You don't need a ground-level yard for growing and gathering. A balcony or rooftop can provide an excellent outdoor space to plant flowers, shrubs, trees, and even a small vegetable garden. In other words, just look your balcony or rooftop as an opportunity to get a little more creative. Use these ideas as inspiration, and get growing.
Create Privacy with Small Trees
By adding a few small potted trees to a rooftop, you can create the shade, privacy, and outdoor feel of any other patio space. The built-in brick planters, softened with groundcovers, create a textural element that contrasts the concrete walls of the building.
More ideas to steal:
• Use pea gravel instead of hard flooring to provide a softer surface. It also makes the rooftop feel more like a garden.
• Select sturdy outdoor furniture that holds up to high winds and other intense rooftop weather. Neutral tones don't visually compete with the greenery.
Position Furniture Strategically
Even small balconies can be turned into full-fledged living spaces. Start with an all-weather rug for color and pattern, then layer on slim, cushioned seating. Ottomans or benches can do triple duty if you choose the right ones, acting as surfaces, extra seating, and even storage for outdoor decor in the off season. And lastly, don't forget the view—the pieces on this balcony are positioned to look out toward the woodland.
More ideas to steal:
• Choose dwarf trees and shrub varieties for a small balcony garden, as they offer contained growth while softening the edges of your space.
• Place small containers on side tables to maximize gardening opportunities, and use the railings for accessories like birdhouses.
Contrast Decorative Elements
This rooftop space offers many sensory surprises: A narrow raised water garden full of floating plants for serenity, a brick raised garden bed to elevate a collection of flowers, and a fire pit to cultivate a cozy atmosphere. (If you're thinking of a rooftop fire pit—gas or wood—make sure it meets local fire codes.)
More ideas to steal:
• Containers are always good options for rooftop gardens: They're mobile, can be planted with annuals or perennials, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials that add personality.
• Coordinate hardscaping materials–in this case, brick—to tie a space together. Be sure to contrast them with some natural elements, like the wood chaise and, of course, the plants here.
Set Up for Alfresco Dining
Sometimes, you have a clear idea of what you want to do on your balcony or rooftop garden. In the case of this compact balcony, the priority was outdoor dining, so the homeowners went for it in full force, setting up a table for six that is as stylish as any indoor space (but more durable). To create a warm ambiance, mount outdoor lights (try solar-powered ones if your balcony gets a lot of sunlight) on the walls.
More ideas to steal:
• Place a collection of lush, bright green plants (like these ferns) in containers throughout your space—they go perfectly with exposed brick.
• The wall of the building can be an easily overlooked opportunity for decor. Mount a big, weather-proof piece of art like this metal star.
Grow a Privacy Screen
The right plants can offer blissful privacy and shade in any rooftop garden space. For example, a long container planted with tall, fast-growing bamboo shields the view here. In place of an ordinary wood wall, glass blocks allow sunlight to shine through while providing a screen. Hardworking evergreens double as outdoor decor and year-round structure.
More ideas to steal:
• When mixing only a few plants, try to contrast their tones and forms—in this case, the more feathery bamboo is a counterpoint to the darker evergreen in the container.
• Depending on your style and taste, wood flooring can be left to wear to a soft gray or refinished regularly to maintain a rich color.
Define Spaces with Hardscaping
Thoughtful hardscaping forms the backbone of any well-conceived outdoor space, including rooftops and balconies. Here, the variation in flooring—regular pavers bordered by river rock—keeps things interesting and prevents the space from looking harsh. The concrete is warmed up by wooden planters in various sizes, which frame the edges of the balcony to give a sense of enclosure.
More ideas to steal:
• Benches placed by the railing offer a nice spot to enjoy a drink with a friend or read a good book.
• Use a trellis to delineate spaces. Here, the structure separates the dining area from the rest of the rooftop. Use a variety of plant types—dwarf trees, shrubs, a few perennials and annuals—to keep the eye moving through the garden space.
Create a Room on a Rooftop
A varied layout allows you to enjoy your balcony garden view from numerous spots. A subtle shift in the flooring grade here divides relaxing and gathering spaces from the dining area. For shade and protection, add a pergola to cover your sitting area. Winding vines incorporate more color to the trellised sides, and a collection of rocks and boulders also increases visual interest.
More ideas to steal:
• Setting up electrical wiring on your balcony or rooftop can take the design to the next level; outlets here are hidden on the deck step-up.
• Repetition is a classic design principle that works well in any outdoor space. Here, a lineup of potted trees in identical containers gives the space visual cohesion.
Add Tranquil Elements
On a balcony or rooftop, a small water feature like a pond or fountain, as in this space, can help to quiet surrounding urban sounds and create a focal point. Climbing plants in containers also lend a serene sensibility while screening the view.
More ideas to steal:
• Rethink the matching patio set. A wooden table set with metal chairs sets up an interesting textural contrast that looks more curated. A combination of built-in benches and movable chairs increases your seating arrangement potential.
• Choose trellis materials based on your style and goals. This wire one creates an airy structure that lets the light through beautifully.
Keep Small Spaces Simple
This narrow balcony doesn't overcomplicate things with multiple types of plants and furnishings. Instead, the solid row of evergreen shrubs provides a stunning minimalist border that's offset only by airier ornamental grasses. Teak chaise lounge chairs and sage green pillows maintain a sophisticated, on-trend aesthetic.
More ideas to steal:
• Even modern spaces benefit from some earthier materials. The wood containers and teak furnishings offset the crisp lines of the balcony so it's welcoming, not sterile.
• With a small balcony, focus on what you'll be doing most often in the space. In this case, the mandate was clear: Create an relaxing space for lounging.
Go All Out on Greenery
On this balcony garden, the plants work hard on all levels, from the containers on the ground to the tabletop to the pergola they climb. The effect is as transporting as any backyard garden. A trellis can create garden zones, from seating to dining to relaxing, plus serves as a support for any vines you want to grow.
More ideas to steal:
• For easy elegance, opt for a green-and-white backdrop of plants. The palette is instantly calming, and allows for a punch or two of color in the form of cushions or annual flowers.
• A pergola doesn't just shield a balcony or rooftop from the sun and neighbors' eyes, but creates the sense of being in a room.
Plant a Balcony Kitchen Garden
Yes, even a tiny balcony can produce big bounty, as evidence by gardener Marie Viljoen's New York space. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit grow abundantly in containers (some, like the makrut lime trees, are brought indoors during the coldest months). Window boxes grow salad greens and strawberries.
More ideas to steal:
• Mix ornamentals and edibles. Here, flowers bring color to the balcony—and the neighborhood below—when grown alongside edible crops.
• Set a table for two. Even if growing food is your primary goal, it's worth setting up a small space to enjoy the view with a cup of coffee in the morning or a cocktail in the evening.
Coordinate Colors
In shades of green and purple, the furnishings and plants work together on this small rooftop garden to create a visually unified whole. Oversized containers, like the big-leafed hosta, and a climbing vine enclose the space with greenery to calming effect.
More ideas to steal:
• Choose modular and lightweight furnishings for greater flexibility. The more freedom you have to move things around, the better the space will work for you.
• If the natural material on your balcony or rooftop is already charming—like the brick in this case—don't cover it up. Its texture can add to space's appeal.
