How to make your balcony a little smarter

Balconies come in lots of different shapes and sizes – from small French windows to large glassed-in extra rooms. Here we take a closer look at some suggestions on how to make your balcony a little smarter and more comfortable, regardless of its size.

Start by drawing a diagram of the floor surface on a piece of paper. Then start looking for inspiration. Pinterest and interior design magazines can provide many good ideas.

Create shade with an awning

A balcony can easily get a little too hot when the sun's rays are at their strongest. An awning is a good solution to ensure the balcony is kept cooler. With smart automation, the awning can automatically extend when the temperature rises. This keeps your balcony furniture cool for when you’re ready to sit on it.

A balcony awning can also be managed with a wireless remote control, or with a wall-mounted control that can be attached to the inside of the balcony door. A simple push of a button and the awning is extended.

Take a closer look at internal sun protection for glazed balconies

If you have a glassed-in balcony, you know that on hot summer days it functions a bit like a greenhouse. The sun's warm rays heat up the trapped air and the balcony can become unbearably hot. Fortunately this can be solved with a variety of indoor sun-protection solutions, including roller blinds, blinds or curtains.

Regardless of which solution you choose, it can be automated with a Sunis sun sensor. The sensor takes care of automatically drawing the curtains or rolling down the blinds when it gets too hot on the balcony. Your pets get to nap in a comfortable space, and you come home to a balcony you can use immediately.

Take care of your plants on the balcony

Smart sun protection also makes sense if you have plants on your balcony. Awnings help to ensure the plants do not dry out or otherwise become harmed by the direct sun. By automating your balcony shade protection, the plants require less water too.

With the TaHoma switch, the balcony becomes smarter

If you want to make your balcony really smart, then you can introduce some additional automation that makes life easier. Here are some tips on how to make your balcony smarter both with and without the TaHoma switch:

• Set up smart lighting to create a cozy atmosphere with different colours. Philips Hue, for example, offers stylish luminaires for outdoor use if you have a balcony that is not protected against the elements. If your balcony has glazing, there are even more opportunities to be creative with smart lighting. Combine with a sensor and the lighting turns on automatically when the sun goes down in the evenings, making your balcony that little bit more inviting
• Enjoy some music on your balcony too. Depending on the balcony’s size, you can choose either Sonos Roam (for smaller balconies) or Move (for larger ones). These solutions are resistant to wetter weather, so they can remain on the balcony without being damaged. You can also create a scene in TaHoma that can easily be activated when you sit down on the balcony. This scene then starts your favourite playlist and adjusts the lighting based on what you want to do. If you have smart sun protection, it can be activated too
• If you like plants and want to create your own little oasis, take a closer look at smart irrigation systems that are also available in versions for balconies. With a smart solution for watering, you do not need to worry about the plants drying out, even if you're on vacation
• If you have created your own cosy reading corner on the balcony, then a smart fan could be the solution for you on hot days. Portable smart fans have built-in batteries, so you can adjust the fan’s position to blow cool air your way while enjoying a book
• Depending on the kind of floor you have on the balcony, a carpet can make the space more pleasant for the feet. If the balcony is glazed in, there are a lot of carpet options to choose from. But even an outdoor carpet can be more comfortable than a rough concrete surface. A carpet also provides insulation, so you can enjoy your balcony for longer in the evenings and even into the autumn

When it comes to growing plants on the balcony, there are many ways to go. A good option is to grow something edible, such as berries or tomatoes. These are not particularly difficult to cultivate in smaller areas. With a glassed-in balcony the conditions for growing are significantly better, as the balcony actually works just like a greenhouse.

If you have an open balcony, it can be nice to have plants that contribute to local biodiversity. To attract insects, bees and butterflies, ask an expert at your local nursery to advise on which are the best plants to use. You can also hang a small insect hotel on the balcony and see if anything nests in it!