How I Turned My Sad, Tiny Balcony Into a Cozy Space With a Culinary Herb Garden

When I moved into my tiny 150-square-foot studio in Brooklyn, New York, I knew I would be working with a really small space. That’s why I was so excited to have one sought-after New York City amenity: a balcony. It was only about 36 square feet, but that was equivalent to nearly a quarter of my indoor square footage. I wanted to make every inch count.

I always dreamed of having an inviting patio with conversational seating and a beautiful herb garden where I could grow things to use in my kitchen. I had no plans to compromise on my vision, even though I had very, very little space to make it happen. I was on a mission to make my balcony my favorite part of my home.

My balcony looked pretty sad when I moved in. It had a bare concrete floor and metal railings that were pretty bleak. But it was full of potential.

As a renter, I knew I couldn't do a full overhaul, but I wanted to make the space feel brand new. I chose to do renter-friendly upgrades and simple DIYs that did just that on a $500 budget. Here’s everything I did to turn my tiny balcony into my ideal outdoor oasis.

I Upgraded the Floor With Deck Tiles

The concrete floor was the first thing I needed to tackle in my project. I wanted to use interlocking deck tiles that I'd seen online because they were an affordable, easy-to-maintain way to get the polished look of decking for a lot less money. And because there are so many pigeons in New York, I needed something that would be weatherproof and super easy to clean. I wanted my final layout to have a darker color scheme (I typically have an affinity for beige and wanted to branch out,) so I chose a coffee color for the tiles.

Installing the tiles was surprisingly easy. They clipped together almost like Legos, and I decided to lay them all in the same direction because I liked the clean lines. You can also arrange them in a crisscross or alternating pattern, but I wanted to keep mine simple.

I got super lucky because the tiles were 9 by 9 inches and my balcony was about 54 inches across, give or take. They fit perfectly across the width without needing to be cut. I did have to make a few cuts around a pole on the balcony, which I used a basic saw for. Once I reached the end of the balcony’s length, I also used the saw to remove one plank from each tile in the final row so everything would fit.

With the concrete covered, my balcony finally had a blank slate that was ready to be given life. Major win.

I Found Outdoor Furniture on a Budget

Inside my apartment, I have a really bright, playful color palette because it makes my small apartment feel more open. Outside, I wanted to play with some of the darker, moodier colors that I had shied away from trying indoors. The balcony gave me a great place to finally experiment with those colors. I set my sights on an earthy but modern aesthetic that would complement my garden.

Patio furniture can get super expensive, but I found a three-piece Acapulco conversation set for $120. It came with two chairs and a small coffee table, had great reviews, and felt much more modern than traditional Adirondack chairs. I paired it with indoor-outdoor pillows that helped bring together the modern, organic look I wanted.

I Made My Culinary Herb Garden the Statement

I had always known that when I got my first place, I wanted an herb garden. I’m definitely a beginner and no master gardener, but I really enjoy caring for something and seeing the results of that care as it grows.

I also love to cook, and buying fresh herbs is one expense that comes up often at the grocery store. I thought a culinary herb garden would be the perfect way to combine both interests. I could grow the herbs I use most often and have them ready whenever I needed them. I wanted the garden to be the crown jewel of my outdoor space.

I Customized a Basic Raised Bed

I wanted my planter to be a beautiful, modern statement to anchor the balcony. The only problem was that I didn’t have a lot of money to spend on a high-end planter. I loved the look of garden beds like the Vego, but they were outside my budget. I ultimately chose a simple wooden raised bed. Wooden planters have to be replaced more often, but they are affordable and super easy to DIY, which made the most sense for me as a renter.

Like most renters, I’m obsessed with peel-and-stick tile. I used it inside my apartment and in my kitchen, so I know how quickly it can give something a more polished look. I purchased some gorgeous chocolate-brown peel-and-stick tile that I was a little afraid to try inside, and the wooden planter gave me the perfect place to showcase them.

Once I assembled the planter with a drill, I applied the tiles to the outside surface. To turn my basic wooden bed into something that looked much more expensive. The legs and the interior areas of the planter that I didn't cover with tile, I painted with Rust-Oleum paint in Kona brown. It matched the tile and brought everything together. I am very pleased with how polished the finished planter looks and proud of how my vision came together.

I Chose and Planted the Herbs I Use Most

Because I got started a little late in the growing season, I purchased young plants instead of starting the herbs from seed. I chose to plant the herbs I find myself using most often when I cook: basil, green onions, parsley, oregano, rosemary and thyme.

I used companion planting guides to decide which herbs to place next to each other based on their soil and moisture needs. On one side, I planted the basil, green onions and parsley, which prefer more moisture. In that section, I used a mixture of raised-bed garden soil and regular potting mix.

On the other side, I planted the rosemary, oregano and thyme, which need soil that drains and dries more quickly. I added sand to the soil on that side of the planter to make it drain easier and give those herbs a better environment to grow.

I love using mint in drinks or even just adding it to my water. However, mint can grow aggressively and quickly take over a garden bed. So I planted it in a separate container far away from the rest of my herbs.

Next season, I would love to start my own seedlings indoors, probably with the hydroponic garden that is currently sitting in a box and waiting for me to use it.

I Pulled It All Together With Lighting and Finishing Touches

Once I had the garden and furniture in place, the balcony needed one last thing: lighting. I'm a true believer that lighting sets the mood. I’m a big fan of ambient lighting, so I wanted to layer light sources throughout the space. I focused on solar lighting so I wouldn’t have to worry about outlets, cords or replacing batteries.

I started with simple solar deck lights that attached directly to the railing. They took about 10 minutes to install and automatically turn on when it gets dark.

Two rattan solar lanterns that I found on Amazon brought some warmer tan hues into the darker color palette and had the organic look I was going for. I finished the lighting with a portable solar globe light that I already owned. For the remaining finishing touches, I added the separate planter for my mint and a few other outdoor plants, including a monstera that tied the space together.

Now, when I come home from work, I love sitting outside on my balcony. When I’m cooking, I can step right outside and grab the herbs I need. I look forward to showing guests my space when they visit. This is the first time I’ve had an outdoor space of my own, and I was so excited to customize it. I love how it turned out.