Unfortunately, not every person living in Russia can boast of large apartments and huge living rooms. But many can show off their balconies, which are filled with various pickles and junk lying around.
What about finishing the balcony? What if you create a real room out of a balcony, albeit small, but functional and useful.
We invite you to find out the current balcony design for 2020, which will allow you to decorate a small space for further spending time in it.
Balcony options
For several years now, designers have been interested in improving free space. If you decide to connect a balcony with an adjacent room or plan to spend time on the balcony in winter, then be sure to take care of high-quality insulation. After this, you can demolish the partition, and then there are several options:
- You can place a decorative shelving between the main room and the loggia; it is important not to forget to leave free space for exit.
- The partition can be replaced with an interesting design - a bar counter. Its main task is to separate the guest area from the seating area, which is the balcony.
- You can even create an arch and connect the living room with the balcony.
But the most interesting option is to create an additional room, namely, leave a partition and equip a balcony.
Two floor-to-ceiling glazing options
Frameless glazing of balconies and loggias
Frameless floor-to-ceiling glazing eliminates the need for frames. Tempered glass with a centimeter thickness is installed on roller guides. Its maximum height/width is 300/65 cm. The windows can be folded like a book or opened into the room. This option is offered to customers with cold glazing of the loggia.
Advantages of frameless glazing
- The exquisite balcony looks weightless;
- It is easy to clean the glass, especially when folding it;
- The maximum amount of sunlight penetrates into the room;
- The glass structure provides wind insulation.
Disadvantages of frameless glazing
- Lack of tightness. Therefore, sound insulation will not be sufficient and protection from the vagaries of nature will be reduced;
- Due to poor thermal insulation, it will be cold on the balcony in winter;
- The price of frameless glazing is much more expensive than a frame structure;
- You can't protect yourself from insects. Because it is impossible to install a mosquito net.
Frame glazing from floor to ceiling
Frame glazing is made of plastic, glass composite, aluminum. Plastic windows are considered a budget option, but the weight of the structure is large. Therefore, the balcony slab will have to be strengthened. Fiberglass composite structures are the most expensive. They are extremely resistant to damage, and their thermal insulation characteristics are similar to wood. Aluminum frames occupy an intermediate position. They are more expensive than plastic products and less reliable than fiberglass.
Advantages of frame glazing
- The design is more reliable than frameless glass;
- Even in cold weather outside, the room will be warm;
- Excellent noise insulation;
- Installation of mosquito nets is allowed.
Flaws
- Heavy weight;
- Legalization of glazing will be required;
- Panel radiators will be needed to prevent windows from fogging/freezing.
Kitchen on the balcony
If the loggia is located right next to the kitchen, then no one forbids moving the kitchen work area to it and getting enough space for the dining room. There are two options for this:
- Or turn the balcony into a dining room
- Or move the kitchen work area to the balcony, and turn the kitchen into a dining room. Install a large table and a corner sofa.
Greater interest is shown in the second option.
In 2020, it is necessary to completely change the interior of the balcony, and, finally, give it useful properties, and not just store things there. Even on the smallest balconies you can find space for a refrigerator. The hob can also easily fit on the balcony directly under the bar counter.
Insulation of a balcony with panoramic glazing
Work on creating a warm balcony using panoramic glazing, unfortunately, does not end with the installation of warm profiles and multi-chamber glass packages. Having achieved sealing, it is necessary to insulate the floor and roof. You can use polystyrene or polystyrene for this, followed by finishing.
As an alternative, you can use an electric heated floor, which works both on the basis of a heat-emitting cable and on the principle of a film emitting infrared radiation. To do this, you will need to run electrical wiring onto the balcony. You can read about how to install these systems in one of our previous articles.
Remember that balconies and loggias are outside the thermal contour of the house. Therefore, the removal of central heating systems there is prohibited. In addition, it is not recommended to install water heated floors on the balcony. In addition, these systems are not at all attractive when used in apartments.
Scandinavian style balcony
Of course, the style can be anything, it all depends on your preferences. It is important to take into account natural light and immediately know whether additional lighting sources will be required.
In 2020, minimalism with a little retro content is popular, as well as quite a bit of Etna for the use of wooden furniture.
The entire 2020 balcony design is made in light colors, namely white. But the white spot should be diluted, and for this purpose blue tiles with interesting patterns are used to decorate the floor.
Scandinavian style does not involve installing curtains, but how can you do without curtains on the balcony? Therefore, roller blinds are purchased. It is worth giving preference to white curtains made of cotton fabric.
Mediterranean style
If the balcony faces the sunny side, we recommend paying attention to this style.
The smallest balconies are decorated in blue and white colors. They create the effect of space and contribute to a pleasant visual experience.
It is advisable to install a sofa with white upholstery against one of the walls. A wooden table will be conveniently located next to it. And as an additional seat, a Mediterranean-style chair made of wicker rattan is used.
Again, you can’t go without curtains; Roman blinds would be an excellent option. They look great on narrow windows.
Loft
Do you want the most fashionable balcony in the house? Then decorate it in the most popular style of 2020 - Loft! But please note that a loft can be created only in two cases:
- If the whole apartment has a Loft style
- And if the balcony is separated from other rooms by a glazed partition.
The simplest idea is to create a wall with a brick effect. And for the floor, already prepared Loft ornaments are used.
This style is ideal for creating a balcony-office. And in fact, it is a pleasure to be in such an office. And if you work hard and find a table that resembles a workbench, then the room will get a unique and inimitable look.
Don't forget about lighting: industrial lamps or fixtures are best.
Frameless glazing: what is it, where can it be used, cost
The most popular materials for frames are metal-plastic, warm or cold aluminum profile, wood (the most impractical and at the same time expensive option). The average price per square meter for an aluminum profile is 100 rubles, for a wooden profile about 150-200 rubles per square meter. m.
The choice of glazing type must be made taking into account the purposes of the work:
- To protect against rain and wind, “cold” aluminum or three-chamber metal-plastic with the thinnest glazing will be enough. Please note that a “cold” aluminum profile on the inner surface will have the same temperature as outside; therefore, in cold weather, when warm air from the room enters, moisture will condense on it.
- For warm glazing, multi-chamber panoramic windows or a “warm” aluminum profile are used.
American style
The 2020 balcony can be decorated in American style. In order to understand what we are talking about, we strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the photographs of the new products of American balcony design for 2020.
The balcony should be made in different color ranges, ranging from beige to chocolate shades.
And if there is free space, be sure to create an imitation of a real fireplace. To do this, you can install a fireplace heater, which will not only provide warmth, but also look aesthetically pleasing.
Balcony finishing
For glazing, we recommend choosing dark wood. In 2020, this is the most popular option, but, accordingly, the window sill should be made of the same material.
There is nothing complicated with decorating - various paintings, canvases with flowers, landscapes and other neutral images. There should be life on the balcony - this is very important. To do this, just a few plants placed on the windowsill are enough.
Is it possible to insulate existing panoramic glazing?
Since loggia glass is the main source of heat loss, it is important to immediately decide how to insulate a glass balcony. This may require laying insulation on the floor, walls and ceiling. Before insulating a loggia with panoramic glazing, it is worth remembering that the thickness of the layer of additional thermal insulation should not be more than 6-7 centimeters.
Additional insulation of a loggia with panoramic glazing can be done using polystyrene foam. Its thickness is 5 centimeters, an additional 1 cm of screed is made.
Also, insulation of a balcony with panoramic glazing can be done by installing a “warm floor” system. The system slabs can also be attached to walls.
Insulation of a stained glass balcony can be done by connecting it to the room. This is an ideal option, since the balcony will become one with the apartment and there will be no need to install additional heaters there
. The downside is that you will have to spend extra money on heating, as the area of the apartment will become larger. It will be necessary to obtain permission to carry out such work from the Housing Office.
All these points should be taken into account at the planning stage of installing stained glass windows on the balcony. As experts note, in most cases it will not be possible to make a panoramic loggia an ideally warm room, but its visual characteristics will be beyond praise.
