Create a lovely summer oasis on your balcony or patio – check out these 7 design tips!

As the spring sunshine invites you outdoors to enjoy the longer days, it’s time for your home’s outdoor spaces to come out of hibernation. With appropriate planting, beautiful pots and smart furniture choices, you can turn even a small balcony or a more spacious terrace into an inviting green extension of your living room.

Tools of the trade

The Pallarès x MENU garden tool set contains everything you need for your balcony gardening. With a high-strength carbon steel hoe, rake and planting shovel, you can make short work of handling soil, weeding, and planting seedlings. The traditional look of the tools is given a beautiful finishing touch with oak handles that provide a comfortable grip. Pallarès is a Spanish family business that has been making quality knives and tools for over a century.

• Pallarès x MENU plant tools set >
• All garden tools >

A thrilling threesome

Georg Jensen’s Terra flower pots bring together the brand’s long tradition of craftsmanship and Nordic functionalism in a charming way. The terracotta clay pots and saucer create a delightful contrast for green plants or herbs, while their shiny steel companion enhances the impression of lushness by reflecting the shapes of the leaves. The downward-sloping, almost upside-down design of the pots gives the roots room to grow, as well as challenging our ideas of what shape things should be. The items in the award-winning Terra collection were designed by Norwegian design studio Snøhetta.

• Georg Jensen's Terra pots >
• All planters and plant pots >

For novice greenfingers

You don’t have to have a big garden at home to enjoy home-grown vegetables. Even a small growing box on a windowsill and 10 minutes of care a week can make for a thriving little vegetable garden. The Do Grow – Start with 10 Simple Vegetables book, published by The Do Book Co, will get you started with your very own kitchen garden. The book contains practical advice on the basics of gardening, and easy recipes to make the most of your harvest.

• Do Grow book >
• All books and magazines >

Classical inspiration

There’s definitely no need to hide the Bloom watering can at the end of your plant care session! This elegant watering can, designed by German duo Böttcher & Kayser, is inspired by Stelton’s iconic EM77 vacuum jug. The tall cylindrical tank holds up to two liters of water, and the long spout makes it easy to precisely water the roots of the plants. The Bloom watering can is made of durable stainless steel and finished with a silicone anti-slip coating on the base.

• Stelton's Bloom watering can >
• All watering cans >

Looking up

When space is scarce, grow your garden vertically with Bacsac’s ingenious hanging fabric pots. Made of weatherproof, recyclable and plant-holding Batyline fabric, the hanging baskets are a great choice for a small balcony or terrace. They can be attached to the edge of a railing, fence or even the back of a chair using the adjustable straps. Inspired by urban environments, the Bacsac textile planters were designed by Godefroy De Virieu and landscape architects Virgile Desurmont and Louis de Fleurieu.

• Bacsac's hanging fabric pot >
• All Bacsac products >

A handy watering helper

MENU’s handy Hydrous watering sticks help keep the busy or forgetful gardener’s potted plants healthy. Made of porous earthenware, the watering spike is filled with water and pushed into the soil, allowing the water to seep out slowly. Less thirsty plants can thrive for up to a week with the help of the watering spike. The package contains two Hydrous watering spikes, and there are two sizes to choose from for different watering needs.

• MENU's Hydrous watering sticks >

Multi-purpose comfort

HAY’s Weekday bench is versatile – make a spring arrangement of pots and lanterns on top, or sit back and admire your handiwork and the growth of the buds. Designed by Hannes & Fritz, the simple pinewood bench is inspired by shared meals and bringing people together. The Weekday bench is available in a variety of delightful shades in addition to the natural wood version.

• HAY's Weekday bench >
• All outdoor benches >

See also:

• All outdoor furniture >
• The Summer Shop at Finnish Design Shop >

Text: Kaisa Mikkola Images: Manufacturers