Honestly, having a balcony sounds like a dream, right? It’s cute, small, cosy, and you can decorate it how you like. But somewhere to sip your tea, read a book, maybe sit outside with your dinner when the weather’s actually behaving. But then you step out and realise… you’re kind of on display. Well, it depends on where you live and how secluded, but for most people, they’re basically on display. Like, full view. Neighbours above, below, across the street, everyone gets a front-row seat.
And if that’s your only outdoor space, it’s a bit of a pain. You should be able to enjoy it without feeling like you’re starring in a reality show you didn’t sign up for. Right? Well, thankfully, it doesn’t take much to make your balcony feel more private and a whole lot more comfortable.
First, figure out who’s got the best view of you
Okay, so before doing anything else, have a proper look at where people can actually see you from. It might be the building across the way, the neighbour next door who’s always watering their plants when you’re trying to relax, or even people walking past on the street. Sometimes it’s not as bad as it feels, but once you know exactly where the problem is, you can work out what needs covering.
You don’t have to shut the whole space off completely. Just block the angles that matter and keep the rest nice and open.
Plants are great for privacy
Well, not just that, but they have a way of making it perceived that you have your life together (and if you really do, then props to you). Honestly, plants are doing the most. They look good, they calm you down, and they’re great at giving you a bit of cover without turning your balcony into a wall of bricks. A few tall pots with bamboo or some big leafy ones do the trick.
You can pop them in the right spot, and you’ve got your own little green screen. Some people buy planters, a trellis, and some really tall jasmine (since they grow fast), and they’ll use that method instead. But yeah, bamboo and climbing plants (that are fast growers) are by far your best choice.
Plus, if you forget to water them for a week, they usually forgive you.
Keep the light, just lose the audience
Yeah, so it’s tempting to just chuck up a big board or cover everything with fabric, but then you lose all the things that make being outside nice in the first place. The light, the breeze, the open feel, well, you want to keep those. Now, it really helps to look into something like a slatted wood screen or outdoor curtains you can pull across when you want to. They still let the light in, but give you some control over how much of your life is on show.
But of course, all railing is different, and some make it harder to create privacy than others. But if you’re doing a bit of a proper upgrade, frameless glass balustrades are worth looking at. Okay, sure, “glass” and “privacy” don’t really go together, but when it comes to creating more privacy, it’s one of the easier safety systems for balconies that will at least work with you rather than against you.
Besides, they pair pretty nicely with plants and privacy fabric (and you’re still getting natural lighting in too.
Rearrange things so it feels more like your space
Sometimes it’s not about what you add, but how you arrange it. If your chair is facing your neighbour’s window, it’s not going to feel very private, no matter what you’ve got around it. So, you might want to try angling your seating so it’s facing into the space, or away from the main view. You could add a high-backed chair, a little table with a lamp, or even a folding screen behind where you sit. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it just has to work for you.
But really, even having a rug underfoot can make the space feel more like a proper room and less like a patch of concrete stuck onto your flat.
Add a few things that make you want to be out there
Once you’ve sorted the privacy bit, make it somewhere you actually want to sit. Sure, it should be obvious, but it should still be stated, because you don’t want anything over the top, instead, you just want something nice and comfy. It’s surprising how much more enjoyable it is to be outside when you’re not constantly thinking about who might be watching or if someone’s about to lean over their balcony and ask what you’re having for dinner.
