers of " Do It Yourself " have taken care to manufacture themselves), who will dress in outdoor fabrics for better durability over time.
Use some deco accessories that will make all the difference. For example, buy a snow white wooden bench or invest in a rocking chair or antique chandelier flea market. A vintage object will surely bring an original and bohemian note.
Another important element: the linen. Have the reflex throws, cushions galore and XXL rugs in fake fur, preferably in bright colors, to stay warm. You can decorate the floor space with a thick carpet or white synthetic turf, for an extra cocooning touch.
Focus on lighting to warm up the atmosphere
At the end of the afternoon, when it begins to get dark, difficult to imagine not to return immediately to his living room. Think again ! Thanks to the LEDs in the form of strips, which you can glue or fix, a soft light will invade the darkness. Adopt lighting by small touches with light sources of low intensity, by placing here and there on the ground of candles, candles and lanterns .
You can also run garlands of light along the walls, install solar lights that will turn on as soon as it gets dark or equip yourself with a small brazier terrace, ideal for convivial and warm evenings. This will help make the atmosphere magical and romantic, and you will find yourself soon to spontaneously abandon your apartment to benefit your balcony beautifully staged.
So that the birds continue to rock your dreams in winter, attract them. All that is needed is a simple birdhouse and a manger. If you do not have the soul of a handyman, a birdhouse bought in a pet shop will do the trick. You can also hang balls of tallow, sold in supermarkets. Even in the city, you will enjoy a pleasant little bit of nature and will reign a spring mood.
Lush vegetation for a green area
Keep in mind that your balcony is visible from your inside: when you draw your curtains, it must therefore present a decoration in its own right. A staging plant will give you the illusion of a haven of nature, ready to come to life at the first rays of the winter sun.
Start by using pots and other flower boxes as decorative pieces. Choose natural resin pots made of polyethylene or terracotta that will not crack under the effect of frost. Choose them with original shapes and pep colors to stock up on vitamins, or customize them.
If the winter season is less favorable for blooming, they are not excluded. Think about different varieties of winter bulbs like snowdrops, crocuses, cyclamen or hyacinth. These flowers bloom in winter and hatch even under a snowpack. You will enjoy seeing their colors reveal themselves in the heart of winter.
Incorporate bamboos and grasses that will shake their foliage as soon as the wind blows, animating your space with a zest of exoticism. If you prefer more traditional species, turn to the evergreens that will remain in place each year, such as boxwood or coniferous trees, or adopt ferns, ivy and white heather, suitable for all exposures.
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Posted on December 4, 2018.