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Balcony storage ideas to tidy up so you can slow down

Dreaming about a bigger balcony? Keep the dream alive, and in the meantime, make the most of the balcony you have. These balcony storage ideas can help you squeeze in more while getting organized and cutting clutter. Start with your biggest balcony space-eating frustration and tackle as much as you can. Every bit helps!

A big, beige in/outdoor KOLBJÖRN cabinet, made of two stacked cabinets on top of side-by-side cabinets, is on a balcony wall.

Cushions and chairs

To tame outdoor cushions, think protection from the elements. When you’re not using cushions, keep them in a balcony storage cabinet or box. As for chairs, leaning them on a wall can still be a mess. Get them out of the way. If your chairs don’t fit in storage boxes or tall cabinets, use wall hooks.

A beige in/outdoor KOLBJÖRN cabinet’s door is open, showing cushions and a partly transparent storage box on its two shelves.
A carrier bag and a white foldable chair on an almuminium/beige KLYKET folding hook on a wall, plus another chair above.

Plants and gardening accessories

Give greenery spacious, sturdy storage. Go for metal or plastic-coated metals that can handle wet areas. Open shelves or cabinets have room for pots, watering cans and gardening tools. Plus, they keep mess-prone bags of soil off the floor. Pots that match your shelving will put your plant babies in the spotlight.

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Two grey LÄCKÖ shelving units hold leafy plants in matching anthracite CITRONMELISS plant pots against a balcony wall.
A balcony wall with two dark blue SUNDSÖ cabinets with plants, glasses, and an off-white TAGGÖGA vacuum flask on top.
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Laundry and drying essentials

Practical. Nearly invisible. Those are key phrases for laundry/drying balcony storage ideas, especially in small areas. Like foldable drying racks that can hang out of the way when not in use. Or wall-mounted clothes bars that blend in. A shelving unit is a handy home for soaps, sprays, laundry bins and hanging dryers.

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A white MULIG in/outdoor drying rack in a balcony corner has its two wings folded in with a hanging dryer on it.
A big green plastic TORKIS flexi laundry basket is on a folding chair by a drying rack with pink fabric draped over its side.
Two white MULIG clothes bars on a wall, with clothes on white hangers, beside a folding hook holding various items.
Two white JOSTEIN shelving units with drying racks are side by side on an enclosed balcony wall, with clothes on the racks.
A beige PURRPINGLA laundry bag with handles is on the floor of an enclosed balcony beside a shelving unit and drying rack.
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Sports gear and seasonal items

Ice skates. Roller skates. Sand toys. Balls galore. Sports equipment and seasonal hobby items don’t often need special treatment. But they do tend to be bulky and dirty. Use bags, boxes, bins, open shelves or cabinets to contain them. Easy-to-rinse materials are ideal.

A big green plastic TORKIS flexi laundry basket with handles holds balls and sports equipment, on a wire metal shelving unit.
A metal HYLLIS shelving unit has stacked, white plastic SOCKERBIT boxes with lids as well as surfing and camping gear.

Household necessities

Sometimes a balcony does a garage-like job, even if it can’t fit a car or bicycles. A good, find-it-fast overview is key when storing smaller household necessities in an enclosed balcony. Choose stackable boxes and bins, especially ones you can see through, write on or attach labels onto.

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Transparent grey-blue plastic RYKTA storage boxes with lids have cleaning products inside and are stacked on a shelving unit.
Shelves are holding open, white SOCKERBIT boxes filled with light bulbs and batteries nearby stacked transparent SAMLA boxes.
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Recycling

Think convenient and closed. Recycling will be easier to deal with regularly and nicer to live with in the mean time.

  • To keep recycling contained, look for bins with lids or storage/sorting bags that zip closed.
  • Choose sizes and features based on what you need to recycle, how often you empty your recycling, how you transport it and whether you need to stack multiple bins.

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Several DAMMÄNG bins with lids, including a 26-litre grey-beige one, are by a shelving unit in a corner. All have handles.
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A little of this, some of that and what even is this?

The reality is a balcony will likely always be a bit of a dumping ground. But it doesn’t have to look like a dump. Dedicate a box or bag to hold ‘unhoused for now’ or ‘deal with it later’ things. If the storage closes fully or has a lid, you can disguise the disorder, enjoy your balcony and take care of that stuff eventually.

The tray top is lifted off a beige LÅGASKÄR outdoor coffee table showing a compartment inside, holding throws and cushions.

Looking for more small balcony storage ideas and inspiration?

A light brown stained acacia ASKHOLMEN table and foldable chair face the view in a balcony with plants and natural materials.
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