{"id":60667,"date":"2021-07-06T22:05:35","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T05:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=60667"},"modified":"2026-04-01T01:35:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T08:35:04","slug":"outdoor-decorating-renters-balcony-accessories-design-essentials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/daily-living\/outdoor-decorating-renters-balcony-accessories-design-essentials\/","title":{"rendered":"Outdoor Decorating for Renters: Balcony Design Essentials"},"content":{"rendered":"

As most people rent apartments<\/a> – and not houses\u00a0boasting a lavish lawn<\/a>, a pond, and a white picket-fence – there are not too many outdoor decorating options. Still, a balcony (or a terrace, if you’re lucky) can also be turned into an awesome outdoor project, with a bit of know-how and good taste. Luckily,\u00a0there are many design inspiration posts and pictures to browse while you\u2019re trying to figure out what you\u2019re going to do in your own home. It\u2019s a great way to spend time, but as a renter, you must know there are extra challenges to face when it comes to decorating.<\/p>\n

Certain rental communities will have different rules about what people can or cannot do in their apartments. However, it\u2019s not impossible to get creative and decorate in style, even if you\u2019re a renter! Read on for a<\/strong> list of balcony accessories and outdoor design essentials any renter should know about<\/strong>. You\u2019ll quickly transform your small balcony into one that catches your eye, even if you\u2019re on a strict budget:<\/p>\n

Wooden Pallets<\/h2>\n

\"Wooden<\/p>\n

Rental spaces are typically small, so you probably don\u2019t have much storage room to keep extra stuff in. Wooden pallets are rather large, but they\u2019re worth going out to the local hardware store to pick up. Just a couple stacked on top of each other can make a great place to sit on your balcony<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They also work as a shelf or table top if they\u2019re stacked, and when you move, they work as a tray to help carry out all the little items you\u2019ll find leftover once you\u2019ve used up all your boxes. They\u2019re an excellent way to create sitting or storage space outside since they\u2019re reusable and weather proof.<\/p>\n

Hanging or Potted Plants<\/h2>\n

\"Plants<\/p>\n

If you take e a walk around your rental\u00a0apartment\u00a0complex, you\u2019ll probably see lots of plants on other people\u2019s balconies. Plants are an easy way to bring life to a space, no matter how small it is. Your balcony may have come with hooks already installed for hanging plants and if not, potted plants are also a great option.<\/p>\n

While you may not be able to change\u00a0things as far as common property landscaping goes, choosing an apartment within a complex that\u00a0focuses on creating an amazing outdoor design\u00a0will have a positive effect on you\u00a0.\u00a0Choose\u00a0balcony plants that go well with the overall landscaping design of your community, by\u00a0matching\u00a0flower colors or plant types<\/a>. It\u2019ll help make your rental space feel more like home and fit in with the complex.<\/p>\n

Decorative Fencing<\/h2>\n

\"Bamboo<\/p>\n

Every balcony will already have fencing installed, but it\u2019s typically the boring metal bars that have no life or creativity. You are also limited because you can\u2019t switch it out with a fencing of your choice. Lots of renters choose to put up decorative fencing<\/a> and zip tie it to the balcony bars.<\/p>\n

Decorative fencing is great for a couple of reasons. First, it helps personalize your balcony space. It also creates new ways to spend time on your balcony. The fencing you put up against the balcony bars can create smaller gaps for tiny pets to jump through, so you can spend time outside with your favorite furry friends without having to have them on a leash or in a crate. Or it can give you privacy when you’re relaxing, sleeping, or reading outside.<\/p>\n

String Lights<\/h2>\n

\"String<\/p>\n

Outdoor lighting is essential if you\u2019re going to spend time outdoors. For most of the year, the sun sets soon after most people get home from work or school. If you don\u2019t have lighting outside, you won\u2019t want to spend time on your balcony or even design anything on it.<\/p>\n

Most balconies are equipped with a single lightbulb in the middle of the ceiling, and some don\u2019t even have that. Since you can\u2019t drill new lighting or swap out the fixture that was there when you moved in, investigate string lights.<\/p>\n

These romantic sparkles\u00a0come in lots of different designs and are even seasonal. You can get red, white, and blue themed ones for the summer, orange ones for Halloween, and then green and red lights for the holiday season. Get them in single bulbs, stringed icicle designs, or in fun shapes. Look around online to see what you can find and go with one that will light up both your heart and your balcony space.<\/p>\n

Dual Purpose Furniture<\/h2>\n

\"Furniture<\/p>\n

You might be looking to turn your balcony into a lounge space, but that\u2019s a major struggle with balconies that have very little space to begin with. Your best bet will be to stick with dual purpose furniture. You can find a bench seating that opens into a storage space to get the most use out of what you keep outside. Some chairs will have things like drink holders in them or you can stack them,\u00a0to put them\u00a0out of your way when you don’t use them.<\/p>\n

Another must-have\u00a0is weather proof furniture. Outdoor furniture comes in endless designs and colors, so they\u2019ll be able to\u00a0pick something that matches perfectly with\u00a0your indoor space. This way, you just\u00a0take what you need outside when you\u2019re ready to watch the sun set. It\u2019ll cost less than buying two types of furniture and result in more free space.<\/p>\n

Renters can still create wonderful spaces even with some limitations. For balconies especially, there are accessories and even some essentials that you can work with to get the\u00a0small space\u00a0you’ve been dreaming of. Check out furniture that has dual purpose, or learn how to grow plants to bring life to your balcony. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you\u2019ll love\u00a0spending time on\u00a0your new balcony once you\u2019re done!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As most people rent apartments – and not houses\u00a0boasting a lavish lawn, a pond, and a white picket-fence – there are not too many outdoor decorating options. Still, a balcony (or a terrace, if you’re lucky) can also be turned into an awesome outdoor project, with a bit of know-how and good taste. Luckily,\u00a0there are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":60668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38973],"tags":[38994],"class_list":["post-60667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-living","tag-organizing-your-apartment","gallery-content-unit"],"yoast_head":"\nOutdoor Decorating: Balcony Design and Accessories | RentCafe.coms<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Renters can decorate their balconies in style, even with some limitations. 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