What has Covid-19, with its associated lockdowns and red zones, taught us? It's certainly made us realize how important, indeed vital, outdoor spaces are at home. The best thing is definitely having a garden or a large terrace. Even a small balcony, however, is a real blessing because it allows you to spend time outdoors without having to leave your home.
But how can we furnish it to make it as comfortable as possible despite its small size?
My advice is mainly three:
1. Consider practical, space-saving, and, if possible, foldable furniture so that, when not in use, you can save some space. Therefore, when it comes to furniture, less is more is the absolute must, but without sacrificing design.
Among the HIRO proposals, I find the set consisting of the Meridio table and the Op stool (designed by Mario Alessiani ) truly perfect for this purpose. They are both made of steel treated for outdoor use and each of them offers a practical touch: Meridio has a convenient space-saving fold, Op has a handle that makes it transportable from inside the house to your terrace . A perfect pairing for enjoying a nice cold drink in the evening after a sultry summer day, perhaps served on the stylish Lamina tray (designed by Mikiya Kobayashi ). Cheers!
2. Especially if you live in a big city and your small balcony overlooks other buildings, try transforming it into a green oasis with plants, even dramatic ones, that will give you the feeling of being immersed in nature (and not in concrete!). So, yes to planters and flowerpots to best display them and make them a feast for the eyes. You can recreate a jungle effect by taking advantage of both horizontal and vertical lines, choosing cascading plants in the latter case.
The Altea planter (designed by Gabriele Panciera ) by Hiro is the perfect solution for showcasing your green or flowering plants in a truly designer piece! It comes in various versions so you can choose based on your space: the tall one is particularly eye-catching because it also features a lower shelf; there's also a low and tabletop version (large and small). Even the accessories play their part: with the Idro watering can (designed by Yiannis Ghikas ), you'll have a beautiful piece to display! And to create a romantic atmosphere, there's the Eos lantern, where the candlelight filters through the holes like the moon in a well. Love is in the air!
3. Pay attention to the materials and practicality of the furnishings and accessories you choose : it's important that they're suitable for outdoor use and require little maintenance (wood, for example, is very beautiful but quite demanding: it tends to deteriorate with the sun and rain and needs to be repainted over time).
The ones you find in Hiro's Outdoor section are made of steel specially treated for outdoor use, so they'll last a long time without the need for treatment! You can also choose them in many colors, including trendy ones like fossil green, terracotta, vanilla, cinnamon, and cornflower blue.
What are you waiting for? All you have to do is choose your products and transform your outdoor space into a truly wow-worthy space!
*Article by Barbara Machin @pilloledidesign
