Is your balcony serving a purpose? Here’s how to cleverly utilise the extra space during a home renovation
By Shannon Osztonits -
Share this article
Is your balcony serving a real purpose? Or is it a waste of space in a housing landscape where homes and floor space are becoming smaller?
For those who were blessed with balconies during Covid days were screaming “hallelujah” – the closest thing to being outdoors. But those days are long gone. Being outside is no longer that novelty.
And let’s be real; Singapore’s humidity can be a killer, and so spending hours on end hanging out on your balcony…drawing or painting… is rather whimsical (we’ll save that dream for The Notebook).
The question you should be asking is: Is my balcony a waste of space?
2 Types of Balconies in Singapore
“The previous tenants would hang their clothes in this balcony space, and not really use it effectively. It’s kind of dingy. So, we gutted it completely. Now, I spend a great deal of time here, especially in the mornings,” a 50-year-old Singaporean homeowner tells Home and Decor.
Outward-facing balcony
This is the classic type of balcony, where the structure protrudes from the exterior part of the home/property to create a ledge.
Private Enclosed Spaces (PES)
According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, a private enclosed space is a semi-outdoor area that forms part of a strata unit (private property).
Creating a feature space in your home
Have you bought a property with a balcony, but don’t really know what to do with it?
Or have you been living in your home with a balcony for a few years already and it’s just become an unused space for drying clothes or storing bits and bobs?
What a waste of unused space! This is your cue to convert a non-utilised area into an integral part of your home’s design; a place that feels like another “room,” or an area that you look forward to spending time in.
A part of the wet bathroom is solely for Ran Ran, where she has her very own wash station.
Outdoor wash area for your pets
The need to accommodate fur babies in the home has become very important in Singapore, especially among millennials and young adult homeowners.
When it comes to home renovations, creating a dedicated space for pets has increased. This includes design ideas like an individual pet wash station in a bathroom, or an entire bathroom just for the dog or cat.
Don’t have a bathroom to spare or the cash for a renovation? Another idea is to create a portable outdoor wash station around the balcony. Throw down some artificial astro turf/grass, and you’ve also created an outdoor chill space for your pets. Just ensure it’s properly secured and keep an eye on them at all times!
The 50-year-old Singaporean homeowner’s balcony where he loves his slow mornings.
An al fresco dining area for breakfast, dinner or morning coffee
Tuck away the clothesline, or save it for the service yard. Give your balcony a complete moment to shine. Add in a small round table and a few chairs, even a small lamp for evenings. Throw down a rug to create a warm ambiance, line the floor with a few plants or hack a floating shelf for some extra decor. Voila!
You’ve just created an al fresco dining area, whether it’s for breakfast, dinner time or even a quick morning coffee and moments of reflection.
“I’ll grab my breakfast from the kitchen and sit around my coffee table out here and just enjoy the view and have a nice breakfast. Just to pause, to breathe, no rush and no meetings to attend or deadlines to meet. Enjoying this time; no phone,” says the 50-year-old Singaporean homeowner.
Another cute idea for a morning coffee station vibe is to add a temporary counter below the balcony railing, creating a cafe-like setting. With one or two bar stools below it, you’ve just designed an at-home coffee bar!
I created an outdoor garden jungle feel on my balcony.
An indoor-outdoor garden oasis
Plant enthusiasts, put your green fingers to the test and create an indoor-outdoor garden on your balcony.
Use this as a station to propagate your plants. Or instead of going all out, consider maybe a cute little herb garden instead if you love cooking.
Freshly picked thyme and rosemary that I grew on my balcony garden.
If your balcony is tiny, or you would still like to use it for other things, like a dry station, consider a vertical garden. You can easily DIY one using a wall trellis, fabric wall pockets, hanging planter boxes and even a wooden pallet.
Create a new lifestyle space
From extra floor space in a living room to a special nook for hosting, a small WFH desk or a dedicated section for a kids’ play area…There are multiple ways to repurpose extra balcony space.
For example, the owners of a 3-bedroom HDB Executive Maisonette converted the former balcony into extra room for their children to play in as part of an extension of the living room.
“If I didn’t have kids, I might have used the balcony for something else. Like, creating a space for the dogs to sleep,” says the homeowner. “But kids take priority. We’re in different stages of our lives now. Now, we usually hang out around the living room, watching TV.”
No balcony? Here’s another idea for extra space
Not every property in Singapore has a service yard, but they are more common than balconies.
A service yard in Singapore, whether it’s a BTO service yard, HDB service yard or a condo service yard, is designed as semi-outdoor.
This area is where the majority of households with a service yard store their heavy-duty appliances, like a washing and/or drying machine, or where the washing line is kept.
If you’re in dire need of some extra space, for a bigger kitchen or to accommodate a wet and dry kitchen, chat to your interior designer about repurposing your service yard if you don’t think you’ll use it as much.
Balcony with zip blinds
Balconies with non-permanent zip blinds are popular in Singapore, using blinds or Ziptrak for balcony design. They create a feeling of a “separate” space, but do not alter the property’s original structure at all.
Homeowners use them around the outer part of the balcony to block out the sun or rain, but you can also use zip blinds instead of sliding doors as another non-permanent solution that doesn’t change any structural elements of your property.
Remember to always check the legal restrictions of your balcony area before you go ahead and make any changes. These vary per property type in Singapore.