Moroccan Balcony Ideas: 14 Renter-Friendly Ways to Get the Riad Look

The simplest Moroccan balcony ideas all come from the riad courtyard: sit low, put pattern under your feet, light the space with lanterns instead of a ceiling light, and fill the corners with plants in terracotta. None of that needs tile work or a drill, so it suits a rented apartment balcony as well as a terrace.

Below are 14 ideas in the order we'd add them, two color palettes, a layout for narrow balconies and a budget plan.

What Makes a Balcony Feel Moroccan

A riad is a house built around an inner courtyard, with tiled floors, plants and usually water in the middle. Five things carry that feeling onto a balcony:

• Low seating. Cushions and poufs close to the floor instead of upright chairs.
• Pattern underfoot. Geometric tile in a riad; a patterned rug on a balcony.
• Lantern light. Pierced metal that throws patterned shadows, at floor and table height.
• Terracotta and green. Clay pots, citrus, herbs and climbers.
• Plain walls. White or sand-colored walls that let the pattern and plants stand out.

14 Moroccan Balcony Ideas for a Small Apartment

1Sit low on floor cushions

Low seating is what changes the mood most. Two or three thick outdoor floor cushions along the wall, with a couple of back cushions leaning against it, make a bench without any furniture. Choose covers sold for outdoor use, and bring them inside when rain is forecast.

2Add a pouf or two

A pouf works as a seat, a footrest or a side table with a tray on top. Leather poufs are the classic, but leather doesn't like rain, so outdoors pick a woven or outdoor-fabric pouf, or carry a leather one out only when you use it.

3Put pattern underfoot with an outdoor rug

You can't tile a rented balcony, but a flat-woven outdoor rug with a geometric pattern gives the same effect. Black and cream, terracotta and cream, or blue and white all work. Flat-woven polypropylene rugs dry quickly and can be hosed down.

4Cover a tired floor with deck tiles

If the concrete is stained or cold, interlocking deck tiles click together on top of it and lift off when you move. Wood-look tiles under a patterned rug warm up the whole balcony. Check with your building first, and keep the drain clear.

5Use pierced lanterns with LED candles

Pierced metal lanterns are the most recognizable Moroccan piece, and the cheapest way to change the balcony at night. Group three in different heights on the floor, and use LED candles so wind and fabric aren't a risk.

6Run warm string lights along the railing

One strand of warm-white string lights, tied to the inside of the railing with removable ties, fills in the light that lanterns leave out. Solar or battery strands avoid an extension cord. For more plug-free options, see our guide to lighting an apartment without ceiling lights.

7Bring out a brass tray table

A round metal tray on a folding stand is a table that stores flat. It holds tea, a lantern and a plant, and the round shape is easier to walk around on a small balcony than a square table.

8Cluster terracotta pots in one corner

Three to five clay pots in different sizes, grouped in one corner, look fuller than the same pots spread along the railing. Odd numbers and mixed heights help. Our budget porch decor ideas cover cheap ways to find and fill planters.

9Choose plants that suit the look and your climate

Citrus, jasmine, mint, rosemary and olive are the plants most associated with Moroccan courtyards, and bougainvillea where winters are warm. Citrus and olive need a sunny balcony and winter protection in cold areas, so check each plant's hardiness for where you live. Mint is the easy one: it grows almost anywhere and you can use it for tea.

10Paint one pot cobalt blue

A single pot in strong cobalt blue against white walls and terracotta is a nod to the gardens of Marrakech. One is enough; a sample pot of exterior paint covers it.

11Add privacy with fabric or a reed screen

Outdoor curtain panels or a reed screen tied to the inside of the railing hide the neighbors and make the balcony feel like a room. Use removable ties, and take fabric down in strong wind.

12Layer a striped throw and mixed cushions

A striped cotton throw over the floor cushions, plus two or three smaller cushions in terracotta, saffron or blue, gives the layered textile look. Keep a lidded basket by the door so they come inside in one trip.

13Set up a tea corner

A tray with a teapot and small glasses on the tray table gives the balcony a purpose, and a reason to grow the mint. It costs little and is the detail people notice.

14Add a bowl of water

Riad courtyards usually have a fountain in the middle. On a balcony, a wide ceramic bowl of water with a few floating flowers or a floating LED candle gives the same reference without plumbing. Change the water every couple of days so mosquitoes don't breed in it.

Moroccan Balcony Colors

Pick one palette and repeat it in the rug, cushions and pots:

• Riad neutral: warm white, sand, terracotta and brass, with green from plants. Calm, and the easiest to match with what you own.
• Blue and terracotta: white walls, cobalt blue in one pot and a cushion or two, clay pots and a blue and white rug.

Keep the walls and the biggest textiles plain. Pattern belongs in one or two places, usually the rug and the lanterns.

Moroccan Style on a Narrow Balcony

On a long, narrow balcony, put the floor cushions along the long wall so the walkway stays clear, the pot cluster in the far corner, and the tray table in between. One pouf is enough. Our guide to narrow apartment balcony layouts has measurements and more layouts.

On a balcony too small for seating, the look still works with one floor cushion, one lantern and three pots.

Where to Start on a Budget

Buy first (biggest change for the money):

• A patterned outdoor rug.
• Two or three lanterns with LED candles.
• Floor cushions.

Add later or find secondhand:

• Terracotta pots, which are cheap new and cheaper used.
• A metal tray and a pouf; thrift stores often have brass-toned trays.
• Deck tiles, only if the floor bothers you.
• A tiled table: our DIY tiled coffee table shows how to add Moroccan-style tile to a secondhand table.

The same pieces work indoors in winter; see our Moroccan living room ideas for where the pouf and lanterns go when the balcony closes.

FAQ

How do I make my balcony look Moroccan?

Swap chairs for floor cushions and a pouf, lay a patterned outdoor rug, group pierced lanterns on the floor and cluster terracotta pots in one corner. Keep the walls plain so those pieces stand out.

What plants are best for a Moroccan balcony?

Citrus trees, jasmine, mint, rosemary and olive suit the look, with bougainvillea in warm climates. Check each plant's hardiness for your area; mint and rosemary are the easiest to keep alive.

Can I create a Moroccan style balcony in a rental?

Yes. Rugs, cushions, poufs, lanterns and pots all sit on the floor, and string lights or a privacy screen can be tied to the inside of the railing with removable ties. Check your lease for rules on balcony items first.

What colors are used on a Moroccan balcony?

Warm white, sand, terracotta and brass form the base, with cobalt blue or deep green as the accent color.

Does Moroccan balcony decor work on a very small balcony?

Yes. One floor cushion, one lantern and three pots are enough to give the feeling, and all of them leave the floor mostly clear.