Build-a-Balcony
Apartment life can leave you feeling stuck indoors a lot of the time, making a good balcony so important, giving people a chance to get some fresh air and enjoy the sun from the comfort of their homes.
However, balconies can often be small, uninspiring spaces when moving into an apartment, often in need of some sprucing up by the tenants and homeowners. Some people go the extra mile when transforming their balcony, turning it into more than just a place to enjoy some fresh air.
Toolstation spoke to those who have gone through their own balcony renovations to find out how hard it was, how much it cost and how much more they now utilise their outdoor space after the renovation.
We reached out to some of our favourite balcony before-and-afters on Instagram, asking them:
- How much did it cost to renovate your balcony?
- What was the easiest part of the renovation?
- What was the most difficult part of the renovation?
- Has the amount of time you used your balcony changed since the renovation?
- Has your increased time on your balcony improved your overall mental health?
- What do you use your balcony for? e.g. Garden, Yoga, Relaxation
An English Countryside Balcony
Balcony renovation cost: £6,500
Our first balcony renovation is based in Warwickshire, England and has been turned into a lovely spot to hang out by Amanda. This balcony now features impressive balcony railings, alongside some fresh decking to make it look much more inviting.
According to Amanda, the easiest part of the renovation was adding in the new Trexx Decking, whilst the most difficult task was the designing and installing of the new balcony railings.
Amanda says her time on the balcony has increased since the change, stating that the increased outside time has improved her mental health and that she uses her space for relaxing as well as cups of tea in the mornings on weekends.
When asked if the change has improved her mental health, Amanda answered: “Yes, you cannot beat a bit of relaxing in the fresh air can you? It makes me feel very calm and peaceful sitting out on our balcony looking over the countryside and the river”.
Upcycled Wooden Pallet Balcony
Balcony renovation cost: €400/£344
Heading to Belgium, we speak to Manon who renovated her space in a simple but effective manner.
The easiest part of the renovation for Manon was the table, which was built using two wooden pallets and four wheels. The hardest part was the bench: “I couldn’t find a tutorial video for the shape I wanted so I had to imagine the plans, create it from scratch”, but it turned out great with some DIY.
Manon now spends more time on her balcony since the renovation, “Now each time there is a bit of sun, I’m on my balcony. I love to invite people at home to enjoy a barbecue on the balcony”.
Her mental health has also benefited, “It is very important to sunbathe, enjoy nature, etc. I love to spend time on my balcony, admiring the landscape”. Manon uses her balcony to enjoy the sun, play sports, do some gardening and eat outside when the weather is good.
Cosy Renter-Friendly Balcony
Balcony renovation cost: $300/£244
We head to Boston in the United States for our third balcony. A much cheaper and smaller renovation than the previous, our renovator Yenny had less to work with here, but has still transformed her space into a cosy area to relax.
Yenny told us the easiest part of her renovation was the Oasis wall, whilst the most difficult task was putting in the new flooring, which took two days to complete.
Yenny’s time on the balcony has increased “tremendously” since she decorated. Her mental health has seen an improvement also: “On warm days I love to go out there and have my morning coffee and it definitely sets the tone for a better day”. Yenny also said she mostly uses her balcony space for relaxing, using it as the perfect place to escape during the day.
A Bright And Floral Balcony
Balcony renovation cost: €500/£431
For our last balcony we’re looking at Jorge’s balcony in Dublin, Ireland. This was a long-term project for Jorge, taking him three years to complete. He managed to repurpose a lot of the materials to keep costs down during the project.
The easiest part for Jorge was seeing the progression unfold in front of him, “Since it was a personal project, I felt free to let it evolve naturally over time rather than being forced to complete the project upfront. And it’s continuing to change – even now!”
Jorge’s renovation gets even better, as he tells us he enjoyed what he considered the most difficult part of the process, “I had to get creative with upcycling old items to keep costs manageable.” Jorge also struggled with the limits of living in a rented property, which stopped him from making any major design changes.
His time on the balcony has increased now it’s looking better, “Now, having an outdoor space that feels organic makes a huge difference when living in a city and also while working from home full-time. The space is now where I relax after work, regardless of the time of year.”
Like the rest of our renovators, Jorge’s mental health has improved due to his outside space: “having an outdoor space in a city apartment makes a huge difference, especially now that I’m working from home full-time.
It has also been a huge creative outlet for me, allowing me to channel a lot of creative energy particularly during lockdown”.
Jorge uses his outdoor space for hosting, having food and drinks with friends, allowing his plants to get some sunlight and of course for relaxing.
It seems that investing in a balcony renovation is definitely worth it, as we can see from our renovators, the change has brought them a new space to get away in their own homes, and has positively benefited their mental health.
These cases prove that it doesn’t have to be an incredibly expensive task either, as long as you are willing to put in some work, it can be achieved for an affordable amount of money.
Whether you’re just fitting a new garden bench, or completely gutting and decorating your space, Toolstation has what you need, check out our hand tools and garden sheds sections as a start for some inspiration.