Pros and cons of placing a sofa on the balcony, suitable models, upholstery

The balcony is a pleasant bonus to the useful living space. It is often used to store all sorts of things that do not fit in the apartment. But recently, this additional territory began to be allocated for a comfortable recreation area. It is enough to choose a sofa for the balcony so that it fits harmoniously into the space, is comfortable and practical. And if you complement it with an elegant table, you can have tea parties in the fresh air or take a laptop and, sitting on soft pillows, do a little work.

Pros and cons of using

Upholstered furniture on the balcony will help turn it into an additional room for complete comfortable rest and even sleep. But before you start renovating and arranging the lounge area, you should weigh all the pros and cons of this idea and understand how practical it is to use a sofa on the balcony. The advantages include:

1. The apartment will have additional space for rest and sleep.
2. Multifunctionality. Some sofa models are equipped with special storage spaces in the form of pull-out or built-in drawers.
3. The appearance of an additional room in the apartment. If you put not only a sofa on the loggia, but add to it a small wardrobe and a table in the same style, then instead of a non-residential space you can get a full-fledged place for work and relaxation.

The disadvantages of arranging a balcony include:

1. Large volume of repair work. To use the new room all year round, you will need to install heating and additional lighting.
2. Coordination of redevelopments.
3. Small space. Due to the specific configuration of the balcony, only a narrow sofa designed for one person can be installed on it.

You can make a sofa yourself. This will help save money, as well as bring any design solutions to life. Typically, the design of a balcony uses the general style of the entire room. But you can deviate from this rule and decorate the recreation area in an unusual color scheme, use more bright textiles and decorative elements.

First of all, you should pay attention to safety; the balcony must be glazed and well insulated.

What to build a homemade sofa from

One of the best solutions is a frameless sofa or two chairs with loose filling. They can be given the required shape and moved to any place, connecting several in a row as an impromptu basis for sleeping.

As a basis for a homemade sofa for a balcony with your own hands, use:

• edged board;
• bars;
• plywood;
• laminate.

A wooden frame or frame is a strong foundation. Under the seat we can use an awning from a folding bed and leather straps in the form of a lattice.

Plywood or chipboard will also work, but you will have to increase the thickness of the seat. The soft base of a small sofa on the balcony is old pillows, part of a mattress or scraps of thick foam rubber.

The comfort of upholstered furniture depends not only on the soft seat, but also on the ergonomic backrest. Of course, you can create rollers and lay them on the back and sides.

Much more comfortable is an inclined soft back, better - with headrests, they can be borrowed from old cars.

Suitable Models

When choosing a sofa, you should consider its size. It should be compact so that it fits perfectly into the interior and does not interfere with free movement around the balcony. The following types of structures are distinguished by shape:

1. Straight sofa. Located near a narrow wall. It often has a folding mechanism; when unfolded, it is comfortable to sleep on.
2. Corner sofa. This design takes up a lot of space, so it is suitable for loggias with an area of ​​at least 10 square meters. Provides comfortable rest, in addition, it is equipped with convenient drawers for storing various things.
3. Hanging option. This is an unusual piece of furniture, made in the form of a swing, reminiscent of a small sofa. The structure is attached to the ceiling of the balcony. Helps you relax and take your mind off everyday activities.

Subtleties of choosing a teenage sofa, suitable styles and designs

Suspension

Straight

Corner
Also, balcony sofas are usually divided into groups:

1. Sofa pouf. Soft, lightweight design with no frame. Such models are usually small, suitable for small balconies.
2. Sofa chest. Designed for storing things. The cover is upholstered in soft fabric and decorated with pillows.
3. Sofa wardrobe. A transformer with a sleeping place, which when folded looks like an ordinary wardrobe.
4. Ottoman. A rigid structure resembling a couch is installed against the narrow wall of the balcony.
5. Sofa bed. With folding mechanism. When assembled, it looks like a regular straight or corner sofa. If you unfold it, you get a comfortable sleeping place.

Each owner of a balcony who has decided to arrange a lounge area on it will be able to choose a suitable sofa option for themselves. The choice of colors and design solutions is huge. The main thing is to take into account the size and shape of the structure so that it fits harmoniously into the interior.

Poof

Folding

Box

Ottoman

Closet

Original ideas on how to make a sofa on the balcony

If you look at ready-made sofas in furniture catalogs, you can find many compact models that will fit in the balcony space. For example, a children's sofa “cube”, which does not have to be folded out unnecessarily.

A double folding sofa will fit on the balcony in a house with a new layout if it is slightly expanded during reconstruction. However, it is recommended to check the dimensions of the product before purchasing; sometimes you have to remove the baseboard.

The convenience of the transformation mechanism plays an important role. Often, when unfolded, a sofa occupies the entire balcony; distortions will cause difficulties.

An inflatable sofa or mattress is also suitable as a comfortable seat for the balcony space, if it fits in width.

Sometimes it makes sense to buy a small old sofa for the sake of a soft base. Side rails can be removed if the seat and backrest are tightly secured to the walls of the loggia or balcony.

The easiest way to equip the end niche of the balcony with comfortable, practical seats. Usually they make their own two-seater mini-sofa or a comfortable locker with a folding soft lid.

See more interesting and practical ideas in the photo selection and video.

Practical materials

When choosing a sofa for the balcony, great attention should be paid to its upholstery. Its service life will depend on the quality of the material used. Therefore, the fabric must be durable, not afraid of frequent loads and mechanical stress, and be easy to care for. There are three types of materials that combine beautiful appearance with practicality. These include:

1. Chenille.
2. Natural and artificial leather.
3. Flock.

A fabric that looks like velvet, with the addition of tapestry, jacquard or satin threads, which gives it additional strength, is called chenille. It is used not only for upholstering sofas, it is also used to make decorative pillows. Furniture upholstered with this fabric looks expensive. The advantages of chenille include:

1. The fabric does not stretch.
2. Does not shrink when washed.
3. Draps beautifully into folds.
4. It comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
5. Does not fade when exposed to direct sunlight.

Original sofas made from pallets in the interior, pros and cons of products

The next popular fabric is natural or artificial leather. The material has high wear resistance, is not afraid of mechanical damage, as well as high humidity. Suitable for almost all interior styles. Easy to clean, just wipe it with a damp cloth occasionally. But this fabric has a significant drawback: under the influence of high temperatures it can become deformed. Although if you provide it with proper care, the furniture will last for many years and will become a stylish decoration for the balcony.

Families with small children should pay attention to flock upholstery. Main advantages of the material:

1. Easy to care for.
2. Eco-friendly and hypoallergenic.
3. Does not stretch or deform.
4. Not afraid of moisture.

All sofas on the balcony must have frames made of materials with high moisture resistance. This is due to the high humidity of the place in which they will be located. Therefore, when choosing, you should avoid products made from chipboard and MDF, and give preference to a frame made of solid natural wood. This design will cost more, but will last for many years. Especially if it is additionally coated with varnish or any other water-repellent agent.

Balcony designs

How best to arrange a balcony with storage space depends on the design:

• open balcony;
• glazed balcony without insulation;
• glazed insulated balcony.

An open balcony is unlikely to be a good place for storage, but you can organize a flower garden or a small garden there in the warm season.

Glazed balcony without insulation

The glazed version is more functional than the open one, but the lack of insulation narrows the list of things that can be stored there. On the other hand, the design of a balcony with this type of storage space can be more interesting.

In winter, frozen semi-finished products can be stored on such a balcony. In summer, storage becomes problematic: high humidity and air temperature do not allow food to be stored on the balcony. However, in the summer, you can place on the balcony something that is usually used in winter and takes up a lot of space in the apartment (skis or snowboards, for example). You need to carefully and carefully select materials for furniture for a glazed balcony without insulation.

Expert commentary

Sergey

Architect

Chipboard, MDF or solid wood cannot be used. On a glazed balcony without insulation, constant changes in temperature and humidity occur. The most suitable option in this case would be furniture made of metal and plastic.

Glazed insulated balcony

This type of balconies is the most functional, because the insulation allows you to store almost everything there. On such a balcony you can safely install shelves and shelves for shoes or clothes without fear that things may deteriorate due to humidity or temperature changes. Functional and aesthetic furniture will turn your balcony into an even more comfortable space.

Interesting! Design of a kitchen combined with a balcony in a modern style - real photos

Design and colors

Furniture made from unusual materials will help diversify the interior of the balcony. For example, an elegant mini-sofa will be made from rattan. This product looks light and will perfectly complement the kitchen design. If you add to it a table woven from the same material, you will get an elegant set.

An original solution would be a sofa made by hand from ready-made pallets or lining. To do this, you need to pre-treat the material with special antifungal and moisture-protective agents, then paint and varnish. Next, you can assemble the structure; it will serve as a sofa frame. After this, all that remains is to cover the product with foam rubber and cover it with fabric.

The advantage of sofas made from pallets is their mobility. The design can always be changed, new elements added, increased or decreased in size.

A balcony in the kitchen or any other room with a sofa decorated with decorative soft pillows, complemented by fresh flowers in pots, will always look cozy and unusual.

We make a sofa for the balcony with our own hands

In order to independently make not only a comfortable sofa for a balcony, but also one that serves practical purposes, you must have at least minimal skills for each stage of the work. Namely: processing of wooden blocks, plywood; upholstery and covering of furniture with fabric; sewing soft pillows, etc.

Required tools and materials

First you need to make sure that you have all the materials and tools necessary for such work. Some items from the list may not be useful to you, but some can be replaced with analogues. The main thing is that in the end you can cope with each stage of the work without any problems.

Criterias of choice

Few people know, but there are certain criteria for choosing a sofa intended for installation on the balcony. Points to consider:

1. Size. Before purchasing the model you like, it is worth making careful measurements of the room. Every centimeter can play a decisive role. Therefore, it is better to make all the necessary calculations in advance in a special computer program.
2. Functional. You should decide in advance on the main purpose of the sofa. Its design and shape will depend on this. A chest is more suitable for storage, and for sleeping you should choose a sofa bed with a folding mechanism. If you need more of a decorative piece of furniture, then it is better to choose an ottoman or pouf.
3. Appearance. Before purchasing, you should decide on the design of the furniture. Will it match the general color scheme, as well as the style of the interior, or differ from them.
4. Form. The model should be selected based on the dimensions of the balcony. For a small room it is better to choose an ottoman, and for a large loggia a corner sofa will fit perfectly.
5. Possibility of transformation. If the balcony area is very small, then it is better not to choose a folding sofa for it. This design is suitable for large loggias.
6. Storage space. Choosing a sofa for the balcony with storage drawers will help solve the problem of placing many things.
7. Price. When purchasing furniture, you should maintain a balance between cost and quality. This is especially important when it comes to its use in unfavorable climatic conditions. You should not save money so as not to purchase a low-quality product.

Options for placing a corner sofa in the interior, tips and nuances

It is equally important to consider where the sofa will be located: on an open balcony or glazed loggia, its service life directly depends on this. Furniture that gets rained on in the summer and covered in snow in the winter will not last long. In this case, special attention should be paid to the materials used. They must have increased moisture resistance, strength, and not be afraid of temperature changes.

Having even the smallest loggia at your disposal and cluttering it with things is a crime. It will be much more productive to use this area for relaxation. If you place a sofa on the balcony, add an elegant table to it, decorate the room with indoor flowers in beautiful pots, bright textiles, you will get a cozy area. Large costs can be avoided if you do everything yourself.

Types of sofas for balcony space

There are many types of sofas suitable for installation on a loggia or balcony. All you have to do is choose which one is closer to you.

Built-in and freestanding

A built-in sofa on the balcony is a good option that allows you to make the most of your free space. It saves useful space, but on a loggia that is too small it can look cumbersome. Typically consists of a floor-to-ceiling module with cabinets, shelves and seating. Sometimes equipped with a folding mechanism.

A built-in sofa bedside table will help you rationally use the free space on the balcony

A freestanding sofa for a balcony - there are all kinds of sofa models that are easy to move from place to place. These can be mini-sofas for 1-2 seats, models without armrests and backrests, large classic models, etc.

Freestanding - any sofa that can be easily moved from place to place

Frameless and rigid base

A frameless sofa for a balcony is a mobile option for brave, extraordinary individuals. You can choose a ready-made model from the store or replace it with a soft mattress on the floor in tandem with pillows on the wall. For a very narrow balcony, the best option would be a frameless chair that can be carried away if necessary.

Frameless sofas and armchairs are comfortable due to their mobility and lightness

A sofa on a rigid base is the familiar model on a frame. The frame is made of wood and metal, and the filling for the balcony sofa is chosen to be elastic and hard. Such models retain their original appearance longer, are more resistant to negative influences, and are easier to care for.

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A sofa with a rigid metal frame and solid base is a durable, practical option for a balcony

With folding mechanism

A folding sofa will be needed if you plan to make a bedroom on the balcony or just sleep here sometimes. This option is suitable for owners of long loggias when there is no need to protect every square meter. At the same time, it is convenient that most of the time it will be folded and will not interfere with movement around the balcony.

Install folding models along the wall.

A folding sofa will allow you to organize a full-fledged sleeping place on the balcony

But consider what mechanism is in place so that the unfolding process does not cause discomfort.

The table shows sofas by type depending on the folding mechanism.

Folding models are convenient when you need a sofa for the balcony with a sleeping place. Which one to choose depends on the area of ​​the room.

General tips and tricks for making a sofa with your own hands

If you're new to carpentry, the following tips and tricks will help you avoid many common carpentry mistakes:

• To more accurately determine the dimensions, measure the balcony several times. Better yet, do this with an assistant, and then compare the results. As a rule, this helps to find shortcomings in calculations and avoid a situation in which the finished product does not fit into the available space, or unsightly gaps form along the edges of it;
• When choosing a product size, consider your definition of comfort. If the seat is too narrow or the back is too low, it will simply be uncomfortable for you to relax on such a sofa;
• Don't try to make the sofa too bulky and overcrowded with details. You should choose styles that are close to minimalism. Several armrests, a voluminous backrest, a lot of pillows - all this looks great on large soft sofas, but the simplest options are suitable for a balcony;
• Buy materials with a reserve, in case something goes wrong during work and several bars are cut to the wrong size or the fabric is stitched in the wrong place. In addition, from leftover materials you can make additional details for your sofa, which will give it a special twist. For example, the fabric can be used to make small pillows or appliqués on the back;
• If during the process of making a sofa something doesn’t work out for you or you have additional questions, do not be afraid to turn to the Internet for help. There are many highly specialized forums where they will once again tell you the correct algorithm of actions.

To create a cozy and comfortable relaxation area on the balcony you don’t need much. The main thing is to have patience and imagination, then the repairs made on the balcony will delight you and your guests for a long time. In addition, hand-made furniture will be a real source of pride for the owner!

The easiest way to make a sofa:

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