Ideas for Decks and Balconies

Go Natural

• One way to create an inviting space on your deck or balcony is to go for an environmentally friendly, sunny effect. Set out matching – or collect mismatched – wicker pieces, complete with seat cushions upholstered in a bright, all-weather canvas. A washable rag rug comforts bare feet, while baskets constructed of raffia allow for storage and complement the organic look of the wicker. Strategically placed citronella candles impart mood lighting and a fresh aroma while keeping away biting bugs.

Inside, Outside

• Emulating the feeling of a pulled-together room on a deck or balcony is both quirky and modern. Reupholster a secondhand sofa and loveseat with weatherproof canvas or oilcloth. Give an inexpensive plastic patio table a faux wood or stone finish. A quick-drying carpet completes the look. To go above and beyond, construct an adobe or brick outdoor fireplace to extend the deck’s use well into winter.

Go Eclectic

• An antique-filled home can and should spill over onto a balcony or deck space. Pull a few wood chairs and a low table from your collection outside and let the sun and wind weather them naturally; give them the occasional once-over with tung oil to help keep the wood from splintering. The space also works as a showcase for large pieces that demand attention, such as vintage signs, old equipment or wagon wheels. Get creative – that wheelbarrow saved from a farm estate sale can make a charming planter.

Easy Being Green

• If you have a green thumb, you don’t have to limit yourself to your raised backyard bed or container herb garden. Group large pots together and fill them with flowers to dress up an otherwise basic deck or patio furniture set. Plant trees and shrubs either around the deck perimeter or in more large pots lined up close together to enclose the space and create some privacy.