Small Lausanne balcony: 7 ideas to turn it into a real living space

A few square meters suspended between sky and city, a view over the rooftops or the lake in the distance: the Lausanne balcony is one of an apartment's most underestimated assets. Too often cluttered with bikes, boxes or nothing at all, it is waiting to finally be given the attention it deserves. Here are seven concrete ideas to turn it into a livable, comfortable and personal extension, whatever its size.

Why a balcony really changes quality of life

In Lausanne, where upper-floor apartments dominate the rental stock and private gardens remain rare, the balcony plays a role that goes beyond mere decoration. It is a breath of fresh air in daily life, a transitional space between the interior and the city, a vantage point for watching the seasons. When it is well laid out, it adds a room in its own right to the apartment, at least three to four months a year, and even more thanks to the relatively mild climate of the Lake Geneva basin.

From a real-estate point of view, the perceived value of a dwelling with a fitted-out balcony is markedly higher than that of a bare or cluttered one. Tenants and potential buyers alike notice it immediately during viewings. Investing in this space, even modestly, is therefore worthwhile on several counts.

Idea 1: lay the foundations with the right flooring

It all starts underfoot. A raw balcony floor, in gray concrete or aged tiling, immediately gives the impression of a service corridor. The quickest and most effective solution remains the deck tile in composite or treated exotic wood, laid directly on the existing floor without drilling or fixing, which is essential when renting.

Clip-together terrace tiles in teak or ipe are available in DIY superstores and in the region's specialized garden centers. They adapt to irregular shapes, are easy to maintain and withstand Vaud winters. For a more contemporary effect, stone-look porcelain stoneware tiles also work very well on balconies facing south or southwest.

- Favor materials resistant to frost and UV.

- Check the balcony's permissible load before laying heavy tiles.

- When renting, choose removable solutions that require no permanent fixing.

Idea 2: furnish wisely, furnish smartly

On a balcony of two to four square meters, every centimeter counts. The classic trap is wanting to recreate an outdoor living room with a round table and four chairs, which saturates the space and ends up discouraging any use. The golden rule is to furnish for real use: if you are alone or a couple, a compact bistro set is more than enough.

The options best suited to small balconies

- The folding lounge chair: ideal for enjoying the morning sun with a coffee, without occupying the space permanently.

- The metal or resin bistro set: classic and effective, it folds up and stores against the railing in seconds.

- The storage bench: it offers seating and storage space for cushions and gardening tools.

- The hanging chair or the seat fixed to the railing: clever for gaining floor space, but be sure to check with the condominium regulations or the terms of the lease.

The Nordic brands present in Lausanne stores have for several seasons offered collections specially designed for small outdoor spaces. The natural tones, linen, terracotta, sage green, harmonize well with the greenery and avoid the plastic look of entry-level collections.

Idea 3: grow upward to gain space

Greenery is the soul of a balcony, but poorly arranged, it takes over the little space available. The solution is to think vertical rather than horizontal. Planters hung from the railing, felt pockets fixed to the wall or to a trellis, ladder-style plant shelves free up floor space while creating a dense, attractive wall of greenery.

In Lausanne, the orientation of balconies varies considerably from one neighborhood to another. The north or northeast facades of Bellevaux or the Vallon call for plants that tolerate partial shade: ferns, hostas, tuberous begonias. The well-exposed balconies on the Ouchy or Chailly side easily welcome lavender, pelargoniums, cherry tomatoes and aromatic herbs.

A few plant pairings that work

- For a sunny balcony: lavender, ornamental sage, sedums, French marigolds, basil.

- For a partly shaded balcony: impatiens, fuchsias, lobelias, parsley, mint.

- For an urban-jungle effect: cannas, dwarf banana plants (to bring indoors in winter), phormiums, potted bamboo (non-spreading varieties).

A balcony in bloom and full of greenery is not a decorative luxury: it is a daily invitation to step outside, to unwind, to truly inhabit your space, even when the city bustles below.

Idea 4: create privacy without closing off the space

One of the most frequent obstacles to using a balcony in an urban setting is the feeling of being exposed. Facing the building opposite, under the gaze of the neighbors above or beside a busy street, people hesitate to settle in, to eat outside, to relax. Yet there are light solutions that preserve the view while creating a protected bubble.

Privacy screens in bamboo, linen or woven polyethylene attach to the railing or to a freestanding frame. They filter the view without walling off the space. Outdoor curtains in water-repellent fabric, fixed to a rod screwed into the balcony ceiling, add a Mediterranean touch that is much appreciated in Lausanne apartments. A wisteria, a jasmine or a honeysuckle trained on a trellis is, in time, the most elegant privacy screen there is, with the added bonus of scenting the air from spring onward.

Idea 5: take care of the lighting to extend the evenings

A balcony without lighting is abandoned as soon as daylight fades. Yet the June-to-September evenings in Lausanne are mild and conducive to outdoor life. A few LED string lights, a solar lantern set on the floor or an outdoor wall light with a dusk sensor are enough to transform the atmosphere and invite you to stay.

Festoon lights with golden bulbs remain the safe bet: they attach easily between the railing and the ceiling or wall, use little power and create a warm light without dazzling the neighbors. For balconies where the electrical installation allows, a small adjustable low-consumption spotlight lights the greenery from the bottom up and produces a striking scenographic effect.

Idea 6: think about the details that make the difference

It is often the details that tip a functional balcony toward a genuinely pleasant living space. A woven outdoor rug immediately sets a living-room mood, marks out the seating area and protects bare feet from cold tiles. Quality cushions, waterproof and UV-resistant, invite you to lie down, to read, to do nothing.

A small folding side table, a wall-mounted bottle holder, a hook for hanging a trailing plant or a planter bag: each addition must have its reason for being and a carefully considered place. The mistake to avoid is accumulating accessories that end up recreating the clutter you wanted to eliminate. Better to have a few very well-chosen objects than a balcony overloaded with good intentions.

The list of details not to neglect

- A washable, non-slip outdoor rug.

- Cushions in Sunbrella fabric or equivalent, resistant to rain and mildew.

- A thermos or a dedicated tray to avoid back-and-forth trips to the kitchen.

- A candle holder or citronella candles for summer evenings.

- A railing hook for the plant bag or the tools.

Idea 7: anticipate rental and condominium constraints

In Switzerland, the vast majority of residents are tenants, and even condominium owners are subject to building regulations. Before drilling, fixing, painting or hanging anything on the facade, it is essential to check what the lease or the condominium regulations allow.

Most of the fittings mentioned in this article are removable and pose no problem. On the other hand, some installations require the express authorization of the landlord or the co-owners' meeting: fixing a pergola or an awning, installing a planter projecting beyond the railing, laying a glued floor covering, or installing lighting connected to the building's electrical network.

When in doubt, the safest approach is to talk directly to your agency. A good property manager, like the Homewell team, can quickly tell you what is possible and, if necessary, act as an intermediary with the owner to obtain written authorization. A well-laid-out balcony enhances the dwelling and is never a problem when the rules are respected from the outset.

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