Making the Most of a Small City Balcony

A narrow city balcony is one of the most underused bits of space in a British home. At roughly 1.2 to 1.5 metres deep it rarely fits a full dining set, and it usually faces either the sun or a brick wall, with nothing in between. But with a bit of planning, it can become an extra room that you use from March to November, and a quiet corner for a mug of tea in January.

Start with a proper measure, not a shopping trip

Before you buy anything, spend twenty minutes with a tape measure and a pencil. Note the width, the depth and the height of the railing, then sketch the space to scale on graph paper, with one square to 10 centimetres. Mark the door swing, because a balcony you cannot step onto comfortably is worse than an empty one.

Next, work out where the light falls. A south-facing balcony can give six or more hours of direct sun in summer and will need shade; a north-facing one stays bright but cool and suits leafy salad crops and ferns far better than tomatoes. Keep a clear path of at least 60 centimetres along the full length of the balcony. It sounds generous, but you will notice immediately if you ignore it.

Go vertical, and keep the floor clear

The single biggest gain on a narrow balcony is to move greenery upwards. Wall-mounted modular planters with built-in water reservoirs cut your watering to once or twice a week in high summer, which matters if you are away at work. Railing planters that clamp on need no drilling, handy in leasehold flats where you would rather not ask permission.

Arrange heights deliberately: tall planters and obelisks against the wall or at the ends, low pots nearest the railing, so you keep a view out when you are sitting down.

• Herbs: rosemary, thyme, chives and sage cope with wind and dry spells.
• Leaves: perpetual spinach, chard and rocket crop for months in partial shade.
• Fruit: strawberries in a trough, or a dwarf blueberry in an ericaceous compost.
• Mint: always in its own pot, or it will take over everything else.

Two practical warnings. Wet compost is heavy, so keep individual pots below about 25 kilograms and group them rather than stacking. And on an exposed upper floor, wind will topple light plastic pots, so choose heavier glazed or terracotta containers, add a layer of gravel, and stand tall plants against the wall.

Choose furniture that folds away

On a balcony this size, furniture has to earn its keep. A wall-mounted drop-leaf table is the best-value item you can buy: folded down it is only a few centimetres deep, and folded up it seats two for breakfast. Pair it with folding bistro chairs that hang on hooks on the wall when not in use.

Look for powder-coated aluminium, or FSC-certified acacia and teak, all of which shrug off British rain. A bench with storage underneath gives you seating and somewhere to keep cushions, tools and the watering can. Stackable stools are surprisingly useful, working as side tables, plant stands and spare seats. Whatever you choose, keep the smallest footprint you can live with, and store cushions in a waterproof box overnight so they stay dry and mould-free.

Screen for privacy without blocking the light

Overlooking is the main reason people give up on a balcony. You have several options, and the best results usually mix two of them. A roll of reed or willow screening attached to the railing is quick and cheap, but it darkens the space and catches the wind, so fit it on one side rather than all round.

Tensioned stainless wire run between two posts lets climbing plants do the work. Jasmine, honeysuckle and clematis all thrive in containers, and they give you a screen that changes through the year. For something faster, bamboo in a deep trough works well, provided you line the trough to contain the roots. Frosted window film on the lower part of any glass panel, or a simple voile hung on a rail, softens the view from inside without cutting daylight.

Plan for light, water and storage

Good balconies feel comfortable after dark, so run a set of battery or solar festoon lights along the railing, and add a clip-on lamp for reading. If you need power, use an outdoor-rated extension lead with an RCD plug, and never trail it through a doorway that could pinch the cable.

• Watering: a two-litre collapsible can stored flat behind a planter saves a trip through the flat.
• Drainage: always use saucers or feet, and tip standing water out after heavy rain.
• Storage: a slim waterproof crate on wheels slides under a bench and keeps secateurs, string and gloves tidy.
• Wind: bring parasols and lightweight chairs in when a storm is forecast, and check fixings each spring.

Keep it going through the winter

A balcony does not have to be a summer-only space. Raise pots onto feet so water drains freely, wrap terracotta in bubble wrap or hessian, and move tender herbs against the wall. Autumn is the moment to empty spent compost into a bag, scrub the pots and sow a few winter salad leaves under a cloche.

Add a wool blanket in a storage box and a warm outdoor rug, and you will find yourself sitting out on bright, cold mornings long after the last tomato has gone. A small balcony rewards attention more than any other outdoor space. Measure it, plant it upwards, keep the floor clear, and it will quietly become the best room in the flat.