In our country, the problem of old housing stock, morally obsolete, remains relevant. The so-called Khrushchev buildings alone account for 10% of Russia's housing stock. And in subsequent eras, a mansion was not built for the citizens of the country. The construction of new houses on the site of Khrushchev buildings is not proceeding at the pace announced by the authorities. The reasons for this are serious and largely objective, but small kitchens, bathrooms, and balconies remain an everyday reality for many families.

Let's talk about what you can do with a small balcony. Of course, it's good to live in a modern spacious apartment with a huge loggia. Or even with two. But is everything so tragic if the balcony is small? While you don’t have anything else, put your hands to it and turn the “ugly duckling”

if not a beautiful swan, then something cozy and comfortable. In the end, it is not the one who has a lot of money who is rich, but the one who has enough of it!

Let's put it in order

We don’t even start with repairs, we start with inspection balcony slab. Without understanding what condition it is in and how long it will last, putting a load on an old balcony is dangerous.

Very important! The main task for you is high-quality insulation and glazing of the balcony. Without completing this task nothing will happen. The possibilities for using an unglazed balcony in our climate are much less.

Start with glazing. You can do the glazing yourself, but it is better to turn to professionals. Glazing technology for small balconies from specialized construction companies has been worked out for a long time, and you can choose the option that suits you. Choose a double-glazed unit with a thickness of at least 32 mm.

Some companies offer a glazing option with frames moving beyond the perimeter of the balcony slab. The area of ​​the balcony will not decrease even after it is insulated.

If you don’t like plastic windows, order or install wooden frames yourself. It will work out great design in country style.

On three sides of the perimeter, your balcony will be insulated with sandwich panels, which the builders will install during glazing. The ceiling will also be insulated. The material for insulation must be agreed upon immediately before signing the contract.

All you have to do is insulate the floor. A proven method is to lay out a material such as penofol on a balcony slab. The most budget option has only one side covered with foil. Penofol with foil facing up and unfolded. We lay it end to end, sealing the seams with aluminum tape.

A timber frame is placed on top of the penofol layer, and penoplex of the required thickness is placed in the cells of the frame.

The top layer of the structure is OSB boards, moisture-resistant plywood or batten. Floor covering of your choice. Ideal floor insulation can be achieved by using film heated floors. Warm floors of this type are laid out according to the instructions directly on plywood or OSB board, contacts are connected, covered plastic film or underlay to protect against damage when laying the flooring, and laminate can be laid on it.

Design ideas

After glazing and insulation, your balcony has turned into a small loggia. The time has come to settle it in. There is not much space, every centimeter must be used rationally, but its appearance is already pleasing!

Advice. Hang on balcony windows blinds, preferably horizontal ones. This way you can use the balcony at any time of the day, covering the blinds in bright sun or at night from prying eyes.

Greenhouse

For flower lovers, we turn the renovated balcony into a charming greenhouse. Agree with a glazing company to install a wide window sill. In addition, ask for timber inserts in the side blind plastic panels. Then you can hang pots and shelves for potted plants and various cute trinkets on the side walls. The photo below shows interesting idea placement of shelves at 45°.

Blinds will protect your pets from direct sunlight.

Tired of white people plastic panels? Look at the options for decorating with plastic and panels under a natural stone. Even the moss on old masonry growing! And the load on the balcony slab practically does not increase. Today on the market you can buy finishing materials that will change your idea of ​​​​the possibilities of the same plastic in room design.

Part external wall the house, which happens to be “inside” the glazed balcony, is finished in accordance with the general design of the greenhouse. In this case, you don’t have to worry about the weight of the wall covering (tiles, stone, decorative plaster).

Rest zone

The main problem when designing a recreation area on small balcony will be the size of the furniture. Can't pick up items the right size? Make them yourself. Like this comfortable ottoman for relaxing. Place two sheets of plywood on timber posts. Calculate the height so that two drawers for storing things or a drawer with a pull-out table. We throw a mattress and pillows onto the plywood, and a wonderful place to relax and sleep is ready.

A simpler option is almost “eastern”. Place pillows on the floor and relax.

Instead of an ottoman, you can assemble a small bench. Make the seat fold down to create a storage box for all sorts of things. To make it softer to sit on, we upholster the back and seat with soft material.

Don't forget about design techniques visual expansion space. We use light colors in the decoration, enlivening the design with bright spots of color. Don't really like the view from the window? We make the side walls blank and glue beautiful photo wallpaper onto one of them.

Shouldn't we have a cup of coffee?

By placing a relaxation area on a small balcony, it is easy to create a place where you can happily drink a cup of coffee. For this you only need folding table. A diagram of how to make such a table with your own hands and several photographs are given below.

The loggia is part of the facade, protected with three sides from winds, snowstorms, rains, it is often glazed, so it is perceived as additional, non-residential premises in the apartment. Sometimes there is only her, and sometimes there is a balcony or only him. It also happens that there is no loggia or balcony.

A balcony is a concrete or stone slab protruding beyond the wall, frozen in the air. Sometimes they don’t use it, they perceive it as an extra element, especially if there is a loggia. But it actually hides a lot of opportunities and prospects.

It’s worth unlocking the potential of a balcony once: create it or, if you have one, do everything possible to make it convenient to use. A beautiful balcony design will improve your mood, you just need to look up when you are near the house.

The airiness and transparency of the open balcony

Why do residents of regions where winters are frosty and snowy need this area to be unheated and blown through? Snow falling on the balcony, accumulating moisture, ice can one day destroy the structure. It, too, like the loggia, can be glazed, although it will cost more: more work, more building materials are required.

There is one more “but”: every person is well aware that this design in itself is elegant and beautiful. There is wisdom in leaving it open and if it is located downwind it really isn't a problem. You can simply not show up on it in winter, stay for ten to fifteen minutes, and repair it regularly.

The visor is capable of changing the situation with bad weather and precipitation for the better. The balcony will make a dual impression on everyone - it is both open and closed at the same time.

A visor above the head, possibly on the sides, beautiful railings perform decorative and protective function. Precipitation is not terrible, but frost can confuse plans. In winter, using an open balcony is inconvenient, no matter how you look at it.

If you make a white canopy, wavy, and choose metal railings, the design will be lush, fabulous, magical. It is absolutely safe for the owner and others when modern, heavy-duty materials are used and the rules for creating such structures are followed. The cost of work and materials is moderate in this case.

Every person can afford this option. If you choose a material bright color, want to create a mosaic, a pattern, soon the dream will come true - the balcony will be transformed, it will be stylish, spectacular.

When choosing a color, you need to take into account the design of neighboring balconies and how the facade of the building looks as a whole. Sometimes the visor is made in such an unusual shape that the color loses some of its significance. It's easy to fall in love with such beauty.

Open balconies, if selected original decor, decorate the facade, and closed ones dissolve, turn into part of the living space, and are not so noticeable. There are very elegant glazed balconies, and there are also standard ones. Should you leave this jewelry to others or take it for yourself and own it undividedly?

You can remove the balcony altogether, leaving only a window. It is fashionable, however, to do things differently - to expand its area, to complete construction if it was not originally envisaged. In this case, you can change the layout of the apartment, make your home more beautiful, cozy, and comfortable.

Photos of beautiful balconies, glazed and not glazed, motivate us to put this additional space in order and make a decision about whether it can actually be used and how exactly.

Open balcony

Traditionally, clothes are dried on the balcony or flowers are grown. This is the ideal space for these purposes. You can dry clothes only on a balcony that is fenced with metal bars. True, we must not forget that those around us see everything and aesthetics should not be violated.

White sheets create a nice contrast with the metal railings. Plaster or stone fencing can stain laundry. And some options look too luxurious and it doesn’t look like the balcony can be used for prosaic, household purposes.

Growing flowers is an alternative, a good move, but they can be left on the balcony only for three months, a little longer. There are flowers that fade in one season, and there are those that are indifferent to the first frost.

Exist evergreens, which can also be grown on the balcony. But flowers look more elegant, so they are chosen rather than evergreens.

What to do with pots and soil is actually difficult to decide. There may not be room in the apartment to store them. On the other hand, the balcony will look great in the warm season.

If you choose unusual railings, with leaves, flowers made of metal, install pots with delicate, bright and showy plants, beautiful inflorescences, this sight will make passers-by smile, give everyone joy, and radiate harmony. This is how it should be nice balcony- resemble a bouquet.

Additional area

The desire to make the balcony more beautiful is understandable, but you may still want to use this area for economic needs, prosaic purposes - storing some things, relaxation, entertainment. If you expand it and combine it with the room, it will become more spacious. True, it is better to entrust all construction work to professionals.

How to make a beautiful balcony without resorting to anyone’s help? There are people who like to feel like they are in charge, to control everything in the house, and don’t mind doing the redevelopment themselves.

When repairing or altering a balcony, you must be very careful, study the rules of SNiP, and follow them unquestioningly. When starting to restructure the balcony with your own hands, it is important to remember that there are a lot of people around and you need to take care of their safety, as well as your own.

The window sill can be used as a bar counter, and an armchair can be placed on the glazed balcony. However, landscaping is popular, creating vertical paintings of plants on the facades of buildings, greenhouses on the roof and balconies, in the living room, bedroom - everywhere. Eco-style in fashion certainly attracts attention and evokes pleasant emotions.

To turn a glazed balcony into a work of art, it is enough to change the shape of the base, making it semicircular. A glazed balcony can be completely transparent or half transparent.

An ideal design that will definitely make a positive impression on passers-by will allow you to abstract yourself, distract yourself from thoughts about the impression being made, other people’s opinions, and concentrate on how you really want to manage the space.

A beautiful balcony in an apartment can be made of wood or plastic - strong, durable materials. Colors can also be chosen depending on personal preferences, as well as configuration.

Interior decoration is no less important than exterior decoration and everything must be carefully thought through. Plaster and stone pattern, wood, tiles - which is better to choose? The following points need to be taken into account:

• how well the balcony is now illuminated, whether it was possible to hang sconces, place spotlights - the color scheme depends on this;
• the choice of material for interior finishing work also depends on whether there is now lighting on the balcony - perhaps tiles that reflect light or mirror fragments, shiny stones are relevant;
• you can insulate the balcony using special materials– so that the miniature greenhouse does not suffer during the cold period, and any plants can be grown.

An original solution, combining a glazed balcony with a room allows you to increase the level of comfort. This rational decision, although it is associated with expenses. Establishment costs beautiful balcony will not be superfluous, they will return in the form of positive emotions and harmony in the soul.

Photos of beautiful balconies

Since Soviet times, balconies have been mainly used as storage rooms for storing unnecessary things that are a pity to throw away and have nowhere to put them. But this room in an apartment, studio or loft, if properly arranged, can become a separate office, blooming garden, a corner for sports or a mini lounge where you can read a book and drink a cup of tea in the evening over a leisurely conversation. A real miracle for owners of small apartments. You can beautifully decorate a balcony or loggia with your own hands, using ready-made design solutions or using your own imagination.

Layout and forms

There are several types of balcony layouts:

• Regular with wind protection;
• Angular;
• Group of balconies with protection;
• Displaced along the façade;
• With storage rooms;
• Loggias.

By design, balconies are classified into several subgroups:

• On a cantilever reinforced concrete slab;
• On cantilever beams;
• With external supports;
• Mounted;
• Attached;
• Attached.

Loggias, in turn, can be divided into several types:

• Loggias-balconies;
• Remote;
• Built-in.

Standing apart outside of these classifications are French balconies, which perform a decorative function. They are completely glazed, very narrow and completely unsuitable for arranging a separate room.

Important! Before starting repairs, it is necessary to study the design features of the balcony. If necessary, installation of additional fences, strengthening of the base, and creation of a frame will be required.

In Khrushchev

In Khrushchev, balconies can be of three types in length:

• 2.4 meters;
• 2.7 meters;
• 3.2 meters.

The width of such a room is always less than a meter. The dimensions of the balconies in the Khrushchev building will not allow you to “turn around” much. To arrange such a narrow room you will have to try hard. The ideal style for decoration would be minimalism. Furniture should be light and multifunctional. In addition, it is not recommended to make balconies in Khrushchev very heavy. Their design may not withstand heavy weight, therefore from ceramics, facing stone and the parquet will have to be abandoned. Otherwise, the structure will have to be strengthened.

In a panel house

Panel balconies have a number of features. A thin reinforced concrete “sheet” is welded to the end of the balcony slab, which is positioned vertically. A special gap is formed between the plates, which is used as a “drain” of rainwater into the glazed balconies. Because of this feature, difficulties arise when glazing them. In addition, the panel does not hold heat well, and the seams are usually poorly insulated, which makes such rooms a priori very cold. A layer of thermal insulation is usually installed on all surfaces. Particular attention is paid to the floor, on which it is best to install artificial heating. IN panel houses the floors are uneven. Their alignment may lead to the use large quantity material that will weigh down the structure. The solution will be the technology of adjustable floors.

Series P44 and p44t - “Boat” and “Boot”

“Boats” have a characteristic shape: a wide middle that tapers towards the sides. Such loggias cause difficulties with glazing. Arranging a non-standard space is also much more difficult. To visually expand it, the balcony window and door are usually removed. Narrow room does not allow you to place full-fledged furniture on it, so the easiest way is to limit yourself to a flower gallery or a couple of chairs near the window sill-tabletop.

The “boot” of the p44t series differs from the “boat” in the presence of three planes, which further complicates the task of glazing and finishing. The disadvantages of such a room can easily be turned into advantages if you use its “creases” as additional delimiters for zoning the space.

Open balcony

Balcony design open type will allow you to turn a small “cold” room into a separate summer veranda, which residents of cramped apartments can only dream of. It is worth considering that such a room is used only in the warm season. This is one of the disadvantages of this design. The furniture used is light and multifunctional. When choosing it, the emphasis is on quick assembly, convenient storage in winter. There is no need to clutter the space with cabinets and furniture for storing things. A small table and a bench or a couple of garden chairs is enough. An open balcony will require minimal costs for its finishing. It is enough to install beautiful grilles and make a light floor covering. This option would be ideal for growing a summer garden. If the apartment is on the ground floors, such attics are sometimes entwined with vines, which provide additional shade in the summer and at the same time decorate the facade of the house, pleasing the eyes of passers-by.

Closed balcony

Balcony glazing can be of two types:

• Cold;
• Warm.

In the first case, an aluminum profile is used. For warm glazing, an aluminum profile with a thermal insert is used, natural wood or PVC. The cold type is ideal for those balconies and loggias whose design does not allow the use of additional loads. This type is most often used in Khrushchev buildings. Insulation in this case is not required. Installation of such frames is simple and cost-effective. Warm glazing will make the balcony an “extension of the apartment”: the temperature in it will be the same as in the rest of the house, even in winter. It is worth considering that warm frames will add load to the balcony, so they cannot be used in fragile structures.

Glazing can also be partial or panoramic. With partial or classic, the lower part of the parapet remains closed. This type of glazing is more common. Panoramic glazing just coming into fashion, the entire parapet is glazed, and forged grilles are located on the lower part for safety. They simultaneously perform a protective function and play the role of decoration. According to the type of opening, window sashes can be rotary, sliding or tilt-and-turn. Nowadays, the practice of installing plastic windows is widespread. They are durable, sealed, easy to use, have good sound insulation and are easy to install. However, wood is not a thing of the past, thanks to its main advantage: the presence of natural micropores that allow the room to “breathe”, eliminating air stagnation.

Color design

For visual increase spaces usually use pastel colors, among which white is the leader. If a recreation area is designed, then it is shaded with light yellow, pale green and shades of brown so that the eyes can rest in such a room. For the office use all shades of brown, gray or black. For dining area Warm tones are used to promote relaxation and increase appetite. An entertainment or sports area is designed by combining bright, aggressive shades with soft colors for balance. You can create separate “blocks” of dark or flashy shades that will attract the attention of guests.

Important! It is worth considering which side the loggia windows face. If the side is sunny, then the use of cold and warm colors is allowed. If the side is north, then warm shades should prevail in the design.

Selection of materials

To expand the functional space of the apartment, you must first insulate the balcony. For these purposes, various types are used thermal insulation materials. As an additional measure, a “warm” floor is installed. Particular attention is paid to the decoration of the room. For interior wall decoration use:

• Wooden lining;
• Plasterboard sheets;
• Plastic lining;
• Cork;
• Siding;
• PVC panels;
• Block house.

Covering the room with clapboard will be the final stage of surface treatment. In this case, you can use your imagination only when choosing a color. Cladding with plasterboard will allow you to subsequently wallpaper the walls to your liking. Cork finishing is the most expensive and environmentally friendly. On brick balconies, sometimes the walls are left in their original form. Modern design premises often offers this idea as original solution. The brick is processed in a special way: leveled, primed and painted. Such Brick wall will become a decorative element in itself. At the same time, the texture of the brick can be made perfectly smooth, rough, or harmoniously combined Various types textures and colors. A photo gallery in metal frames or a series of abstract paintings will look great on a rough surface.

The following materials are used to finish the floor:

• Laminate;
• Linoleum;
• Carpet;
• Parquet;
• Ceramics.

Carpet and linoleum are used for balcony structures, which do not allow heavy weighting. Laminate looks richer, but the cost is one step higher than other materials. For the ceiling, it is best to choose lightweight materials with a decorative function. The practice of using suspended ceilings is widespread.

Important! Don't forget about exterior decoration. It will not only make your balcony beautiful from the street side, but will also additionally insulate it. The best option For these purposes, corrugated sheets are considered.

Style

Provence is a light style of the French countryside. It is characterized by the use natural materials, floral patterns and light colors. The presence of an abundance of indoor flowers and cute trinkets made of glass and porcelain is a must.

Art Nouveau is characterized by soft colors and curved shapes. He does not recognize strict geometric lines. Although the rooms are decorated in pastel colors, emphasis is artificially placed on individual elements of bright colors. Paintings and photographs on the walls, a small number of vases, lamps and souvenirs enliven the atmosphere. Stained glass windows will emphasize the sophistication of the interior of a balcony in an apartment in the Art Nouveau style.

Minimalism recognizes only the presence of functional interior details. It is characterized by simplicity and conciseness. The style is based on only two basic colors, which are played with shades in large interior details. Minimalism requires open spaces and plenty of natural light.

High-tech is considered modern style close to minimalism. He only accepts strict geometric shapes. The colors used are shades of black, white, and gray. It is possible to add red, blue or purple as a backlight. High-tech prefers an abundance of chrome, metal surfaces and glass. The emphasis is on artificial lighting, which diffuses and visually enlarges the space.

Furniture

Furniture for open balconies is more like garden furniture. The main principle when choosing it is the ability to quickly fold it and put it away in a storage room. It’s a completely different matter if we are talking about a full-fledged room in an apartment or a closed private house. The designers did their best here. Depending on the functional purpose For rooms, you can choose furnishings made of metal, glass, plastic or wood. If the room is used as a gym, it will be equipped with compact exercise equipment that will allow one person to train freely.

The loggia combined with the bedroom is used as a corner for evening preparations before bed. In this case, a dressing table, a couple of ottomans and a comfortable sofa are used as furniture. For the recreation area, they are limited to a small table with a seating area: folding sofa or a solid ottoman with a lot of soft pillows, where guests can climb with their feet. If the space is arranged under work area, then the emphasis is on cabinets and storage racks. Transformable furniture type ZM2 will help save space. A wide selection of such furniture elements at affordable prices in the Dutch Ikea stores.

Lighting

Properly installed lighting can become the saving grace for a small balcony room. With the help of light you can visually expand the space. Restrictions on choice lighting fixtures No. These can be light bulbs, chandeliers, lamps, sconces, LEDs, floor lamps and entire lighting systems. They can be placed on walls, ceilings and even on the floor. In order not to spoil the aesthetic appearance of the room with electrical wires, you should take care of their installation at the finishing stage. Then the electrical wiring will be of a hidden type, which will avoid peeping wires. Exposed wiring is masked with decorative elements and special panels. The main advantage open wiring it is considered accessible during repair work, which cannot be said about hidden.