How to Turn a Juliet Balcony Into a Functional Space
In the hands of an experienced realtor, every confusing aspect of a home can be turned into something desirable. There is no greater example of this than the Juliet Balcony – those narrow, not-quite-balcony things screwed into the sides of buildings. (They’re named after Romeo and Juliet , although Shakespeare didn’t actually mention a balcony , making deception just another crime these so-called balconies have committed.) If you’ve ever looked at real estate ads promising ” private outdoor space “Only to puzzle over the railing above the high window, do you know the dark secret of these ” balconettes “.
Of course, any access to fresh air and more sunlight is a good thing, but Juliet balconies are only marginally more efficient than any old window when it comes to ventilation and natural light. So you won’t be the first to wonder how exactly you should use your tiny piece of outdoor space . Like many modern “innovations” that don’t really add much benefit, making the Juliet Balcony work requires just a little creativity .
Garden
The most common way to transform a Juliet balcony into something useful is to turn it into a garden. If you have a shallow floor, some narrow pots with vertically growing plants will work well, and some pots with railings will add even more visual interest. If the railing has spokes, you may also want to consider a climbing vine that will provide a natural privacy screen.
Your garden can be ornamental, or you can use it as a vegetable garden , relying on dwarf fruit and vegetable plants (there’s even a tomato variety literally called ” Patio Princess “) that will provide fresh produce in addition to natural beauty. And if your Juliet balcony faces a busy city street, your lush balcony garden will hide the chaos of the city behind a much calmer wall of nature.
Dinner Zone
If you enjoy dining out in the fresh air, but your Juliet balcony is your only access to it, you can create a comfortable dining area with a folding table on the rail and a few folding chairs (which can also be stored on the balcony). Open the doors or windows to the balcony, lay out the table and put on food (or coffee, or cocktails). When you’re done, everything will fit together and you can close the doors or windows until next time.
You can also turn your Juliet balcony into a cozy reading nook. A comfy chair, a folding table for drinks or a stack of books, and an arc reading lamp will make your Juliet balcony a cozy place to read your book list while enjoying the breeze.
Summer cuisine
If you love to grill, then having a Juliet balcony as your only “outdoor space” will be disappointing. But don’t let tight spaces stop you—get yourself a rail-mounted grill and a rail-mounted folding table and you’ll be grilling up a storm in no time. Invest in a folding dining table and a few chairs that you can place inside, so you can entertain a guest or two without burning out the entire apartment.
If you don’t like to cook, an outdoor bar cabinet with railings can transform your Juliet balcony into a great outdoor bar for get-togethers or a quiet after-dinner cocktail by yourself.
Storage
If you live in a small space filled with stuff, a Juliet balcony may be more useful to you as additional storage space. For example, a vertical bike rack will allow you to store your bike on your Juliet balcony if you have a few inches of space there. A narrow, waterproof deck box will allow you to safely store many items, freeing up valuable indoor or floor storage space.
Expand the balcony
If you really want to have a real balcony but have to settle for a Juliet balcony, consider extending the balcony into the interior space. Take wooden patio tiles , lay them out on your balcony and extend them a few feet into the room. Add a few container plants, a table and chairs, and you’ll have a full-size balcony and patio, even though most of your patio is indoors. It’s a little unusual, but it works.
A Juliet balcony isn’t the most useful architectural feature in your home, but with a little effort, it can be a lot more useful .