20 Balcony Patio Ideas With Pretty Plants, Small Seating and Twinkling Lights

Looking for balcony patio ideas that give you more than a place to put a plant? Think little tables for two, flower-filled shelves and lights strung above your favorite chair.

These spaces range from narrow apartment balconies to larger patios, with plenty of details you can borrow for your own.

You can keep it simple or go all out with greenery. Start with somewhere to sit, then pick the flowers, cushions or lighting you love most.

Balcony and Patio Looks Worth Saving

little bistro table and red flowers

We’re starting off strong with this cute little table for two. I love the red and white flowers along the ledge.

The round slatted table and matching chairs leave room for greenery tucked into the corners.

Try pale tie-on seat cushions like these to finish your own bistro setup.

mustard cushions and round poufs

How cute is this mustard and rust pairing? The low seats sit around brown poufs with decorative stitching, with trailing plants spilling from the railing planters above them.

Read also: 20 Deck Ideas for Mobile Homes With Pretty Seating and Porch Details

If you want to follow this look, add a tray to one pouf for your books and drink. I’d keep the patterned rug too.

flower shelves against brick

This flower-filled corner may just be one of my favorites here. I love the orange blooms beside the purple and cream leafy rosettes.

There’s even greenery trailing between the shelves.

Try arranging your pots at different heights beside a simple reading chair. Check your wall fixings and shelf weight limits before adding filled pots.

string lights and glowing lanterns

I am obsessed with all these little lights. The strands overhead and lanterns along the floor make this narrow balcony so pretty at night.

Keep a patterned runner beside your chair to follow the same layout. For your lanterns, I’d choose battery-operated candles and leave the walkway clear.

a wall full of flowers

If you are looking for lots of plant inspo, then this one is for you. Yellow, pink and orange flowers fill rows of planters across the fence.

This is a larger ground-level patio with a dining area and fire pit, rather than a balcony. For a smaller space, borrow the stacked planter arrangement instead of the whole setup.

egg chair and round table

Don’t want to squeeze in a whole sofa? This hanging egg chair gives you another direction to try.

The cream cushions and fringed throw look lovely against its tan open frame.

Read also: 20 Ocean Inspired Table Decor Ideas With Shells, Blues and Pretty Details

A low round table sits in front, with just a little plant and a black lantern on top. I’d keep the accessories that simple.

green plants and a tan screen

I love this leafy balcony with its pale chair cushions. The tan screen runs along the railing while a hanging fern fills the upper corner.

Try grouping your larger plants at one end like this, rather than lining every bit of the floor with pots.

square tiles and white pebbles

Don’t want to start with furniture? No problem! This balcony puts the floor first, with brown square tiles bordered by white pebbles.

The alternating slat directions are my favorite detail. If you try a similar border, keep drainage outlets clear and check your balcony’s permitted load.

tall shelves and folding chairs

This is such a cute way to bring shelving into a small seating area. The tall crate-style unit holds plants, books and baskets beside a square table.

Choose blue accent pillows and pale seat cushions to follow the chairs here. The little hanging planters give you another detail to borrow.

pink patterns and oversized lanterns

How pretty are those big round lanterns? They hang above a terrace filled with pink patterned pillows, low seating and rugs.

There’s more room here than on a narrow balcony, but you can still try the color combination. Start with a rose-colored rug and a couple of striped pillows.

pallet-style loveseat and stripes

If you’re looking for a seating idea that keeps the colors simple, go with this pale-cushioned loveseat and black-striped accents. The stacked pallet-style base fits across the end of the balcony.

I especially love the little tassels on the rectangular pillow. There’s no need to add bright colors when the patterns are this cute.

two rows of railing planters

The flower fans are going to love this! Long planter boxes run along the railing at two heights, with purple spikes, orange blooms and lots of green leaves.

Read also: 20 Landscaping Along Fence Ideas With Flowers, Greenery and Garden Lights

Try a similar arrangement if you want to keep the middle of your deck open. Choose plants that suit the light your space actually gets.

twinkling railing and white curtains

How gorgeous are the lights on this balcony? I especially love the two large round lanterns hanging above the table.

There are lights along the railing, overhead and down the far end. A tied-back white curtain and pale patterned rug complete the look, with burgundy striped cushions adding a little color.

a little bar for two

Want something different from a low coffee table? Try a narrow bar setup like this one, with two tall stools facing the end wall.

I love the curved details on the chair backs. The shelves above hold bottles and hanging glasses while a strip of light runs beneath the counter.

hanging chair and botanical prints

This enclosed balcony has such a pretty green-and-cream combination. The fringed hanging chair sits beside tiered plant stands, with botanical prints on the walls.

Keep the round rug and little side table if you want to follow this look. A ceiling-hung chair needs a properly rated support and suitable installation.

dark tiles and orange lights

The orange lantern lights are so cute against the dark chairs. Underneath, charcoal square tiles meet a bright green strip along the railing and pale pebbles beside the doors.

Read also: 20 Palm Springs Backyard Ideas With Pools, Cacti and Colorful Patios

If you like balcony patio ideas with a little more color, this is a fun combination to borrow without changing all your furniture.

blue shutters and patterned cushions

I am obsessed with this blue-and-white balcony. The patterned bench cushions pick up the blue from the shutters and railing, with a little white table tucked beside them.

You don’t need a sea view to try the colors. Pair white furniture with blue pillows and a matching plant stand.

striped awning and a plant grid

There’s so much to borrow from this narrow balcony. A slatted dining table sits near the front while a low cushioned bench fills the far end.

My favorite part is the wall grid covered in little pots. Try that detail above your seating if you want plants on display without another floor stand.

corner bench and charcoal tiles

Don’t want lots of separate chairs? This L-shaped bench follows the corner instead.

The pale slatted seats look so good beside the red brick and dark square floor tiles.

A charcoal cushion and a gray-and-white patterned pillow keep things simple. I’d add another seat cushion along the short side.

rounded table and spring flowers

Last but definitely not least, we have this flower-filled little balcony. I love the rounded table tucked against the window ledge!

Pale cushions fill the curved chairs, with yellow, white and pink flowers all around them.

Read also: 20 Formal Sitting Room Ideas With Pretty Details Worth Saving

The half-round table shape is worth saving if a full circle would take up too much of your space.