How to transform a balcony at little cost

A few brush strokes are enough to completely transform the look of a balcony. I discovered Sico’s opaque stain (available at RONA) which made things super easy all the while offering a superior quality. With opaque stain, you can choose any color from the repertoire and apply it just like paint.

If you’re like me, creating a mood board before the transformation will help guide and focus the overall look and feel of the project. That’s how I determined the stain colours used. I wanted a romantic look, that reminds me of Paris, with a Scandinavian touch. My final colour choices were Pinewood 6192-31 for the floor and Natural White 6000-11 for the rails.

My favourite part! The after-paint treat! It’s time to make some magic happen.

Lighting played a huge role in getting the charming and romantic look I wanted. String lights are perfect for high level lighting. Up to 3 strings can be interconnected, for a total of 75 linear feet. For the floor, I chose flameless candles because of the safety they provide when young children (or clumsy adults) are on the balcony.

Because my balcony is semi-covered, I was able to add a cute indoor burlap carpet for some texture and the Scandinavian touch I was looking for. It goes perfectly with the other materials and the floor colour. For uncovered spaces, RONA offers a wide selection of outdoor rugs.

It goes without saying that plants and flowers are staples for a successful transformation. Some herbs and plants (like basil, lavender, mint, etc.) even keep mosquitoes away due to their smell.

Add few cushions to the sofa for extra comfort and embellishment. The only thing left is to bring out your favourite blanket for cooler nights.