Design Tips to Cool Small Terraces and Expand Balcony Space

Researchers from the University of Michigan and the Royal Horticultural Society have shown that strategically placed shade‑giving plants can lower terrace temperatures by up to nearly one degree Celsius, providing a natural cooling solution without air‑conditioning. Suitable species for limited light include ferns, hostas, impatiens and begonias, which create a vegetative barrier that blocks solar radiation and releases moisture through evapotranspiration.

Interior‑design experts also advise ways to make balconies feel larger in compact apartments. By installing removable wooden decking on balcony floors, covering metal railings with matching panels, and adding vertical‑garden installations, owners can visually merge indoor and outdoor areas, gaining a sense of extra square metres and greater privacy.

Both approaches emphasize low‑cost, reversible interventions that enhance comfort and aesthetics while avoiding major construction or high energy bills.