Could you stand to spruce up your balcony a bit? While they are often neglected spaces, balconies can become functional and beautiful with a bit of work. One of the best ways to start a balcony makeover is with the flooring. Few people bring shoes onto the balcony, so the texture and temperature of the flooring are important. Plus, flooring is the foundation for the style of the space and changing it can have a dramatic visual impact. Not sure what to choose? Here are the five best flooring options for your balcony.
1. Concrete
Concrete is one of the most common flooring options for balconies because it is so weather-resistant and secure. That said, concrete doesn’t have to be boring. You can stain it to a new color to change the look of the space. Or, if you have yet to pour the concrete, you can add a soft texture that adds some flair to the balcony. There are also additives that make concrete stronger, which can help make your balcony safer.
Concrete may also be the best base material for a balcony because you can add these other flooring options on top of it.
2. Vinyl Options
Vinyl is another great material that can resist the elements that your balcony flooring will be exposed to. These days, you have many vinyl flooring options, including vinyl sheets and tiles. There are endless color and shape possibilities when you’re using vinyl flooring. As the balcony is such a small space, you can spring for more intricate, brighter, bolder designs than you would in a larger space in your home. Plus, as the balcony is often visually unconnected from the rest of your space, you can depart from the main style in your home. Vinyl is a flexible option that will help you take advantage of this opportunity.
3. Wood
While not all wood flooring options can stand up to the outdoor environment of a balcony, some can. If you want that natural look, consider long planks of wood, treated for the outdoors as if they were part of a deck. This flooring many take some maintenance, but the wonderful texture of wood may be worth it to you. Or, consider adding wood deck tiles. These smaller strips of wood are often better suited to smaller balcony spaces. You can lay them out in unusual patterns to add interest.
4. Porcelain Pavers
Porcelain pavers can be laid directly onto a concrete surface (with rubber padding), which makes them a great option for adding some style to a preexisting concrete balcony. Porcelain pavers come in a huge range of sizes and colors, including traditional ceramic looks. You may need to cut these tiles to size depending on the size of your balcony, but installation is otherwise simple. Of course, porcelain resiststhe weather very well too.
5. Artificial Grass
If you’re looking for a balcony flooring option that is really out there, consider artificial grass. This is a great option for those who don’t otherwise have green space. Plus, the grass is soft on your feet. Artificial grass is designed to work in high-heat and will stand up to rain. It’s truly a low-maintenance flooring option for your balcony.
