If you’re looking for an architectural feature that can inject some elegance into your home whilst offering you a chance to embrace more of the outside, then a balcony is the perfect option - more specifically, a Juliet balcony.

Offering the illusion of an open balcony space, juliet balconies are perfect for those who desire the outdoor feel without extensive structural changes. They also offer a range of benefits and come in numerous style finishes, making them an ideal versatile solution to suit your needs.



To learn more about why a juliet balcony could be perfect for your home and for advice on how to go about choosing the ideal style to suit your personal taste preferences and home’s existing design, then keep reading as we discuss all in this extensive guide.

What are Juliet Balconies?

When you think of a traditional balcony, you will likely think of an open area on an upper storey of a home that you can step out onto to enjoy an elevated outdoor experience. A juliet balcony, on the other hand, is not like a traditional balcony in this sense.

Instead, it acts as more of a barrier that sits outside larger windows or french doors on upper storeys of a property, without a space to walk out onto. Instead, they give the illusion that you have a balcony whilst still offering you the ability to enjoy French doors or large windows upstairs without any accompanying worry about safety.

Essentially, they are decorative safety balustrades placed across full-length windows or doors. They were traditionally created for solely functional reasons, offering a way to let more air and light into heavy stone buildings, however they gradually became more of a fashionable statement to have across Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, as their design held connotations of sophistication, elegance and grandeur.

The Benefits of Juliet Balconies

Functionality

Juliet balconies are not solely used for aesthetic purposes, but they still offer the functionality with which they were originally created for.

Firstly, they offer you an opportunity to let more light into your home. Juliet balconies give you the freedom to install large windows or french doors upstairs, which will let more light into your home throughout the day. This can help improve mood and productivity, reduce your energy bills and even helps to kill certain bacteria in the home.

These windows or doors can also let more air into your home, allowing you to improve the ventilation throughout your property during the day, which is important for your health.

Juliet balconies ultimately allow you to enjoy the benefits these larger windows and doors can offer whilst ensuring safety, which leads us onto our next point.

Protection

As stylish and beneficial as large windows and french doors are, when positioned on upper levels of the home, they pose more of a safety hazard - especially when they’re open.

Whilst high quality, reinforced glass should be used for large upper windows, having a larger surface area of glass upstairs is ultimately more dangerous, as it is easier to break and fall through than smaller windows. As for French doors, these are obviously a safety hazard when used at upper levels, because of the drop below.

These hazards are even more concerning if you have children or pets. In order to protect you and your family from this, but still enjoy the benefits that large windows and doors have to offer, juliette balconies cover the full width of these and some of the length, acting as a protective barrier that keeps you safe from falling.

Style

If you’re looking to incorporate an elegant architectural feature into your home, then a Juliet balcony is the perfect stylish option.

They offer a sophisticated finish to your large windows that gives the illusion of a traditional balcony. Furthermore, there are various material finishes to choose from that can match the existing aesthetic of your home whilst adding that luxury touch from the outside.

All of these benefits together can even add value to your home, which is another consideration to keep in mind if you ever plan on selling in the future!

Modern Juliet Balcony Styles to Consider

As we’ve already mentioned, there are various materials and styles of Juliet balconies available to choose from. Take a look below at what some of these are and which may be best suited for your home.

Glass

If you’re looking for a sophisticated, seamless and modern solution, then a glass balcony is the ideal solution. Being clear, it’s an ideal material for those who are looking for a minimalist design that doesn’t distract from the rest of your home’s exterior aesthetic.

However, they do come with various finishes if you would like to incorporate some design element into their appearance. For example, here at TSS Balustrade Centre, we offer the following glass finishes:

●        Satin

●        Mirror

●        Powder Coat

Along with different glass finishes, you can also customise the type of frame you’d like your glass to sit in. If you aren’t a fan of the traditional frame or frameless design, then you may opt to instead choose a steel frame, which is great for supporting large panes of glass, or a masonry frame, which can offer a softer, more rustic appearance.

Iron

Iron Juliet balconies are another common material choice, also a more traditional one. If you’re a fan of that old-style grandeur associated with classical architecture, then this is the style of Juliet balcony that may be more suited to you.

A benefit of using iron for these balconies is that the iron bars can be shaped into various shaped designs, allowing you to decide whether you want a more simple or intricate design custom to your tastes.

The only downsides of iron balconies is that some people may feel that their dark, industrial appearance can appear too harsh in contrast to the walls of their home. Alongside this, iron is prone to rust, so special upkeep may be required in order to maintain their appearance.

Frameless

As their name suggests, frameless juliet balconies don’t actually sit in a frame around your window. Instead, they simply consist of a pane of reinforced glass that is fitted directly between your windows or doors and the outside.

Whilst other types of juliet balconies also don’t offer a standing platform, they can still extend slightly away from your window, hence what makes them different from frameless styles.

Fitting a Juliet Balcony: Practicalities to Consider

Where to install your balcony

If you’re considering getting a Juliet balcony installed, then you’ll likely already have an idea of where you may want this to go, but if you don’t then there are some particular considerations that you should keep in mind.

These could include:

●        View

●        Safety

●        Privacy

View

One of the main purposes of a balcony is to appreciate a great view. Even though a Juliet balcony doesn’t offer you a space to walk out onto like a traditional balcony might, it still allows you to open up your windows or balcony doors and embrace the outside - something which is best enjoyed with an accompanying view!

Unless you have a specific large window in mind that requires the Juliet balcony, think about which area of your home has the best view, as well as where the sun rises across your home throughout the day - the south-facing side of your home, for example, will see the most sun throughout the day for you to enjoy and bask in.

Safety

It’s important to consider whether or not there will be any safety issues that may impact either the installation of your balcony or using the finished balcony itself.

For example, are there any trees or utility lines in the way that would impact the installation process? Or, once the balcony is installed, will it be at a height and location that may allow criminals a chance to enter your property?

Privacy

If you have neighbours, then you may want to consider how your balcony impacts their privacy. Whilst you may be able to see into their garden from a normal window already, the openness of a Juliet balcony may make them feel uncomfortable about you being able to openly view their space. It may be a good idea to discuss your plans with them first to avoid any uncomfortable neighbourly disputes.

Similarly, think about how many people outside will be able to see into your property depending on where you install your balcony and how you would feel about this.

Your Trusted Juliet Balconies Supplier

So, are you ready to install a Juliet balcony at your property? Look to us here at TSS Balustrade Centre to find you the perfect solution.

Our Juliet balconies are of the finest calibre and are made with both functionality and safety in mind. Whether fastened to the window frame, reveal or even the façade of your home, we are guaranteed to complete the job to a seamless standard.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your needs with one of our knowledgeable staff members.