{"id":9345,"date":"2018-06-16T15:15:09","date_gmt":"2018-06-16T22:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/?p=9345"},"modified":"2018-06-15T15:45:42","modified_gmt":"2018-06-15T22:45:42","slug":"use-it-or-lose-it-how-to-make-the-most-of-the-condo-balcony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2018\/06\/use-it-or-lose-it-how-to-make-the-most-of-the-condo-balcony\/","title":{"rendered":"Use It or Lose It &#8211; How to Make the Most of the Condo Balcony"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Survey any condo community or apartment complex and you\u2019ll quickly notice there are two types of urban dwellers \u2014 those who utilize their outdoor space, and those who do not. If you fall into the latter camp (monobloc plastic chairs and a rusty bicycle) but would prefer to join the ranks of the former (well-trimmed topiaries and a plush loveseat), property stylist Red Barrinuevo is here to help.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cCondo buyers always insist on having a balcony, and it adds to the cost of the unit,\u201d says Barrinuevo, the Principal of Redesign4more, a Toronto-based home staging company. \u201cYou might as well use it!\u201d Get his 10 tips on transforming a blah condo balcony into a dazzling urban oasis.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>1. Establish zones<\/strong><br \/>\nEven if you have a postage stamp-sized balcony, it\u2019s important to map out your space. \u201cZoning allows you to maximize functionality,\u201d explains Barrinuevo. \u201cIf it\u2019s a small balcony, think about what you\u2019d like to use it for and what is most important to you. If you have a larger space, zoning is essential because there are many more possibilities to consider.\u201d Should you add a water feature or a serving cart? A sectional or a children\u2019s play area? Figure out how your outdoor space will function before making any other decisions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>2. Warm it up<\/strong><br \/>\nMost condo balconies are simply slabs of concrete surrounded by glass. To add warmth to an outdoor space, Barrinuevo likes to use organic elements, such as wood floor decking or plant life. \u201cThese things will change the look of your balcony right away,\u201d he says. When shopping for outdoor furniture, opt for natural and renewable materials such as teak, mahogany or rattan. Your space will go from cold and concrete to cozy and inviting in no time at all.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>3. Choose small-scale furniture<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cThere are a lot of stores that sell condo-sized outdoor furniture that kind of mimics the pieces you have inside your home,\u201d says Barrinuevo. Try a scaled-down sectional or a bench that can be pushed up against a wall. If you\u2019re really limited on space, a drop-leaf table or comfy corner chair can work wonders.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>4. Integrate storage<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cIf you want to add storage to your outdoor space, look for double-duty furniture,\u201d says Barrinuevo. \u201cChoose a coffee table with storage space underneath or a chest that can also serve a bench.\u201d This allows you to tuck away accessories such as throw pillows, furniture covers and extra blankets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>5. Inject color wherever possible<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cThere are so many ways to add color to your outdoor space!\u201d says Barrinuevo. His favorites? \u201cThrow pillows, outdoor rugs, potted plants and accessories.\u201d If your interior color scheme is a bit more muted, your outdoor space can be an opportunity to experiment with brighter colors. It\u2019s less of a risk and fairly easy to change up if you grow tired of the look.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>6. Focus on flooring<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cChoosing floor coverings depends on how much you want to spend and your balcony\u2019s exposure to the elements,\u201d says Barrinuevo. \u201cOutdoor tiles are fairly inexpensive, but if you\u2019re willing to spend more money you could go with hardwood decking \u2014 it really looks like an extension of your living room.\u201d Outdoor rugs are a renter-friendly option, which Barrinuevo says you can pick up at HomeSense, Walmart or on Wayfair for around $30. \u201cYou get a decent floor covering that\u2019s trendy, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>7. Set the mood with outdoor lighting<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cLED string lights and lanterns are great \u2014 I really like Edison bulb string lights or an outdoor chandelier centered above a dining table,\u201d says Barrinuevo. If your building has restrictions on the types of lights you can hang (bah, humbug!), opt for a solar powered lantern that gives off an ambient glow.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>8. Go with greenery<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cOn my balcony, I use faux boxwood \u2014 I love real plants, but faux is so easy and you can control the look,\u201d says Barrinuevo. If you\u2019ve got a green thumb, consider using majesty palms during the summer months. \u201cThey help with privacy and lend a tropical feel,\u201d explains Barrinuevo. \u201cA potted ficus tree, real or faux, is another great option.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>9. Create privacy<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cChoose bigger plants to make your space feel more private,\u201d notes Barrinuevo. Privacy screens are an easy way to keep away prying eyes. \u201cYou can find rolled bamboo panels or artificial ivy leaf screens at home improvement stores. These act as a curtain, but have a more natural feel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>10. Use it or lose it<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cThe square footage of new condos is shrinking,\u201d says Barrinuevo. \u201cIf you have a balcony, it can be a great way to extend your living space outside.\u201d Think about what you lack on the inside, and make it happen on the outside. Do you need more space for entertaining, or crave a reading corner where you can unwind with a good book? \u201cGet rid of the clutter and add functionality,\u201d says Barrinuevo.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/news.buzzbuzzhome.com\/2018\/05\/condo-balcony-10-expert-tips.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Make The Most of The Condo Balcony with These 10 Expert Tips<\/a> by Kelsey Pudloski | Buzz Buzz Home<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Survey any condo community or apartment complex and you\u2019ll quickly notice there are two types of urban dwellers \u2014 those who utilize their outdoor space, and those who do not. &hellip; [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2018\/06\/use-it-or-lose-it-how-to-make-the-most-of-the-condo-balcony\/\">read more<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-home-lifestyle"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Use It or Lose It - How to Make the Most of the Condo Balcony &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2018\/06\/use-it-or-lose-it-how-to-make-the-most-of-the-condo-balcony\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Use It or Lose It - How to Make the Most of the Condo Balcony &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Survey any condo community or apartment complex and you\u2019ll quickly notice there are two types of urban dwellers \u2014 those who utilize their outdoor space, and those who do not. &hellip; [read more]\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@RoryClipsham\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@RoryClipsham\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rory Clipsham\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/use-it-or-lose-it-how-to-make-the-most-of-the-condo-balcony\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2018\\\/06\\\/use-it-or-lose-it-how-to-make-the-most-of-the-condo-balcony\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rory Clipsham\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7\"},\"headline\":\"Use It or Lose It &#8211; 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