Balcony Refresh: Easy, cost-effective ways to Elevate Your Outdoor Space
My balcony used to be nothing more than a concrete slab and a little ikea chair. But with a whole lot of patience, some serious scrolling through shopping apps and a soft spot for anything faux-floral, I slowly turned it into the cozy little escape I now spend most of my evenings in. Best part? I did it all without draining my savings. Grab a cuppa tea and let me walk you through it, item by item, budget and all.
Setting the Scene: Greenery First
I started with the bones of my little garden oasis.
Faux Grass — $60 Temu
Faux Hedge — $9 Amazon
Faux Tree — $39 Amazon
Wooden Planter — $30 Temu
Faux Plant + Planter — $30 Amazon
Faux greenery was honestly my best decision. Living on a balcony means unpredictable sun, wind, and let's be honest- my track record with real plants isn't the best. Layering the faux grass down first gave me an instant "outdoor rug" effect, and building height with the faux tree and hedge made the whole space feel so much more lush and layered.
The Seating Situation
This is where I let myself splurge, just a little.
Double Egg Chair (Walmart) — $299
Two Chairs + Table Set — $70 Temu (originally $150 then price adjusted, Temu always price matches and refunds)
Round Wooden End Table — $20 Temu
Foot Stool — $20 Temu
I know, I know the egg chair isn't exactly a "budget find," but hear me out, it was the one piece I built the entire vibe around, and finding it for under $300 at Walmart felt like a small miracle compared to the $500+ versions I'd been eyeing online. Everything else around it, I kept intentionally thrifty. The little bistro set and end table give me a spot for morning tea, and the foot stool means I never have to choose between reading my book and putting my feet up. A girl needs both ;)
Hanging Planters (3) — $30, but I only needed one, so I sold the other two on Facebook Marketplace for $20 — bringing my real cost down to just $10
Seeds — $8 Facebook Market
Replanting Soil — $39 Amazon
Planter #5 — $20
5-Plant Set — $30 Amazon
Sometimes items come cheaper in a set rather than one. So buy the set, keep what you need, and re-sell the rest. It's such an easy way to stretch your dollars further, and it kinda feels like its practically free. I filled my one hanging planter with seeds I babied for weeks, and rounded things out with a sweet little five plant set for pops of color scattered around the space
Fairy Lights (top) — $10 Amazon (all linked)
Fairy Lights (bottom) — $12 Amazon
Round Rug — $35 Amazon
Extra Pillows for Chairs — $25 Amazon
Waterproof Pillow Cases — $30 Amazon
If you take nothing else away from this post, let it be this, the little details are what make a space feel finished. The fairy lights strung up top and tucked along the bottom give the balcony the softest glow once the sun goes down, and the round rug ties the whole seating area together in the coziest way. I splurged just slightly on waterproof pillow covers because, well, outdoor living means outdoor weather and I wanted my pretty pillows to actually survive the seasons.
The Grand Total
All in, this entire balcony transformation came to right around $796 - including that one gorgeous little indulgence of an egg chair. For a space that now feels like my own private garden retreat, tucked right outside my door, I'd call that a total win.
If you're dreaming of your own balcony refresh, my biggest piece of advice is to start with the pieces that bring you joy (mine was that egg chair, no regrets), build your greenery in layers, and don't be afraid to buy the multipack and resell what you don't need. Budget decorating isn't about doing less it's about being just a little bit resourceful, and a whole lotta intentional.
Happy decorating, friends!
