How to make the best of your balcony

By Mandy Clarke, Editor

There is just something about a balcony that immediately makes guests feel like they have arrived on holiday. Whether it is a stunning view or just the chance to soak up some sunshine and fresh air, there is something about a guest room balcony that inherently feels indulgent.

For some guests, the balcony is set to become the heart of the party, they want to enjoy it from breakfast to happy hour. For others it’s a space to relax, read a book, or just enjoy the sunshine and views. To ensure an enjoyable experience for all guests, it is important that you make the most of your balcony space. Ensuring there is ample seating on the balcony is imperative, you do not want guests dragging dining chairs from indoors. If space permits, a table is also a wonderful addition to allow guests to enjoy a cheese platt er or rest their drinks. Once the furniture needs of the space have been determined, the next step is to think about the aesthetic.

Depending on the accommodation, you may want to go for a classic beachside look, clean classic neutrals, or bold colours to catch the eye. Regardless of your design choices, ensuring that the furniture is high quality and durable enough for outdoor use is essential. Final touches are again determined by the location, but citronella candles can keep the mozzies away or a sprinkle of fairy lights can up the ambiance.

Image courtesy of Kudos Premium Outdoor Furniture

How to tell if your balcony needs a transformation

• Is the structure and build showing signs of unsightly wear and tear? • Is your furniture, old and worn, or uncomfortable, impractical, out of style or just plain ugly? • Is the overall look and design, just shabby not chic? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then read on.

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Image courtesy of Daydream Leisure Furniture

Time to transform

First priorities are to ensure your balconies are regularly inspected, well maintained, cleaned, painted, and repaired, all vital because of Australia’s particularly harsh climate. Beware: there are stringent rules about balcony safety and you must always abide by your state’s laws and regulations. Once you’re happy that your balcony is safe, fresh and clean you can begin to introduce furniture and consider style and décor.

What to consider?

• Overloading is a hard no! Heavy statues, water features and ornaments can cause structural problems in the long run. • Beware of plants. You may think plants are a perfect addition to a balcony, aft er all ‘green’ is on trend but they require upkeep, also plants and pots store and leak water, which leads to rust and mould, and therefore problems. • Use the correct materials for the environment. If your balconies are near the ocean, make sure saltwater corrosion won’t play havoc with any unsealed materials used in fi xtures and furnishings. • Consider glass. It is clean and modern, can impress guests and provide uninterrupted views of beaches and outstanding locations. • Be stylish. There are no hard and fast rules about cosmetics but keep it simple. Modern lines, and neutral tones with fresh pops of colour never goes out of style. On balcony furniture AccomNews sought advice from some industry outdoor furniture suppliers. Dean Gesterkamp, Director, Kudos Premium Outdoor Furniture, told us that in 2022 designers want more colour choice. And he revealed he’s seen a trend towards recyclable materials. “When it comes to choosing furnishings for a balcony it is down to personal choice and preference,” he said. “An accommodation operator should choose colours and styles that complement the overall look of their property, and they should avoid clashing colours. Always consider what guests want, furniture should be comfortable and easy on the eye.” He added: “It’s most important to select durable materials and products that off er longevity and to insist on a good warranty.” Finally, we asked, what is Mr Gesterkamp’s tip for choosing balcony furniture? He said: “Don’t be boring, add colour!”. Jason Condon, owner of Daydream Leisure Furniture believes that appealing balconies make guests happy and more likely to spend long periods relaxing in a comfortable chair at a nice table, eating, drinking, and enjoying the view. He told us: “If you were to ask potential guests where in the property they intend to spend most of their time, I would suggest the answer would be the balcony and pool area. “Given this, the quality of furnishings off ered in those areas should be of prime importance.” He advised when choosing furniture, to remember you are buying for a commercial environment. He said: “Everything should withstand sustained abuse from guests, weather, and various unguents. Visual appeal is important, but practicality is paramount.” Jason recommended to use quality polypropylene as it’s “the most practical low maintenance, value-for-money material”, which “off ers the most durability and comfort”. “Next best would be aluminium,” he said “followed by timber and wicker because timber generally requires ongoing maintenance and wicker has a limited life in full UV. While both generally involve cushioning, which also has its draw backs.

“Most people think rain is the biggest threat, whereas UV is actually a more destructive force and dictates the use of high-quality materials for furniture longevity.”

Image courtesy of Kudos Premium Outdoor Furniture

Bright Ideas For Your Space!

Until now the advice has been to use art-pieces, furniture, rugs, or cushions to bring that splash of colour to our spaces. But now, with the recent launch of the Cambio 2.0 range from About Space Lighting that is all about to change!

When it comes to the interior design of a hospitality space there is of course a vision that must be brought to life. However, it’s not always as easy given the parameters that must be operated within. So, with that in mind, and because sometimes those rugs and cushions just don’t cut the mustard About Space Lighting have designed an extensive range of shades that come in an array of bright bold colours as well as black and white.

The Australian owned and operated lighting business that has been in business for more than a decade are well placed to introduce such an offering given their extensive experience in suppling lighting solutions to the hospitality industry. From commercial, to decorative and custom lighting solutions, and with four showrooms across Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart, About Space provide their clients with the knowledge and advice they need to their concepts from that design stage to reality.

Made from aluminium the Cambio 2.0 collection is made up of nine different styles of shade and has six colours to choose from. The next stage is to choose a preferred drop colour where there are five colours to choose from. Now a single drop and shade works beautifully but About Space have cleverly designed this range so two, three or even four shades can be stacked up to create a single pendant. The real beauty of the Cambio 2.0 range is that this versatility gives a designer an opportunity to create something truly unique while also bringing that colourful impact.

Customers can visit any of the About Space showrooms where a Lighting Consultants will be on hand to guide you through the process. Alternatively you can build their own Cambio Pendant Light on the About Space website at www.aboutspace. net.au.