A kitchen with access to a balcony today is popular not only in modern apartments, but also in old buildings. This layout is a winning option, allowing you to expand the room, make it brighter and more spacious.
The balcony, which will be combined with the kitchen, makes it possible to realize various design fantasies and make the room stylish and cozy. It is worth noting that the balcony not only serves as a place where you can store things, it can become a wonderful children's room, winter garden, office, relaxation area and storage room.
Pros and cons of combination:
The balcony, which will be combined with the kitchen, is an excellent opportunity to make the room functional by decorating it at your discretion.
Advantages:
- space optimization;
- increased sound insulation;
- thermal insulation of the kitchen;
- expansion of space;
- additional lighting;
- original stylish interior.
Flaws:
- the redevelopment will need to be legalized by collecting the necessary package of documents, obtaining permission, and making a project;
- repairs involve financial costs. The balcony needs to be insulated, glassed, and finished.
Even despite the disadvantages, a balcony combined with a kitchen is a great idea for expanding the space.
Zoning methods:
It is possible to divide the combined premises into several functional zones using zoning. We offer several basic ways of zoning space:
- Sliding partitions.
They allow you to isolate the kitchen from the balcony. Using a partition that can be pulled apart like a compartment, you can isolate the room from unnecessary noise and smell, as well as from the steam and heat emitted from the stove during cooking.
Partitions can be made of various materials. They mainly prefer glass and wood, as well as chipboard and plastic.
- Window.
French windows are an excellent way to delimit space. They look great, expand the space, and make the room much brighter.
- Multi-level floor.
If there is a threshold between the room and the balcony, it is sometimes recommended to leave it. A heating system is installed on the balcony, in this case the floor reaches the threshold level. The podium will allow you to divide the rooms into a combined space.
- Arch.
The arch will look great indoors, does not take up much space, and also does not block access to natural light. It can be made from plasterboard. The material is inexpensive, and the arch will always fit into any style.
- Curtains.
You can zone the space with thick textile curtains, blending harmoniously into the interior.
Balcony and loggia: fundamental difference
A loggia and a balcony have a number of significant differences:
- the balcony space often does not have glazing; its “walls” are at most waist-deep for an adult and can be made of lattice;
- the balcony always protrudes beyond the facade, representing a small platform;
- the glazed balcony has windows on three sides, the fourth facing the room;
- the glazed loggia is closed by walls on all sides, only one has a large window (except for the corner options, where there are two windows);
- the loggia area usually exceeds the standard balcony area; the wall between the room and the loggia is sometimes allowed to be completely demolished.
The load-bearing capacity of a balcony is always much less than that of a loggia
The design of the loggia allows it to withstand significant loads
There is also something in between - a loggia-balcony. The platform of this design partially protrudes beyond the façade of the building, but from the inside the room is limited by a wall located in the back of the room.
Balcony insulation
When combining a balcony with a kitchen, you need to know that insulation involves not only internal insulation, but also external insulation.
For outdoor insulation, foam plates and mineral wool, mounted to the wall using a metal profile sheathing, are perfect. Afterwards all that remains is to sew it up with sheets of siding. But for this you will need to call industrial climbers. Watch in the video how to quickly insulate a balcony outside the house.
The internal balcony is insulated with penoplex. Experts also advise making a heated floor, as well as installing heaters or fan heaters.
Step-by-step instructions for insulating a balcony or loggia are discussed in this video.
When glazing a balcony, give preference only to high-quality and efficient materials that will retain heat in the room. To avoid making common mistakes when insulating a balcony or loggia, I recommend watching this video. It tells you what material needs to be used for insulation and a lot of useful information.
General Tips
First of all, it is necessary to glaze the 6-meter loggia, insulate it, preferably provide heating, and then think about the design.
Of course, what kind of furniture you choose for your balcony will depend on the purpose of the room in the future. But at the same time, the furniture should be compact and preferably fit together so that it can be removed if necessary.
The loggia should not violate the overall style of the apartment, but keep in mind that the classical or baroque style will be inappropriate due to its bulkiness.
It is also important to remember that if the balcony is not heated, then inexpensive furniture will simply lose its functionality and appearance over several seasons due to temperature changes.
As you can see, a 6-meter loggia will serve as an excellent place to relax, work, and store things.
Decorating a balcony with clapboard is a popular idea for a durable interior +79 beautiful photosKitchen on the balcony: 85 photos of the best designer solutions for decorating a loggia
- Flowers on the balcony - a review of the best types blooming all summer! 75 photo options!
We recommend visiting this source of interior design ideas.
Balcony lighting options
When carrying out renovation work to combine the kitchen with the balcony, be sure to pay due attention to lighting. You can decorate the room using different lamps that will match the interior of the room.
To do this, it will be necessary to install electricity on the balcony, as well as install sockets so that you can hang a sconce, install a floor lamp or connect another lighting fixture.
Spotlights and LED bulbs will look great.
It is best to have LED bulbs in your arsenal that will be inserted into lamps. They are more economical and of higher quality. When purchasing them, keep your receipt. If they do not reach the end of their service life, such lamps are replaced free of charge at the place of purchase.
Design of an apartment with a kitchen on the balcony, loggia (selection of photos)
A kitchen-balcony, loggia-kitchen allows you to add an average of two to six square meters to the existing capital premises. It is difficult to place a full-fledged kitchen space in such a small area, so a dining area, cutting table, and refrigerator are brought here. If the kitchenette provides a place for relaxation, then a couple of armchairs, a coffee table, and palm trees in tubs are quite appropriate.
The easiest way is to organize a cozy dining area on the balcony
The less furniture, decor, and other items are located on the loggia balcony, the more spacious the room seems.
Design ideas
We offer some great ideas for the design of a kitchen combined with a balcony.
- Kitchen and dining room on the loggia. This is the most popular option. It allows you to make the work area much more spacious by moving the eating area to the balcony.
- Design with a bar counter. On an insulated balcony, you can create a bar counter using the partition that remains from the window.
A bar counter made instead of a window sill on the balcony will also look great.
- Kitchen with area designed for relaxation, office, pantry or garden. The balcony can always be used in a kitchen style. Here you can arrange a cozy bar, an office for hobbies or work, as well as a play area.
- Balcony-kitchen. If the kitchen is small and more space is needed, then a good option is to move household appliances, a refrigerator, a washing machine and other necessary things to the balcony.
Designers offer many interesting design options for a combined kitchen with a balcony, and everyone can choose the right idea for themselves.
Choosing a layout
The style and convenience of the kitchen directly depend on how the furniture is arranged, how many items can be placed in 14 square meters. m. First, you need to take into account the shape of the room:
- Parallel. This layout will be appropriate for an elongated kitchen, or (for a narrow room) furniture can be conveniently placed along the walls.
- P - shaped. It will look great in the interior of a square kitchen.
- Corner. An absolutely universal layout that will suit any kitchen.
- Single row. It will fit perfectly for an elongated narrow kitchen, or combined with a balcony.
Color solutions
To create a harmonious kitchen space connected to the balcony, it is recommended to use the same finishing materials, as well as the same color scheme for furniture and decorative elements. The designer is also allowed to combine the main selected color with other shades, the main thing is that they are combined with each other.
The most current color solutions for the kitchen, which is combined with a balcony, are:
- White color. It is a classic, but you need to be careful with it because it is easily soiled. The shade will look luxurious, especially items that imitate natural wood. Curtains, tulle, wallpaper, as well as cabinets and household appliances can be made in white colors. Be sure to add a few rich spots to the interior to make it rich and stylish.
- Lavender. This is a delicate color, preferred by sensitive people with a rich imagination. Decorative items in a purple hue will look especially sophisticated. The emphasis can be placed on household appliances or the facade, lamps, curtains. You can combine this color with mint, pistachio, caramel, milk, pink and cream.
- Brown color. It must be used skillfully to select the required color scheme. The shade should not be too dark; give preference to soft tones, otherwise the room will be uncomfortable and gloomy. Brown color in the interior helps to relax and gives peace.
- Pastel shade. Small kitchens made in pastel colors will become spacious, but large rooms will not be empty either.
This shade is versatile and can be complemented with any color scheme. You can paint the walls in a pastel color, choose a furniture set, and you can also use it for curtains, sofas and chairs, and other items.
The pastel color will not fade if it is complemented with rich decorative elements. This could be dishes, tablecloths, countertops, cabinets, rugs. Pastel colors will always look stylish, expensive, and chic.
- Grey colour. It is suitable for those who prefer an atmosphere of calm and sophistication. A gray shade in the interior is always a win-win solution. Color is often used for classic style, as well as art deco and minimalism. It allows you to demonstrate the beauty of furniture, a room, and emphasizes its individuality. In this shade it is important to use natural materials and household appliances. Also read our article “About gray kitchens in the interior.”
Combining a kitchen with a balcony is a great opportunity to make the room lighter, more spacious, and fill it with coziness. Here you can welcome guests, do what you love, dream and just relax, cook and put away various things, objects, equipment and just have a great time, realizing your fantasies and ideas.
Arrangement of the dining area
The square design of such a kitchen provides a wide field for imagination in arranging the eating area. Depending on the layout and dimensions of the kitchen unit, the dining table can be wide (for example, for 6 people) or miniature, designed for an average family. With a compact arrangement, you can fit two options at once, as in the photo below.
A large dining table and a bar counter for a quick snack complement each other perfectly.
An alternative to the counter as an addition to the main dining area is a window-sill table.
Today, in many new buildings, kitchens have similar sizes. When buying a one-room apartment, you don’t have to worry about where to receive guests: the living room can be equipped right in the kitchen. The main thing is to choose the right furniture and room design. In the photo below you can see successful kitchen options with a sofa.
Narrow kitchen in black and white, diluted with gray and cream tones. The compact corner set here turned out to be much more successful and rational than the linear one.
A successful mixture of styles allows you to feel both the breath of antiquity and notes of the East in the decor. This setting sets a romantic mood and encourages conversations about art.
Those who are lucky enough to have not only a spacious kitchen, but also access to a rather large loggia, can use the additional space as a dining area.
