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Autumn is the best time of year on a balcony. The heat is gone, the light is soft and the evenings are long enough to sit out in. Yet most balconies are packed away in September.
You do not need much. Swap the summer plants for hardy ones, bring in warmer colors and add light for the early dark. The ideas below are ordered from the easiest to the more involved.
Start with the plants
Summer annuals fade at the first frost. Replace them with plants that look best in cool weather:
- Chrysanthemums. The classic autumn pot plant, in yellow, rust and burgundy.
- Ornamental kale and cabbage. Frilly leaves in purple and cream that color up in the cold.
- Pansies and violas. They flower through cool weather and in mild climates all winter.
- Ornamental grasses. Feathery seed heads that move in the wind.
- Heather and heuchera. Colored foliage that lasts into winter.
Check the hardiness of any plant against your local winter before you buy.
01Put the plants in matching pots
One color of pot ties mixed plants together. Use pots with drainage holes and a saucer so the floor stays clean, and raise them on feet so water cannot pool.
02Chrysanthemums by the door
Group three pots at different heights near the door. Buy plants with many buds still closed and they will flower for weeks.
03Ornamental kale in a window box
A window box on the railing gives color at eye level. Fill it with kale in the middle, pansies at the edges and something trailing at the front.
04A real pumpkin or two
A few pumpkins in different sizes and colors cost almost nothing and make the look. Put them on the floor or on the steps of a plant stand, and bring them in if heavy rain or frost is coming.
05Warm light at dusk
Add light before it gets dark early. Warm white strings and lanterns make the balcony usable in the evening. See small patio lighting ideas for more.
06A rug in warm colors
A rug in rust, mustard or plaid changes the whole mood and warms tiles underfoot. Size it with the outdoor rug size calculator.
07Layer blankets and cushions
Knit throws and textured cushions in orange, brown and cream make a bench or chair feel like a place to stay. Use outdoor fabric, or bring the textiles in after every use.
08A small fire table or heater
A few degrees of warmth extends your season by weeks. Follow the building's rules on flames, and for a covered balcony choose electric. The patio heater BTU calculator shows what size you need, and cozy patio ideas covers the options.
09A wreath or dried bundle on the door
A wreath of dried leaves, wheat or eucalyptus on the balcony door is the cheapest finishing touch. Hang it with a door hook, not a nail.
10Dried grasses in a tall vase
A big vase with dried pampas or wheat stems gives height in a corner. Weigh the base with sand or stones so wind does not knock it over.
11A small table for a hot drink
Add a side table within reach of the chair. A folding one tucks away when you want the floor.
For more balcony ideas that work in any season, read small balcony ideas on a budget.
A simple plan
- One hour: swap in chrysanthemums and kale, and add a lantern.
- A weekend: add the rug, throws and a pumpkin group.
- Complete: add a heater or fire table, a wreath and dried grasses.
Before you pay
- Check plants against your winter minimum.
- Keep drains clear and do not block the balcony's drainage.
- Weigh vases and lanterns against wind.
- Ask the building before using open flame.
