Trending Now: 15 Balconies With Cool Lounging Ideas
The most popular new balconies on Houzz may get you thinking about your own dream outdoor room
Erin Carlyle
April 16, 2017
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes... More
Balconies can be so many things: social gathering spots, quiet retreats and, most important, places to take in the view. These 15 balconies each have something special to offer, which may be why they’re the most popular balcony photos uploaded to Houzz from January through March this year, as measured by the number of people who’ve saved them to their ideabooks. Which one would you like to settle into for a while?
15. Lounge Seat View
With a view like this, lounge chairs and sunblock are just about all you need. Can’t you imagine whiling away warm afternoons in the umbrella’s shade? A clean white-and-wood palette keeps the focus on the blue sky and sea ahead.
With a view like this, lounge chairs and sunblock are just about all you need. Can’t you imagine whiling away warm afternoons in the umbrella’s shade? A clean white-and-wood palette keeps the focus on the blue sky and sea ahead.
14. Conversational Set
This balcony overlooking Boston’s skyline features a social armchair arrangement. The whole scene looks primed for a group of people to sit down, glasses of wine in hand, and enjoy a conversation as the sun goes down.
This balcony overlooking Boston’s skyline features a social armchair arrangement. The whole scene looks primed for a group of people to sit down, glasses of wine in hand, and enjoy a conversation as the sun goes down.
13. String Lights
This cool white balcony in Yekaterinburg, Russia, gains warmth from wooden floors, as well as string lights hanging in an artfully haphazard way.
This cool white balcony in Yekaterinburg, Russia, gains warmth from wooden floors, as well as string lights hanging in an artfully haphazard way.
12. Grill Spot
Blue accent pillows and a throw, as well as the potted plants, bring life and softness to a balcony decked in industrial metal sheeting. The sofa offers an ideal spot for a gathering of friends to chow down on whatever food comes off the grill.
Blue accent pillows and a throw, as well as the potted plants, bring life and softness to a balcony decked in industrial metal sheeting. The sofa offers an ideal spot for a gathering of friends to chow down on whatever food comes off the grill.
11. Dark With Wood
With walls painted a deep charcoal, this balcony dramatically contrasts the home’s interior. Decor accents in different shades of white — the bright white tabletop, cream throw and black-and-white faux fur — pop against the dark backdrop. The wood plank floor and greenery add texture and warmth.
With walls painted a deep charcoal, this balcony dramatically contrasts the home’s interior. Decor accents in different shades of white — the bright white tabletop, cream throw and black-and-white faux fur — pop against the dark backdrop. The wood plank floor and greenery add texture and warmth.
10. Cozy Sectional
Who says large furniture can’t fit into a small space? This outdoor sectional borders the edge of a balcony in Stockholm, squeezing a good amount of seating out of a smaller footprint. The chevron outdoor rug and cute side table make the space feel like a furnished outdoor living room.
Who says large furniture can’t fit into a small space? This outdoor sectional borders the edge of a balcony in Stockholm, squeezing a good amount of seating out of a smaller footprint. The chevron outdoor rug and cute side table make the space feel like a furnished outdoor living room.
9. Hanging Seat
This contemporary balcony in a San Francisco high-rise offers multiple places to sit and take in the cityscape: a traditional outdoor sofa facing outward and a fun hanging chair for curling up in.
This contemporary balcony in a San Francisco high-rise offers multiple places to sit and take in the cityscape: a traditional outdoor sofa facing outward and a fun hanging chair for curling up in.
8. Beach View
Not much adornment is needed when the view looks like this. This Southampton, New York, balcony complements that gorgeous vista with natural materials and a pared-down palette of wood and white.
Not much adornment is needed when the view looks like this. This Southampton, New York, balcony complements that gorgeous vista with natural materials and a pared-down palette of wood and white.
7. Fireplace Surround
This balcony in a mountain lake home opens to the fresh outdoors. A stone-rimmed fireplace offers heat and coziness in the cooler months. Outdoor furniture provides comfortable places to enjoy the view — or, if you prefer, the TV above the fireplace.
This balcony in a mountain lake home opens to the fresh outdoors. A stone-rimmed fireplace offers heat and coziness in the cooler months. Outdoor furniture provides comfortable places to enjoy the view — or, if you prefer, the TV above the fireplace.
6. Overhead Glow
This Melbourne, Australia, balcony gets zing from a cheery green tabletop and string lights that add sparkle and an extra-special feeling to the alfresco experience.
This Melbourne, Australia, balcony gets zing from a cheery green tabletop and string lights that add sparkle and an extra-special feeling to the alfresco experience.
5. The Treehouse
This photo shows the balcony in The Treehouse, the hundred-year-old Craftsman that designer Faith Blakeney shares with her daughter, Miss Noa. Blakeney chose slightly weathered colors throughout the home, which she describes as seeming as though they’ve spent years under the sun.
This photo shows the balcony in The Treehouse, the hundred-year-old Craftsman that designer Faith Blakeney shares with her daughter, Miss Noa. Blakeney chose slightly weathered colors throughout the home, which she describes as seeming as though they’ve spent years under the sun.
4. Great Balls of Light
The globe shape of these two hanging pendants and the rounded lines of the chairs contrast nicely with the horizontal and vertical lines of the balcony’s rails and beams. The curves add an organic vibe to what would otherwise be a fairly linear, structured space.
The globe shape of these two hanging pendants and the rounded lines of the chairs contrast nicely with the horizontal and vertical lines of the balcony’s rails and beams. The curves add an organic vibe to what would otherwise be a fairly linear, structured space.
3. Balcony Garden
Plants, a wooden bench and family photographs soften an enclosed Moscow balcony clad in red and white brick. This balcony is a great example of how adding personal touches and greenery can warm a space up.
Plants, a wooden bench and family photographs soften an enclosed Moscow balcony clad in red and white brick. This balcony is a great example of how adding personal touches and greenery can warm a space up.
2. Moscow Skyline
This enclosed balcony affords dramatic views of the Moscow cityscape, which in this photo features a pastel night sky. Roll-down shades offer privacy as well as protection from the sun’s rays.
This enclosed balcony affords dramatic views of the Moscow cityscape, which in this photo features a pastel night sky. Roll-down shades offer privacy as well as protection from the sun’s rays.
1. Brazilian Jungle House
This balcony is part of a home located in the lush forested area of a beach in Guarujá, Brazil. The streamlined, elegant design continues throughout the rest of the stunning home.
More
The Joy of a Balcony: 16 Ideas for Your Little Slice of the Sky
Find guides to landscape design in the Houzz articles archive
Other Resources on Houzz
See the latest balcony photos
Find design professionals near you
Browse outdoor products in the Shop section
This balcony is part of a home located in the lush forested area of a beach in Guarujá, Brazil. The streamlined, elegant design continues throughout the rest of the stunning home.
More
The Joy of a Balcony: 16 Ideas for Your Little Slice of the Sky
Find guides to landscape design in the Houzz articles archive
Other Resources on Houzz
See the latest balcony photos
Find design professionals near you
Browse outdoor products in the Shop section
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Love the clean white look -
I like many of these ideas--except for the one with the huge bare expanse with only part of a table, two round chairs and globe-shaped lights (which I do like). I just prefer a bit more coziness. This article has made me wish I had or needed a balcony. Alas, I am in a one-story house in a suburban area, and the high ground is behind, not below, it! Perhaps borrow some ideas for the patio?...
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