Mum in lockdown revamps balcony into stylish outdoor area for just £150
- Maggie Green, 36, overhauled her balcony for just £150
- Maggie used bargain products from IKEA and B&M
- The project has proved the perfect lockdown activity
If you have an outdoor space or balcony, chances are you’ve been using it more than ever during the lockdown.
And one mum and daughter duo took the opportunity of being stuck at home to transform their balcony, stocking up on B&M and IKEA supplies to keep the budget to just £150.
Maggie Green, 36, a support practitioner and mum from Scotland, totally overhauled her balcony to provide a lockdown hangout spot for her and her daughter Paige, 18.
Maggie told LatestDeals.co.uk: "Living in a flat, I always focused decorating on the inside of my home and was usually able to spend time outside in parks and outside areas. So my balcony - in the west of Scotland we call it a veranda - was almost neglected and I never spent any time out there.
"With the lockdown coming into place, my daughter Paige and I knew we wouldn’t be able to spend time out and about in public spaces. It was actually her idea to transform the balcony into a space we could enjoy.
"She had seen some outdoor space inspiration on people living in flats in London and other cities on Instagram so we got to work and looked at ways we could transform our space. My daughter has just finished school and as a single parent I knew my budget would be limited but there are loads of cost effective ways to decorate.
"The first thing we did was paint the balcony using paint I already had. I’ve always liked the artificial grass in gardens and saw no reason why we couldn’t use it on the balcony floor. I bought one roll of artificial grass from B&M at a cost of £30.
"With the walls and floor complete, it already made such a difference I thought we should get a bistro set so we could eat and drink on the balcony, something we’d never been able to do before. We bought and easily assembled a set from IKEA costing £35.
"It was really starting to take shape now and we looked at what furnishings we could buy to make it more homely. The lights were £12 from B&M, the cushions were £14 from B&M and the shelves cost £5 each from B&.
"I already had ornaments in my living room and bought a couple more that didn’t cost much. The total cost was around £150 and took two days to transform.”
The balcony transformation has proved the perfect lockdown project for Maggie and Paige during the lockdown, bringing them closer together and also giving them a beautiful space in which to enjoy the fresh air.
"I’m not particularly creative normally but once I started seeing the balcony take shape it only needed simple things to enhance it,” Maggie adds.
"It has been ideal during lockdown and a great way for my daughter and I to spend time together. Not only in doing it up but enjoying meals together in our new little haven.
"Once you set a budget - no matter how small- you can make a difference. I’d recommend anyone who has an underused space to look on social media and design magazines and get some inspiration and cater it to their needs and budgets.
"My daughter and I have really bonded with this project whilst we adjust to our new normal way of living during these uncertain times. And until we can resume eating and drinking out we are loving our nights in now!”
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “I’m willing to bet that as a nation, our balconies, gardens and patios have never been used so much! The combination of being stuck at home and the glorious weather means many of us have spent lockdown working on our tans.
“However, if your outdoor space needs a bit of TLC, Maggie and Paige’s project is proof you don’t need to spend a fortune on the project. Look to bargain brands such as B&M, The Range and IKEA to find affordable accessories to help you on your way!”
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