Balcony Makeover | A Home Renovation Series
Recently I have been working on my balcony, and it has been way too fun not to document it. Let me show you what it looks like and the story behind it! My balcony is a 10m2 size place, which is not tiny but has ample space. I’m very much enjoying gardening, and this space is not only functions as a gardening space but also a place to store the gardening supplies. However, the more I am involved in gardening, the more clutter I have. Since I have a rooftop garden, I spent less time on the balcony, and it started to become more like storage than a balcony. Sometimes I felt stressed walking into it because of how messy it is. Also, it has been in the same design for about ten years. I think it is time to re-design my 10m2 balcony to bring back its former glory.
It all began with the area I called “shelf area.” As you can understand, it has stored all my gardening supplies, and it has piled up ever since. It works fine, but sometimes it’s hard for me to grab or keep the things. I have tried to make it cute many times, I even bought the good-looking baskets, but I still felt nothing changed. I also desperately wanted a working space to do some gardening because I found myself doing a lot of gardening on the sitting area (the opposite side of the shelf area). It would be great to add a working space slide functioning as the storage. After some thought and research on Pinterest, the renovation began!
Welcome to my messy balcony, the part I called “the shelf area.” The sitting area is facing this side so that’s why I felt stressed every times I’m in here.
I don’t use this white shelf to be honest. It has been pealed up with all the trash and hardly ever used staffs also this is not an outdoor furniture as well.
Junk shelfs one, two, and three. I tried to make it tidy and cute for many times and it never goes the way I wished for. In this situation means it is time for a full clean up and redesign for the space.
The Preparation
Since I will remove my old three-layer shelf, I have been searching for some ideas. I already know I want the low-level shelves that can function as a crafting table. The only place I know has durable outdoor furniture is IKEA, especially the one that can be added on or built freely to what shape you want. Luckily, I already have had their outdoor furniture line in my sitting area for ten years, and it is still in good condition. I went on Pinterest and IKEA.com to collect some inspiration, and it all led me to the same outdoor shelves that can build freely, which is what I wish for!
TORDH outdoor shelf and UTSUND battery operated outdoor light. I bought three 60cm and three 40cm TORDH shelfs with three packs of legs comes in two with one pack of legs. The shelf set coast me around 86 USD/2600 NTD.
Collecting the Ideas
Here are some of the inspirations I collected. As you can see, I am really into having a multi-function situation that works as a crafting table and the shelf to store things and look cute simultaneously.
Attempting for a DIY
Since I want a space that looks good and functional, I have been looking for a wall shelf to utilize the area more. However, the one I saw from IKEA(the photo you just saw) was out of stock (why…), and I didn't want to wait for another few months. I had decided to make my own. Because the shelf is for outside, it still needs to be weatherproof. I choose to use the same shelf top from the "TORDH outdoor shelf" from IKEA so it can still be in the same design and color skin.
The TORDH shelf is too deep for the standard wall shelf size and shelf supporter, so I cut one bar down to fit the dimension. The shelf supporter is also from IKEA. Since this is for the outdoor, I have to choose the metal supporter for more durable materials (well, they only have a few options). It's such a DIY, but I can't believe it works perfectly and suits the whole design's color skin, especially the metal supporter. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT WORK!!! SO EXCITING, LOL!
Five bars
Cut one off
Suits the stander wall shelf size.
The Reveal
Isn’t it perfect! The bar I cut becomes a hook holder so I can hang some gardening tools.
Night Time
Before & After
I am pleased about how it turned out. I have been more excited to come out here to enjoy times and do gardening. It is such a crazy feeling to think about how a place can look so different if you put some effort into it. Living in a city jungle to have this somehow cottage garden style balcony is blowing my mind, especially if you look from the outside, you will never think there is a space like this, which is why I love doing a space makeover. This is the first of many home renovations, and I can't wait to show you more. What's next? I can't wait to make my home cozy and warm (well, for summer, no!).
Thanks for your visit. See you on the next post
