Small, narrow balcony: design ideas with flowers and DIY

Do you have a small, narrow balcony and no idea how to design it? You take two steps forward and it already feels cramped. Even a small bistro table gets in the way, as do chairs and a clothes rack. There’s no room for flowers either. But you want colour and life here in summer.
The good news is that even a small, narrow balcony can be designed so that everything works. The secret lies in clear structures, the right plants and space-saving furniture that doubles as planters. This way, you can make the most of every square metre of outdoor space.
We recommend geraniums. They grow upright or trailing, bloom reliably in many colours and are hardy. Whether in boxes, hanging planters, or pots, they’ll bring a touch of summer to your balcony without taking up valuable space. They need very little care, bloom until autumn, and can cope if you forget to water them while you’re busy with work and housework.

In this blog, we show you step-by-step how to make a simple flower-filled planter bench using two wooden frames and containers, as well as a few other ideas. It’s beautiful, practical and perfect for a narrow balcony!

Table of content

• DIY idea: A planter bench for balconies at least 1.5m wide
• How to keep your geraniums looking their best for longer
• Five more ideas for small, narrow balconies
• Small and narrow: what to consider when furnishing

DIY idea: A planter bench for balconies at least 1.5m wide.

Difficulty: ⭐️ – easy
No drilling, no screws – just assemble, plant, done.

You will need:

• 2 planks of planed construction timber (40mm h x 120mm d x length, as required)
• 8 pale-coloured, hollow concrete blocks (available at DIY stores)
• Outdoor acrylic paints, preferably in bold colours
• Sponge
• Disposible gloves
• Masking tape
• Garden membrane & scissors
• Potting compost
• Colourful geraniums + a second plant, such as chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus)
• (optional) Cushions & blankets

📺 Video tip: Watch this video to see how the bench is made, step by step.
Watch the YouTube video

Step 1: Prepare the blocks
Thoroughly brush the concrete blocks to remove dirt and dust, so the paint will adhere properly. Use the masking tape to cover any areas you don’t want to paint. This will create clean edges.

Step 2: Apply paint
Wearing the gloves, use the sponge to apply the coloured paints to the surfaces of the blocks. You only need to do this on surfaces that will be visible when your bench is finished. Dab carefully; do not brush. Leave to dry thoroughly but remove the masking tape before the paint is completely dry.

Step 3: Plant the plants
Once dry, take two of the blocks and place them opening upwards. Line each one with garden membrane and trim it to size. This will keep the compost in place. Fill the blocks two-thirds full of potting compost, add the geraniums and other plants, and top up with more compost. Press the soil down lightly and water thoroughly.

Step 4: Stack the blocks
Place the six empty blocks on top of each other to create two stacks of three. Make sure the openings face sideways and the stacks are straight. The distance between the two stacks depends on the length of your planks.

Step 5: Add the seat
Insert the two wooden planks through the top block to form the seat. They should protrude at least 20cm on each side. These extenstions replace side tables.

Step 6: Finish off
Now comes the best part: adding the flowers. Place one geranium-filled block on top of each stack, add the cushions and blankets to soften the bench and you’re done! This combination of seating plus planting area saves space; crucial on narrow balconies.

💡 Tip: Transform your balcony into a sea of flowers
Once the bench is in place, you can incorporate a few more pots into your planting scheme. Place them to the side or slightly in front so they won’t get in the way. Adding an extra plant stand on the floor or a few pots in matching colours will help to connect your outdoor seating area and balcony. Important: Don’t overdo it. Just a few pots will make your balcony look bigger. A couple of boxes under the bench – ideally on castors – create storage space for cushions and other items.

How to keep your geraniums looking their best for longer.

Watering: Geraniums need regular watering. Water them morning and evening on hot days. If you forget occasionally, don’t worry, as geraniums are tough. Always avoid overwatering them, though.
Fertilising: Add liquid fertiliser to the water once a week, following the instructions on the packet.
Deadheading: Gently remove dead flowers with your fingers. This will encourage new ones to grow. Do not prune in summer.

➡️ Geranium care tips

Five more ideas for small, narrow balconies.

Idea 1: Planter balcony bench – sitting among the flowers

Difficulty: ⭐⭐ – Medium
The project for you if: you’re good with your hands and like a Mediterranean look.

A wooden board rests on two large planters. The standout feature: a cut-out that fits the round containers perfectly. This creates the impression that geraniums and small olive trees are growing up through the bench. The result has a modern, southern Europe feel that also saves space.

Here’s how to do it:
🔗 Furniture for a small balcony: DIY geranium bench

Idea 2: A vertical garden makes use of height

Difficulty: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ – challenging
The project for you if: you want lots of flowers but have limited space and live in a flat where you are not allowed to drill holes in the balcony.

Not enough space for lots of pots? Think vertically instead of horizontally. This vertical garden makes use of the wall to accommodate balcony plants. It consists of a reinforced steel grid in a handmade wooden plank frame. Planters and troughs containing geraniums of various colours and growth habits hang from it. This saves floor space and still brings lots of flowers to your balcony. Geraniums come in every summer colour; pink, white, red or orange. The frame can be placed anywhere and is stabilised at the bottom with two crossbars (you could also place a heavy pot or stone on the lower slats). As the frame is freestanding, there’s no need to drill anything into the wall – perfect for rented flats.

💡 Tip: Place this vertical garden in a sunny spot. Geraniums love light and will reward you with lots of flowers in return.

Idea 3: Portable plant stand made from an old clothes rail

Difficulty: ⭐️ – Easy
This is the project for you if: you want to keep things flexible and enjoy upcycling.

Here, an old clothes rail has been transformed into a flower trolley on wheels. The concept is straightforward: geranium-filled hanging baskets are tied to the crossbar. You could also repaint the frame beforehand to match the flowers. The castors are really practical, as they allow you to move the rail around depending on where the sun is or where you need space.

💡 Tip: You can replace the castors with wooden feet if you want the stand to be fixed in place.

Idea 4: Upcycled-look hanging flower pots

Difficulty: ⭐️ – easy
The project for you if: you want to save floorspace and like a playful look.

These hanging baskets are suspended from wire cables. The containers are simple metal pots with wire frames, filled with bright geraniums for a splash of colour. Perfect if you want to decorate a small balcony quickly and easily.

💡 Tip: Zonal geraniums are perfect for this idea.

Idea 5: Hanging baskets on spoon hooks

Difficulty: ⭐️ – easy
The project for you if: you are allowed to drill and love creative details.

Macramé hanging baskets add height while creating floorspace. Their simple design draws the eye to the flowers. This creates a vibrant look, especially when filled with colourful geraniums. Curved spoons also make charming flower hooks, transforming these hanging baskets into little upcycling projects.

💡Tip: You can attach the spoons to walls using screws. They can also be fixed to wooden walls without using rawlplugs. Pre-drill the holes and use screws at least 3cm long. For solid walls, you will need rawlplugs (e.g. 6 x 40 mm) and suitable screws.

Small and narrow: what to consider when furnishing

A small, narrow balcony can’t accommodate large furniture, but it can accommodate good ideas. If you think in terms of zones and make use of the height, leaving the floor free, you can create a beautiful space, even in a small area.

Three things that always help:

• Combine multiple functions: space-saving balcony furniture can also serve as a planting area, creating more space.
• Use height: try hanging pots and plant bags and wall shelves.
• The right plants: geraniums are hardy, bloom profusely, and can withstand stress.

Geraniums have been a part of European summers for generations. With them, you can design a small balcony in a space-efficient way without having to sacrifice furniture or decorative elements.

For an even cosier feel:

Soft lighting:
Unlike lanterns, fairy lights create atmosphere in the evenings without taking up space.
Attractive flooring:
Click tiles made from native wood, or wood-effect vinyl floor tiles can cover up ugly concrete – no tools or drilling required.
More privacy:
Bamboo panels or climbing plants on trellises are ideal for providing extra privacy.

💡 Want more? Find tips on caring for geraniums, as well as other DIY balcony ideas to inspire you.