How to entertain outdoors Part 3: Afternoon tea on the balcony
This is part 3 of my blog series: how to entertain outdoors. Check out part 1 (the picnic aesthetic) and part 2 (Al Fresco brunch) for more inspirations on how to host outside in style.
Is there anything more British than having guests over for tea? I don’t think so and that’s one of the reason I love living here so much. And there is something very romantic about inviting a close friend over for an afternoon tea outside.
But when you live in a city like London, having any outdoor space at all is a luxury. That’s why it’s so important to make the most of anything you have, however small. Today we are talking about having a beautiful High Tea experience on your small balcony.
Here is my take on how to create a colourful décor for your balcony, ready for your guests.
1- Create a sitting area
Create a comfortable sitting area. If you are going to spend anytime there, it needs to be a lovely place to sit and relax. Just because it is small, it doesn’t mean it can’t be lush.
There are many ways to create a sitting corner on even the tiniest balcony. My favourite is this palette sitting ideas by Nina Radman.
Once you have your pallet structure, you can go mad on cushions and blankets. When it comes to cosiness, more is more!! So go all in and most importantly, have fun with it 😊
Using pallets is an easy and economical way to construct simple sitting. You can cut them down to fit your balcony and after that, you can just dress them up with cushions and throws, to fit in with your home décor style.
If you need help getting started on your pallet furniture, check out this blog post from Ideal home
2- Make it green
Whether you have green thumbs or not, there are several ways to transform your little balcony into a green heaven. Everything looks and feels so much better when it’s covered in plants, don’t you think?
If gardening isn’t for you, you can use fake plants.
I’m not always a massive fan of artificial plants but they present a few advantages: they need no care or watering and they stay green all year round.
On the right is an example of what you can achieve using Ikea fake plants. Not too bad in my opinion 😉
You can go for the “Overgrown” look with plants everywhere but make sure to pick the right plants for your balcony. You will need to know the orientation of your space (East, West, North or South facing) and the best plants to grow in pots.
In doubt, do a quick google search or check out the Gardener’s World website.
And if you are feeling adventurous, a green wall look is always a winner and it’s perfect for a balcony as it doesn’t take much of your precious space.
Here is a step-by-step article on how to make a living wall by realhomes.com
In a nutshell:
Find a structurally sound wall
Create or buy a structure with good drainage. Plant pockets are a good options.
Pick plants with a shallow root system. Here is a good selection of plants for living walls
3- Play with colours and textures
For this set up, I was going for a very colourful boho vibe so I used small multicolour terrazzo tables with plenty of cushions and rugs, in various colour. When it comes to being outside, I always go with a colourful scheme. Here in London, you can never be sure of the weather but at least if you make the décor colourful, half the job is done.
When living in a small apartment, having multifunctional furniture is key. That’s why I created this copper coffee table. The frame is very light and easy to move around. The tray is detachable and can be used separately, to prep some food or drink for example. This makes is the perfect side table for small living.
Using the right crockery is very important, to finish the look you are after.
I have a lot of mismatched vintage small plates so it was the perfect occasion for using them. I also have a gorgeous teapot from T2. They make the best colourful teapots out there and they add new ones to their collection every season. It’s truly a dream.
These colourful mugs from Oliver Bonas would also be a great addition.
