Everyone dreams of a cozy and comfortable apartment. After all, it is here that we return after a hard day, here we want to relax and chat with loved ones. Therefore, modern man pays great attention to the design of his home. But sometimes a small part of it - a balcony - remains a warehouse of unnecessary things, a place for smoking, and anything, but not a continuation of a modern apartment.
Many citizens have already realized that a balcony can become a great place to relax, and sometimes work, if you put a little imagination into its reconstruction. Of course, this will require certain material expenses from you, but in return you will receive an additional, albeit very small, room in your apartment. How to make a cozy balcony? We will try to answer this question in our article.
What could a balcony look like?
Today, the design of a balcony in an apartment can be of two types: open and closed. The first option is more suitable for southernregions of our country. There are not so many ways to design such a balcony. Usually, the work consists in installing the original fence, comfortable furniture, decorating the interior and exterior space with live and artificial plants.
The second option is more expensive, although it involves many ways to turn precious meters into a small cozy room. And given that most of our country lives in more severe climatic conditions, it becomes obvious why most citizens prefer the second design option.
Where to start remodeling a balcony?
Probably, first of all, you should answer the questions: “How do you imagine a cozy balcony? What do you want to get during the reconstruction? There are many options for decorating a balcony. Here are just a few:
- cabinet;
- a cozy corner to chat with friends;
- child playroom;
- sports corner;
- greenhouse.
This list is endless: in this case, it all depends on your imagination and the amount of money you spend on decorating the balcony.
Preparatory work
Before starting work, you must completely free the balcony. At this stage, perhaps, the independent activity of the owners of the apartment ends. Now professionals should get down to business, since it is necessary to check the strength of partitions and ceilings. If they are no longer strong enough, theybeing dismantled.
Cement walls must be checked for voids, if any are found, they are cleared. If necessary, the balcony is scalded around the perimeter with steel frames. If you decide to create a cozy balcony, making it part of the apartment, you will have to go through several steps:
- glazing;
- waterproofing and insulation;
- wiring;
- wall and floor alignment;
- balcony cladding;
- furniture selection;
- decoration.
Glazing
Many owners are interested in which windows to install on the balcony. Which designs are better to choose, the owner of the home must decide. It depends on whether you want to make the balcony part of a warm apartment or not. In the second case, you can limit yourself to cold glazing. This will protect the space from dust, wind, rain and snow. In this case apply:
- swing doors;
- frameless designs;
- sliding systems (aluminum or plastic).
With warm glazing, it is necessary to use high-quality double-glazed windows. You can coordinate their design with a representative of the company that will carry out the installation.
Insulation and waterproofing
After glazing, the floor, walls and ceiling are insulated. It is more correct to insulate the balcony from the outside. This will prevent the appearance of moisture and condensation inside the room. But sometimes the position of the apartment does not allow for insulation from the outside, so the work carried out from the inside shouldbe well thought out: factors that contribute to the penetration of cold into the room are eliminated. If there is a parapet, then a galvanized sheet wind insulation is installed. A solid concrete parapet is sealed with mounting foam.
Then a frame is made from timber. Its size must correspond to the parameters of the insulation. Sandwich panels or polystyrene are usually used. The insulation is followed by a layer of waterproofing. Most often it is a vapor barrier film. The floor is insulated in the same way, but if you want to organize an office, a playroom for a child or a greenhouse on a new balcony, it is better to use underfloor heating for additional thermal insulation.
How to make a warm floor on the balcony?
The balcony has a rather limited area, so laying a warm floor requires a special approach. Of course, it is better if a specialist does this work, but if you have certain skills, then you can do it yourself.
The base of the floor is covered with vapor barrier material, the joints are sealed with metal tape. The water-heated floor that is popular today is not suitable for installation on a balcony. Electric options would be ideal:
- infrared film floor;
- cabling system;
- heating mats.
Mat - the most common option that allows you to carry out installation work without extra costs and loss of room height. Mats are placed in an adhesive composition, which is intended for fixing tiles. It must be taken into account that the levelthe floor will rise slightly (by 1-1.5 cm). The substrate is a concrete base or an old tile coating, which is covered with glue during installation. You will be able to use this heating system within a week after the glue has dried.
At 50% you have already received a cozy balcony. Agree, it's nice to sit in a comfortable chair on a balcony with a warm floor on a rainy autumn or winter day and, while drinking hot tea, look at the passers-by wrapped in scarves.
Wiring
If you do not carry out a comprehensive renovation of the apartment, then it is more expedient to limit yourself to an extension cord. The cable is pulled under the plinth to the nearest outlet. A junction box is installed on the balcony. Here it is necessary to power all the points.
Design Tips
Of course, every owner would like to visually enlarge a small space. Finishing the balcony will help achieve this effect. To do this, use the advice of designers:
- Use mirrors, which are especially effective in expanding the space of a small balcony. Sometimes they are successfully replaced by reflective or polished surfaces: metal, glass.
- There should be as much free space on the floor as possible: folding or compact furniture will not create a clutter effect.
- Use more light colors. Soft pastel colors will make your cozy balcony spacious and inviting. Cross stripes on the floor and ceiling will enhance this effect.
But the expansion of space should not be for yoube the main task - it is important that the room becomes functional and comfortable.
Design of a balcony in an apartment
So, all the most complex reconstruction work is completed. It's time to think about what will be the decoration of the balcony. Today, designers recommend instead of the usual (and, admittedly, rather boring) coloring, to make wall decoration more stylish. You can use cork or plastic panels for this.
Porcelain stoneware or laminate flooring is most suitable for the floor. A small fluffy rug will add coziness to the room.
Choice of furniture
Successful design of balconies inside depends on many factors: finishing materials, choice of color palette, competent lighting. An important role in this matter is played by the right choice of furniture for the balcony. It must match the overall design. You should not take tables and chairs to the balcony that are no longer needed in the apartment.
Upholstered furniture will make the balcony as cozy as possible, so a small sofa or a compact folding chair will add truly home comfort to the room. The use of folding furniture is justified. It can be tables and chairs, as well as various racks. This type of furniture will allow you to easily transform the space according to your desire at any time. When choosing decorative pillows that harmoniously complement the interior, adhere to the integrity of the style.
Study on the balcony
Many small apartment owners prefercreate a mini-study on the updated balcony. Such a decision is quite justified, since it allows you to retire and work (or work out) at any time without being distracted by extraneous noise.
To equip your office, you will need a small computer or writing table, a rack for documents or textbooks, a comfortable compact chair or armchair, and good local lighting above the work area.
Balcony garden
Most of the beautiful half of homeowners want to turn their balcony into a small green oasis: after all, the townspeople so lack communication with wildlife. If your balcony is insulated, then such an undertaking is easily feasible. You will be able to enjoy magnificent plants even in harsh winter.
Plants are placed on the walls and ceiling in pots, on special racks near the walls. And if you put a small tea table and a couple of chairs on such a balcony, you can meet friends in this "Garden of Eden".
Summarize
A cozy balcony today is a full-fledged living space. Along with changing the design, it is necessary to try to expand its functionality, pay attention to every centimeter in this small area. When decorating a balcony, use modern materials and try to leave more free space. Only in this case, the result of this work will please you and your loved ones.
