Should a balcony even have a partition?
Release date:
2025-09-01
Yesterday, a friend asked me whether it would be better to install a partition on his balcony or leave it open. As soon as he asked, these thoughts immediately came to mind: The balcony often serves as a little sanctuary where the soul can bask in the sunlight—or even release pent-up emotions and breathe freely. From its vantage point, you can gaze out at breathtaking views that seem to stretch endlessly, while spreading your arms feels like embracing boundless space itself.
Moreover, the balcony is the perfect spot to air out those clothes and bedding that’ve been piling up, or to let plants and flowers soak in nature’s gentle rain and wind. And let’s not forget: just a cozy rocking chair is all you need for a peaceful nap, while flipping through a book or newspaper keeps you connected to the world around you—whether it’s local news or global affairs.
In fact, the balcony is one of a building’s most cherished architectural features, offering residents who spend too much time indoors a much-needed escape. It strikes the perfect balance between privacy and openness—something no ordinary window can truly replicate. That’s why, at the time, I didn’t give him a straightforward answer. Instead, I shared some insights from these perspectives. Now, here’s what I’d recommend in writing for everyone’s reference:
When it comes to home renovations, blindly following trends is never the right approach. Just because others have installed partitions in their balconies doesn’t mean you should do the same. Instead, your decision should be guided by your personal needs, lifestyle, hobbies, and the overall style and size of your living space. Let’s break it down further:
01 Determine the function and purpose of the balcony
1. A quiet corner: Perfect for writing and reading.
2 Simple and Cozy Leisure Space: Apart from the living room, both bedrooms at my friend’s place are fairly small, accommodating only essential items like beds and wardrobes. My friend has made the most of the bedroom balconies, creating a sleek and inviting relaxation nook.
3 A dedicated clothes-drying zone: Though tiny, the balcony connected to the kitchen is just the right size to fit a washing machine and laundry basket. My friend conveniently turned it into a makeshift laundry room, hanging freshly washed clothes directly on the balcony—simple, practical, and perfectly discreet.
4. Happy Play Area: My daughter’s room was painfully small, but a friend had a brilliant idea—she transformed the balcony into a cozy playroom, finally giving our little girl’s toys a proper place to live!
5 Flexible and Versatile Guest Rooms: To accommodate occasional visits from friends and family, the host replaced the living room balcony windows with high-sealing vacuum glass units. The space was freshly painted in a warm shade of yellow latex paint, while unused folding beds and chairs were neatly stored away—leaving plenty of storage for a clean, organized, and clutter-free environment.
6 Transform Your Balcony into a Clothing Storage Nook: Give your balcony a second makeover by carving out a sleek, functional storage space within its limited area. This design not only frees up room elsewhere in your home but also makes perfect sense for the balcony—a spot that often goes overlooked.
7 Creating a Kitchen Dining Area on the Balcony: Transforming your balcony into a kitchen is currently a fairly common home renovation trend. Depending on the actual size of your balcony, the most suitable cabinet layouts are typically "I-shaped" or "L-shaped." This setup allows you to design either a traditional Chinese-style enclosed kitchen or a modern Western-style open-plan kitchen.
02 Determining by Floor Height
To prevent dust from entering homes below the fifth floor, it’s best to install a partition between the living room and the balcony. This is because, on most days, areas below the fifth floor tend to be filled with airborne dust. Without a barrier, dust can easily spread unchecked, leaving your living room needing a thorough cleaning—or even a wash—almost every other day.
Pay attention to lighting—especially since floors below the fifth often suffer from poor natural light. If you decide to install a beautifully designed partition based on your own ideas, your home could end up feeling perpetually dark and gloomy. Instead, it’s best to opt for glass doors or choose sheer, transparent curtains.
03 Judging by Area Size
Generally speaking, for small living rooms with limited space, to create a sense of visual extension and enhance the room's natural light while making the interior feel more open and airy, you can choose not to install a door. This approach also ensures a seamless and cohesive connection between the living area and the balcony.
If you choose not to install a door but still want to clearly define the functional areas, an arched partition can effectively separate the balcony from the living room while still allowing for easy communication without causing significant disruption.
For standard-sized and slightly larger apartments, it’s still best to create a clear separation between the balcony and the living room. First of all, this ensures greater safety and hygiene in the living area.
A partition creates an additional barrier, enhancing safety while also adding a layer of protection against dust and rain, which helps maintain cleaner indoor air quality and significantly improves overall hygiene. By defining distinct spaces with partitions, you naturally introduce a sense of spatial depth and dimension. Moreover, for families with young children, it’s especially important to install partitions between the balcony and living room—this ensures the kids’ safety while giving them their own secure, dedicated area to play.
The entire living room space is well-sealed, offering even greater privacy. If the house is located near a busy road, the partition also provides excellent soundproofing. Moreover, winters tend to be quite chilly, with biting cold winds. Without a partition, the insulation would be severely lacking, but with one installed, the room stays much warmer.
Judging by practical performance: First, in winter, the weather is quite cold, and having a door provides shelter from wind and rain, protecting against rainwater intrusion. Additionally, since winters are chilly, a door acts as a barrier, helping to keep the indoor space much warmer.
From a safety perspective: Installing a sliding door between the balcony and living room is a safer option, as it not only deters burglars but also provides better protection for children in households with kids.
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