Balcony ideas to help you store more outdoors

Sure, laundry can be a real chore. So why not change the scenery and take it to the balcony? Add a combination of open and closed storage to keep your necessities in one space. Start with a lockable cabinet to keep flammable and toxic items safe. A peg board can hold everything you need to mend and touch up your clothing, like sewing kits, extra buttons, lint rollers and fabric shavers. Then add some sturdy, waterproof boxes, a laundry basket, and a drying rack (way more sustainable than a drying machine!) that can be kept on wall hooks when it’s not in use.

What’s a balcony for, if you can relax there? It’s a perfect space to chill and entertain, so keep the look calm with furniture that doubles as storage. These comfortable benches open up to reveal lots of room for your cushions, pillows, throws and more, when they’re not being used.

Of course you’ve got enough room to support all of your hobbies. Just use those walls. Once totally in the way, your bike takes up almost no room at all when it’s hung on a wall rack. Shelving keeps smaller items tidy, especially when you load up on stackable, clear boxes (they make everything easy to find!) to keep tools, gadgets and accessories safe from the elements. Protect your activewear from sun bleaching, and bike tires from drying out in the sunlight with black boxes. And with everything stored at one end of the balcony, you’ve got lots of space left over for other activities.

Cooking outdoors? So relaxing! Create an airy balcony kitchen to whip up some smoothies or keep your preserves in the winter. A spacious cart with a work surface offers a place to prepare food and room below for waste bins, while a cabinet with doors keeps foods protected from the sunlight. It’s also where you can safely stash your tableware, so you won’t need to run back and forth between the balcony and the kitchen when it’s time to eat. Save even more space with a tiered hanging basket for fruits and veggies; it’s decorative, safe to use outdoors, and easy to move from the kitchen to the balcony. And last but not least, remember to set up a little dining area to sit back and enjoy it all.