With the arrival of the warm weather, it is always a pleasure to reinvest your terrace. This year, you can be seduced by the colours or opt for a total wood-coloured decoration. Furniture, vegetation and decoration... we reveal our tips for designing small balconies or large terraces.

Balcony: it's all about optimising space

It is possible to furnish a balcony without overloading it, provided that you select garden furniture and outdoor decoration that is compatible with the space. For seating, opt for folding chairs or armchairs. If possible, choose a table with a folding top. You can then lie in the sun on a deckchair... foldable of course.

Just because you are short of space does not mean you have to do without vegetation. A good solution is to opt for a plant wall attached to the partition wall of your balcony. Plants or herbs will grow there at their own pace.

Terrace: how to create well-defined spaces?

A dining area, a reading room, a solarium... the creation of areas dedicated to certain activities is entirely possible on a terrace. To achieve this, proceed as follows:

- Define the areas to be developed Think about what you want and need. Be realistic about the space you have available and avoid overloading your terrace with furniture and other accessories.

- Choosing the mode of separation Designing a terrace by creating different spaces can be done with furniture, but also with floor coverings or natural barriers. A screen made of climbing plants or bamboo can nicely isolate a relaxation area, while tiles or wood different from the one already present can be used to visualise the dining area for example.

- Determining the style Finally, decorate your terrace in the style of your choice. Nature spirit with wooden furniture, Parisian bistro style with canisse or bamboo chairs, design concept with designer pieces... create a harmonious space that suits you and in which you will feel good.

Choosing your outdoor lighting

Finally, the finishing touch to your patio design is the lighting. LED lamps that are easy to move around or integrated spotlights designed to withstand all weathers, the lights dress up your terrace. Blue lights, coloured lights or warm intimate lights... today garden lamps are nomadic or on a stand like a giant lampshade. For an additional and ecological light, solar lights to be planted in the ground offer you a few hours of lighting with zero impact on nature.

Whether on your own or with the help of a professional, designing a terrace is a great way to create a space dedicated to outdoor living. With the arrival of the summer months, specialist shops are full of good ideas for outdoor work and decoration for all budgets.