Make The Most Of Your Balcony This Summer

A balcony can be far more than a place to hang washing. With the right furniture, it becomes an extra room for meals, work, quiet afternoons and long evenings outdoors, especially once the warm weather settles in for good.

Turn mealtimes into an outdoor affair

Once the weather warms up, there is little reason to keep meals indoors. A sturdy outdoor table changes a balcony from an afterthought into the natural place to eat breakfast, get some work done, or let the children draw while you keep an eye on them. A proper table big enough for plates, glasses and a lantern or two means everyone can gather round comfortably, whether it is a quick coffee and pastry or a longer family lunch that drifts into the afternoon.

NÄMMARÖ table, outdoor, light brown stained, 75x63 cmTÄRNÖ table, outdoor, black/light brown stained, 55x54 cmNÄMMARÖ table, outdoor, light brown stained, 140x75 cmASKHOLMEN table, outdoor, foldable dark brown, 60x62 cmASKHOLMEN table for wall, outdoor, folding dark brown, 70x44 cmVÄSMAN extendable table, outdoor, light brown stained, 135/190x74 cm

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Build in a proper spot to lounge

Every balcony benefits from somewhere to stretch out and do nothing in particular. A bench along one wall adds seating without taking up much floor space, and with a few cushions on top it doubles as a daybed for an afternoon nap or a lazy read. Keep spare pillows and throws tucked away in a box underneath the bench, so they stay dry and out of sight until the evening turns cooler and a blanket is welcome again.

NÄMMARÖ bench, outdoor, light brown stained, 120 cmNORRMANSÖ bench, outdoor, acacia, 200 cmNORRMANSÖ bench, outdoor, acacia, 100 cmNÄMMARÖ storage box, light brown stained indoor/outdoor, 80x40x45 cm

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Add a quiet corner for yourself

A balcony does not need much to feel like a proper retreat. A single comfortable chair, an umbrella for shade during the hottest part of the day, and plants gathered around it are enough to create a calm spot of your own. This kind of corner works particularly well on a smaller balcony or terrace, where one good chair placed among greenery can do more for the mood than a full seating set ever would.

NÄMMARÖ stool, outdoor, foldable/light brown stained, 37x45 cmTÄRNÖ chair, outdoor, foldable black/light brown stained, 39x79x40 cmASKHOLMEN chair, outdoor, foldable dark brown, 36x87x49 cmNÄMMARÖ chair with armrests, outdoor, light brown stained, 56x78x62 cmNÄMMARÖ reclining chair, outdoor, foldable light brown stained, 60x105x71 cmNÄMMARÖ chair, outdoor, foldable/light brown stained, 49x81x50 cm

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Cook where the fresh air is

Cooking outside tends to be more relaxed than standing at an indoor hob, and it keeps you part of the conversation rather than stuck in the kitchen. Setting up a proper prep area next to the grill, with a cutting board and room to lay out vegetables, makes it easy to chop, season and cook without constant trips back inside. On balconies in Malta and Gozo, where outdoor space is used for most of the year, this kind of setup earns its keep well beyond the summer months.

GRILLSKÄR kitchen island shelf unit, black/stainless steel outdoor, 86x61 cmGRILLSKÄR kitchen island shelf unit, stainless steel, 86x61 cmGRILLSKÄR side table, outdoor, black stainless steel/outdoor, 30x61 cmGRILLSKÄR kitchen sink unit/cabinet, outdoor, stainless steel, 86x61 cmGRILLSKÄR kitchen sink unit/cabinet, outdoor, stainless steel, 172x61 cmGRILLSKÄR unit for sink, black/stainless steel outdoor, 86x61 cm

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Whichever part of balcony life you want to improve first, Maltashopper brings these IKEA pieces to homes across Malta without the trouble of sourcing them yourself.

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