Pros and cons
This solution has many advantages, but it is worth mentioning the disadvantages:
pros | Minuses |
---|---|
A furnished balcony is additional useful meters to a small apartment, for example, Khrushchev. |
It is necessary to take care of insulation and lighting. |
There is a lot of light on the loggia, which becomes a plus for fans of reading books. |
In a narrow room there is little room for maneuver. |
On the high floor you can admire the picturesque views, which well affects the overall psychological state. |
If the apartment is on the ground floor, for safety reasons, you can not place computer equipment on public display. |
The balcony, correctly finished, has high soundproofing properties. |
The cost of converting the loggia into an office is quite high. |
How to equip an office on the loggia?
High-quality alteration of the space takes place in several stages.
Balcony glazing
The process is not considered a redevelopment, but is equated to it, therefore, before glazing the room, it is recommended to obtain the appropriate permission from the Housing Inspectorate in order to avoid difficulties in the future.
For the office, warm glazing is selected. It, unlike cold, includes at least two glasses. Before starting work, the balcony is freed from unnecessary items, all coatings are removed. The executing company strengthens the design of the loggia and takes the necessary measurements. Delivery and installation of frames takes time: it is enough to prepare and align the walls.
Lighting organization
It is worth taking care of the lighting of the office in advance. Whether it will be built-in ceiling lights or wall sconces depends on the preferences of the owner and is thought out at the design stage.
Also, additional sockets for connecting electrical equipment will be required: this will turn the office into a separate room, independent of other rooms. To do this, invite experts:
- They will mark with a pencil the place for future wiring and switches and drill holes for the cable placed in a special pipe-insulator.
- Then the wires will be brought to the place of supply, fixed in a junction box, insulated and connected.
- Sockets and switches are placed after insulation and decoration of the balcony.
Room insulation
To prevent heat from escaping through the balcony, the cracks are closed first: polyurethane sealants and mastics are used for this. The floor should be waterproofed.
After the sealant has dried, a vapor barrier film is mounted, and a wooden or metal crate is attached to it. Then the thermal insulation is installed: it can be polystyrene, mineral wool or polystyrene foam, after which the crate is sheathed with moisture-resistant drywall or plywood.
To make it comfortable on the loggia even in winter, you need to install heating: a radiator, a heater, a convector or an infrared heat-insulated floor.
Interior decoration
After warming, you can begin to finish the loggia. The joints between the sheets of the gypsum board are plastered, and the floor is closed with a screed (for warm floors and tiles) or wood (for linoleum, laminate).
Lining the walls depends on the taste and financial capabilities of the owner of the apartment. The most budgetary option for the cabinet are plastic panels - they are easy to install and resistant to moisture. Clapboard belongs to the mid-range material: it is environmentally friendly, attractive in appearance and just as easy to install.
An alternative is decorative plaster: it is resistant to temperature extremes and sun exposure and can be combined with artificial stone. Many for the decoration of the loggia choose traditional painting.
Less popular, but still noteworthy options for cabinet design are cork wallpaper, porcelain tile and brick tile.
Organization of the working area
Any workplace requires comfortable furniture and decor:
- Table. The main element in the office. It can be a computer table with a sliding shelf for the keyboard and a place for the system unit, or a minimalistic desk where the laptop and mouse will fit. A specially equipped window sill can also serve as a surface.
- A chair or chair. The computer chair on wheels is considered the most convenient for work: the modern market offers both dimensional seats and small, but comfortable office chairs with a comfortable back.
- Storage systems. For personal items and books mounted wall cabinets or shelves.
- Lighting. It is most convenient to use spotlights. Volumetric chandeliers and floor lamps are unlikely to be appropriate in a small space, but you can put a lamp on the table or hang it directly above the working surface.
- Curtains. Dense curtains will be needed on sunny days: usually due to bright light the display is poorly visible. Rolled curtains are considered the best option: they do not take up space and are easy to care for.
Additional decor in the form of home plants, a coffee table, pillows and rugs will give your office a cozy atmosphere.
Not all owners seek to convert the loggia into a full-fledged office, so they equip it with furniture that can serve both for work, for leisure, and for eating.
Ideas for balconies of various shapes
Rectangular narrow loggias and angular rooms of irregular shape require a different approach to design. For non-standard balconies (for example, round), furniture is usually made to order. In a small room, often only a countertop and seat can fit. A tight loggia is not a reason to abandon your corner: you can enter a triangular-shaped table to save space, or install transformer furniture.
Often a loggia is combined with residential areas. To combine the rooms, you need to dismantle the common window. The balcony combined with the bedroom is very comfortable and is additionally heated by batteries in the room. It is desirable that the elements of both interiors overlap.
The cabinet on the balcony with panoramic windows looks great: the open space gives a feeling of spaciousness in a narrow room.
Design a workplace for a child
The balcony is a great place to equip a training corner on it: an abundance of light and the possibility of ventilation increase the usefulness of such a solution.On a long loggia, you can equip an office for two children by putting tables on different sides or, conversely, turn the window sill into one wide working surface. The room can be separate or combined with a children's room.
Any teenager will be grateful to parents for their workplace on the loggia: at this age, more than ever, solitude and their own territory are required.
Photo of the interiors of cabinets for adults
Young apartment owners and people of mature age can organize a loggia according to their hobbies.
Men set up an office for computer games, video editing or streaming: the balcony can be finished with additional sound insulation so that the noise does not bother the family. And men's "golden hands" will appreciate their carpentry workshop on the loggia.
Women needlewomen will also be happy to work in their creative workshop: you can put a sewing machine or an easel on the loggia, and select drawers for needlework.
Good daylight allows you to equip a manicure cabinet or makeup table.
Examples of balconies in various styles
Finishing, lighting and decor for the office are selected taking into account the chosen direction. In the industrial style, brick, dark shades, rough textures are often used. In order not to overload the interior and visually increase it, lovers of the loft combine textures with mirrors and glossy facades.
In the Scandinavian style, along with natural textures, light neutral colors are predominantly used, visually expanding the space, which is especially true for small balconies.
Modern style is a harmony of aesthetics and functionality. The design office on the loggia should be distinguished by bright colors, strict lines and thoughtful decor.
The classic style is an emphasized sophistication, even if we are talking about a small study on the balcony, so placing curved furniture, Roman curtains and expensive decor will come in handy here.
The simplest style for the loggia in terms of implementation is minimalism. It is characterized by light finishes, plain furniture and a lack of decoration.
Photo gallery
Remaking a loggia into an office requires a lot of effort, but the result is worth it: the owner gets a bright, warm room with good ventilation, where he can retire and do his work or his favorite hobby.