City dwellers living in small apartments have to be very creative and make the most of every centimeter of living space. At the same time, many often forget that they have a balcony and store all unnecessary things or preparations for the winter there. This approach is very impractical, because in the very place you can arrange an area for rest, work or creativity.
One of the most practical options for busy people is to set up a study on the balcony. Whether you are studying or working, this room can help you make your computer hours more efficient. You will learn how to organize the space on the balcony so that it turns into a mini-office from our article.
Advantages and disadvantages
Not every balcony is suitable for converting it into an office. Decide whether the balcony space can be used for the working area, and only then proceed to its arrangement.
If you have an open and unheated balcony, then it is definitely not suitable for organizing an office there. Also, do not arrange a study on a very tiny balcony, where you will not even have anywhere to turn around.
But, of course, such a design solution has its own advantages. A separate office, even the smallest one, is already a great option for a workspace. There you can retire and study or work for your own pleasure, without being distracted by family conversations, extraneous noise and other external factors.
How to prepare a balcony
If, after weighing all the pros and cons, you still decide to turn your balcony into a small home office, then you need to prepare it first. If you have an open balcony, for example, in a bedroom, then it must first be glazed. Thus, you can use your office at any time of the year, regardless of the weather outside the window. You can use either cold or warm glazing method.
Ideally, the balcony should also be insulated. By insulating it from the outside and from the inside, you will get a cozy space where it will be pleasant to spend time even on winter evenings, when it is cold outside. There are various options for insulation. On your balcony, you can use any of these, from dense mineral wool to sealed foam. All cracks and openings should be treated with foam or sealant at least a day before you embody all your design ideas into reality.
It is also advisable to supplement your room with a floor heating system. Such a system is not so cheap, so if such an addition does not fit into your budget, then you can limit yourself to just laying a good laminate or carpet. They are pleasant to the touch and do not cool down as quickly as tiles do in cold weather.
According to the rules, there is no central heating on the balcony. Therefore, you will have to keep warm yourself. To protect against winter frost, install a small electric heater on your balcony.
Design
When the base of the cabinet is ready, you can start arranging it. Decide on the style first. Styles such as classic, English or modern are best suited for the study.
Due to the fact that the balcony is a very small and limited room, you do not need to use too many various parts that will only take up free space. This attitude towards decorative details is typical for all the styles listed above.
As you know, light colors help to make the space visually wider. Therefore, it is best to use light colors for decorating a balcony. Wallpaper in pastel colors, light wood laminate and white ceiling will make your little room more comfortable and spacious. The same result can be achieved by installing large windows. Panoramic glazing is unlikely to be suitable for a study; simple wide windows will suffice.
It is not recommended to use too bright and variegated colors in the office. They will distract you from work and tire you.
In a small space, just a few color accents will be enough, for example, a bright lamp, a photo frame or a flower in an unusual pot. Such an office will look both creative and formal at the same time, so you will feel comfortable working there.
Proper lighting also plays an important role in the office. Since here you will work for a lot of time with books, documents and a computer, you need the light to be good and not spoil your eyesight. If during the day this problem is perfectly solved due to natural light entering through the windows, then for work at night or in the evening it is worth installing lighting fixtures on the balcony.
For example, you can install a floor lamp in the corner, or place a small table lamp on the table. Naturally, there is no place for large chandeliers and volumetric lamps on the tiny balcony. Therefore, limit yourself to small fixtures or lamps. It is also advisable to hang curtains or blinds on the windows in order to feel comfortable in the evenings. Blinds and curtains, like wallpaper, it is better to choose light ones to create the illusion of free space.
The balcony space, if you have imagination, can be used in different ways. If it seems irrational to you simply cluttering up the space with old things, then try converting it into a study. Having arranged such a small space in accordance with your needs, you will enjoy being alone there at work. Get inspired by our ideas and design examples of other workspaces, and create the creative office of your dreams on your balcony.
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