A small balcony can feel more like a forgotten ledge than actual living space, especially in a rented flat where drilling into walls isn't an option. The good news is that IKEA's flatpack range, combined with a few bits from Dunelm and Argos, goes surprisingly far. These twelve ideas are all damage-free, mostly under £50, and genuinely worth doing even if you move in a year.
1. RÅSHULT Stool Turned Side Table
The IKEA RÅSHULT outdoor stool (£25) is sold as seating but works brilliantly as a compact side table next to a folding chair. Stand two together for a makeshift drinks station that takes up almost no floor space. Add a small weatherproof tray from Dunelm (around £8) on top to corral plant pots, candles, or a glass. Both pieces stack flat when not in use, which matters when your balcony is only a metre deep. No fixing required — just place and use.
2. Freestanding Trellis Privacy Screen Without Drilling
IKEA's RUNNEN decking tiles (£25 for a pack of nine) get most of the attention, but pair a freestanding bamboo trellis from B&Q (£18–£22) with a pair of heavy planters at the base and you have a privacy screen that requires zero wall fixings. Fill the planters with compost and trailing ivy or jasmine so the trellis gradually fills in. The planters act as ballast against wind. Your landlord sees nothing permanent, and you take the whole thing with you when you leave.
3. RUNNEN Decking Tiles Over Ugly Concrete
Bare concrete balcony floors are depressing and RUNNEN interlocking decking tiles from IKEA fix that without touching the actual surface. A 2m x 2m balcony needs roughly four to five packs at £25 each — so budget around £100–£125. They click together in minutes, sit loosely on the floor, and lift straight back off when you move out. The wood ages to a nice silver-grey or you can treat it with decking oil from B&Q (£10) to keep the warm tone. Completely reversible, zero deposit risk.
4. Folding TARNO Bistro Set for Tight Spaces
IKEA's TÄRNÖ table and chair set (£55 for table plus two chairs) folds flat against the wall when you need more floor space and opens out in seconds for breakfast or an evening drink. The acacia wood looks much more expensive than it is. Treat it once a season with Ronseal Decking Oil from B&Q to stop it drying out. At roughly 75cm square when open, it fits a balcony that's barely a metre wide. Stack the chairs on top of the table against the wall when not in use and you barely notice it's there.
5. Rail-Hung Planters Using Balcony Balustrades
Most UK balconies have metal or glass balustrades you can use without any drilling. Balcony rail planters from Argos or Dunelm (£10–£15 each) hook straight over tubular railings and hold herbs or trailing flowers at eye level. Line up four or five with mint, basil, and thyme for a free-hanging herb garden that costs under £60 all in. IKEA's SOCKER greenhouse pots (£6) sitting on the RUNNEN tiles below create a layered, lush effect without a single screw going into your landlord's walls.
6. Solar Festoon Lights From IKEA and Dunelm
IKEA's SOLVINDEN solar-powered LED string lights (£10–£15) need no wiring and no wall plugs — the small solar panel sits on the balcony railing during the day and powers the lights at night. Drape them loosely along the balustrade or weave them through a trellis. Dunelm sells similar outdoor festoon-style solar strings (around £14) with slightly larger bulbs if you want a warmer glow. Both options are completely removable. Switch them on during summer evenings and the smallest balcony feels genuinely usable after dark.
7. Vertical Herb Wall Using SKADIS Pegboard
IKEA's SKADIS pegboard (£15 for the 56x56cm size) is designed for indoor use, but lean it against a sheltered balcony wall rather than hanging it and it works just as well outdoors. Prop it against the wall using its own feet or lean it inside a planter to keep it upright — no fixings, no damage. Attach the SKADIS small pots (£4 for a set of three) and fill them with compact herbs like coriander and chives. The whole setup costs under £30 and gives you vertical growing space without sacrificing floor area.
8. Upcycled KNAGGLIG Crate as Outdoor Storage
IKEA's KNAGGLIG pine storage box (£13) is meant for kitchens but sealed with two coats of Ronseal Garden Furniture Wax (£9 at B&Q) it handles light outdoor use perfectly well. Stand one on its end to create a small side table with hidden storage inside for cushions, gardening gloves, or a small watering can. Sit it on a couple of RUNNEN tiles to keep it off wet concrete. It costs less than £25 all in and doubles the usefulness of a balcony corner that would otherwise be wasted space.
9. Outdoor Rug to Define the Space
Putting down an outdoor rug immediately makes a balcony feel more like a room. IKEA's KOLDBY cowhide-style rug isn't suitable outside, but their HATTHOLMEN outdoor rug (£35) is woven from recycled plastic and handles rain without rotting. Dunelm's outdoor rug range starts at around £20 for smaller sizes. On a concrete balcony, a rug laid over RUNNEN tiles adds a second layer of softness underfoot. Shake it out monthly, hose it down twice a season, and store it indoors over winter — it'll last several years.
10. JORDBRO Outdoor Cushion Bench Hack
Line two or three IKEA JORDBRO outdoor seat cushions (£18 each) along a low balcony wall or run them across the width of the space directly on the decking tiles to create floor-level seating. Add a low RÅSHULT stool as a coffee table in front and you have a relaxed seating area that takes up less vertical space than chairs. Bring the cushions inside when rain is forecast — they're not waterproof on prolonged exposure. The whole thing costs under £60 and works particularly well on balconies too narrow for standard furniture.
11. Clip-On Balcony Table Using BEKVÄM Step Stool
IKEA's BEKVÄM step stool (£25) is a cult favourite indoors, and outdoors it earns its place as a narrow side table or plant stand. Seal it with yacht varnish (£8, B&Q) and it can sit outside through mild weather. Position it beside a folding chair to hold a drink and a book — it's the right height for an armrest and far steadier than a folding tray table. Being compact and light, it moves easily if you need the space. A small piece of non-slip matting underneath stops it sliding on smooth tiles.
12. Sheer Outdoor Curtains for Wind and Privacy
A tension curtain rod (£8–£12, Argos or Dunelm) wedged between two balcony walls — no drilling required if your balcony has two parallel walls close enough together — holds lightweight outdoor fabric panels that filter wind and add a degree of privacy. IKEA's LILL net curtains (£4 a pair) aren't rated for outdoors but survive a sheltered balcony well enough for a summer. Dunelm's outdoor voile panels (£15) are a sturdier option. Either way, they soften the whole space and muffle street noise slightly without any permanent fitting.
None of this requires a conversation with your landlord or any risk to your deposit. Start with the RUNNEN tiles and a string of solar lights, see how much more time you spend outside, and go from there. Small balconies are genuinely worth bothering with.
