Balconies are a beautiful addition to any house or apartment.

They add a dynamic element to your living space, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful Australian climate from the comfort of your home. However, they raise two issues for many people – lack of shade and lack of privacy.

If your balcony leaves you feeling exposed and overheated instead of relaxed, it might be time to consider adding elements to improve the shade and coverage. Thankfully, there are plenty of affordable and practical ways to create shade and privacy in your outdoor living area.

Options for creating shade on a balcony:

Awnings

Awnings are a stylish and practical way of shading a balcony. Awnings can be attached to an exterior wall and positioned to overhand a balcony, creating shelter from the sun, rain, and wind. There are also UV-resistant options which not only create shade, but also protect your skin – which is absolutely vital for those of us living with the harsh Australian sun!

You can also choose awnings that can be retracted when not in use, opening up the living space and letting sunlight flow more easily into your home or apartment.

Pergola

These slatted roofs provide a good cover of shade without completely blocking the sun, giving you the best of the outdoors and the indoors!

When you install a pergola, you can also choose to grown vines or other climbing plants along the lattice-like structure. This creates more shade by filling in the gaps of the pergola, and it also creates a beautiful visual appeal.

Options for improving privacy on a balcony:

Trellis

Setting up a trellis wall is a great option for creating privacy on your balcony. A trellis is a lattice frame, around which you can grow vines and other plants. Climbing plants such as ivy will thrive in the outdoor setting, creating a natural green screen blocking your balcony from view.

You can choose from metal, bamboo, or plastic options for a trellis depending on your aesthetic tastes and budget.

Pot plants

Choose dense, evergreen plants potted in sturdy containers that won’t blow over. Bamboo and box hedge are both great, fast-growing options. You can choose to grown the plants yourself, or if you’re short on time you can buy mature plants from a nursery.

Bamboo screens

Bamboo screens an excellent option for creating immediate privacy on your balcony. They provide environmentally sustainable and robust protection, without compromising on aesthetics. Bamboo is famously hardy, so it can withstand sunny or rainy weather conditions.