Balcony Patio Design Reveal

I’m very excited to share my bedroom balcony patio reveal with you today! This project has been a labor of love and took me three years to complete. Now that the weather is warming up, I love coming outside any time of day to look at the garden and the pool. I also found it is the perfect place to hide from the kids, they don’t even think to check here! (I’m kidding, sort of).

A hot tip for anyone thinking of decorating a new house is to wait a while and see how you truly will use the space before doing anything. I thought I would be using this balcony as a yoga and meditation space, but after some time I realized it wasn’t private enough nor quiet enough for me – even with the added curtains. After about two years of living here, I knew I wanted my balcony to serve three functions: a place to chill and take a break, a place to work outside on a nice day, and a place to relax in the evenings with Tom and have a drink and catch a sunset.

The layout is long and narrow, so I created two seating zones. What is cool about the space is the brick fireplace-ish wall and mantle (the actual fireplace is inside). I created the first conversation area around it, adding plenty of seating and small garden stools and tables that can be moved around as needed. I already had the bistro table and chairs, so I used them as another seating area perfect for working from home, out facing the pool and the garden area. The cute birdhouse that looks like a miniature version of our house was left by the previous owner, and I love it so much. The balcony directly faces my neighbor’s house so I added outdoor curtains for some privacy. The curtains also do double-duty as a bit of a shady reprieve from the summer heat.

I used a palette of calm neutrals, taupe, grey, ivory, and some blues to give it a relaxed elegance. It wouldn’t be a true outdoor space without plants, so I added three boxwoods, two large vining jasmine (that smell absolutely divine), a fern, and a gorgeous dracaena. The hydrangeas on the table are going to be planted in the garden soon – but I couldn’t resist using them for styling this space. For the mantle, I went with some outdoor candles and a set of rattan wall art, which I hung asymmetrically.

When we first moved into our home, which was built in 1916, I found an old window in the attic that had to be from the original structure. I always like to add some vintage and found items to any of my designs, so I was beyond excited to find a place for it here. I hung it on the wall and placed a jasmine plant in front of it that will eventually grow up to cover the window at some point. Another unique find is the vase with the fern in it. I found it at a goodwill shop and fell in love with the design – at the time I had no idea what I was going to use it for. I lined the bowl with a coco fiber liner and planted my cute baby fern.

A boring but important note: one of the most important things to have for your uncovered patio has to be a large deck box for putting away pillows and blankets and storing furniture covers, especially if you live in a harsh weather climate. We get crazy winters and equally wild rainstorms in Spring. I’ve ruined more outdoor furniture and pillows than I’d like to admit out of sheer laziness to bring inside pillows and blankets or cover the furniture before a storm. Keeping storage containers accessible is key to maintaining the life of your patio decor.

Scroll down for pictures, then scroll down even further for the before!

balcony design reveal
second floor patio decor design bistro chairs

BEFORE:

2nd floor patio balcony design before

SHOP THE LOOK:

Many of my items are either discontinued or were found on Facebook Marketplace, so if I can’t find the exact item, below are links to similar items to shop. Click on the links/images below:

Bistro Chair / Bistro Table / Rug / Garden Stool / Woven Stool/ Patio Chairs / Striped lumbar pillow / Blue Square Pillow / Throw Blanket

Thanks for visiting as always! xx – Zahra

Follow Me! @zahra_sandberg

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Last week we took a quick trip to escape the snow for some sunshine in Key Largo, Florida☀️ We spent every moment possible outside, Tom and Adam got their Scuba Diver PADI certification (yay!) while Sophia and I spent our days either swimming or drawing marine life and landscapes. This was my first trip after my sister passed last November, and even though I look so happy here, there were so many moments I felt the grief and sadness, as if it happened just yesterday. I am still figuring out how I want to show up in this space, as I have changed so much as a person since the loss. I just don’t feel called to post some of the things I shared before. Maybe that will change someday, or maybe it will just naturally evolve into something new. I think I will take this year to just process it all. (Even the idea of taking an entire year to think through something is a huge shift for my usually hyperactive type A personality) My focus at the moment is just living in the moment with my family and friends, spending time doing things that make me happy and healthy. I hope to share some of that journey here with you ~ thanks for following along ❤️
I had planned to shoot this outfit in collaboration with @lenacoutureofficial right before my dear sister passed away. Saba, the designer, was more than understanding if I didn’t want to anymore - but after thinking on it for a while I decided I wanted to - in my sister’s honor 💗 She was always my biggest hype woman. When i would feel like I’m not good enough or that I should quit (which was often) she would tell me I was unique and great and to keep it up. When I think of my sister, beauty and love is all that she embodied in her being. She expressed that on the outside also - as she loved to wear everything glam, bright & colorful, and full of bling. Hair done, nails done, everything did - that was Nusrat. For this shoot I took the time to get glam after a long hiatus - and makeup and hair took so long because I think I forgot how to do it, but afterwards I was surprised how I felt transformed. When I wore this gorgeous outfit that I know was designed with such love and incredible attention to detail by @lenacoutureofficial, I felt all of that beauty - like a walking piece of art, and very much at peace. Thank you so much to @divmophoto for capturing the feeling so well 💕
Ski weekend with my favorites ❄️❄️ So proud of Sophia for skiing on her own for the first time!
There are some trees with seeds that only grow after a fire. Their seeds are completely sealed with a resin that have to be physically melted off by a great fire in order to propagate. So to do we as humans, gain wisdom only after great pain and suffering.*
A month ago (and one day) I lost my sister and best friend to cancer. I am still completely gutted and broken. But, I’m also so so grateful to have had felt the love that now brings me so much heartbreak. ❤️ I am so inspired by her - and I will forever live my life to honor her memory. Miss you sis ❤️
Classic outfit combo: oversized blazer + denim 🖤fendi mules @shoeslutz
Just a mom who loves mums 🌸 🪴
Cozy for a coffee date ☕️
French. Toast. Egg. Bake. Save this recipe for a weekend or holiday brunch - it’s SO good and fool-proof! I’m not even a sweet person and I love it. The pecans are a non-negotiable IMO - I get honey bourbon vanilla pecans for this and it is just heavenly. Enjoy!