Balconies can be a pleasant feature on any home, providing an airy and easily accessible retreat. But many homeowners outfit this area with little more than a diminutive table and a couple of chairs, since there isn't too much room for other features.

Despite the limited space, however, balconies can usually be transformed into vibrant gardens. The deck and railings can be outfitted with planters to provide you with beautiful flowers and maybe even some fresh herbs and vegetables.

Before you start choosing plants for a balcony garden, you'll need to decide what will grow well in the space. Kerry Michaels, writing for the home design site The Spruce, says you should consider both horizontal spaces and vertical ones when determining how much space you have. You might also be able to maximize the available room through means such as trellises, stacking containers, or hanging pots.

You should also have an accurate idea of how sunny the balcony is. If it gets several hours of sunlight each day, you won't be too limited in what you can grow. If the balcony is in a shadier spot, or if the sun will be blocked by a building or other obstacle partway through the day, you'll want to look for plants that require minimal sunlight.

Microclimates can easily form on a balcony. Scorching temperatures may occur, particularly if the balcony has a light-absorbing color scheme. The site can also be more exposed to windy conditions, which can damage seedlings and fragile plants.

If you live in a home with a governing body, such as a condo association or a community with a homeowners association, you'll want to make sure balcony gardening is permitted. There might be rules against this activity, but you may also be able to challenge them.

Once you have an idea of the conditions on your balcony, you can choose the plants you'd like to grow there. Alexa Erickson, writing for Family Handyman, says you may prefer to use low-maintenance plants so you won't have to spend too much time caring for the garden. Shifrah Combiths, writing for the home design site Apartment Therapy, recommends a mix of perennials and annuals. This will allow you to have some plants that return year after year as well as a rotating selection of seasonal selections.

The balcony may need some small modifications before it can be transformed into an efficient garden. You may want to purchase and install materials such as planters that can be installed on a railing or wall. Agnes Carpentier, writing for the home design site Houzz, says putting down new decking material can better accommodate the containers and help make the space more inviting.

The way the planters are set up can help improve the privacy of the balcony. Erickson says the planters may be used to block the railing, making the space seem more enclosed and secluded.

Consider the drainage requirements of any containers you choose. Containers should have holes at the bottom to allow water to drain out, and they should be placed on saucers to keep water from puddling on the balcony. Combiths says it's best to use containers made of porous material rather than plastic ones, since these do a better job of allowing water to drain to the soil.

If you aren't keen on keeping up with the watering needs of the plants, especially in sheltered areas where they won't receive moisture from rainfall, look into options to ease this requirement. Carpentier says some planters have water reservoirs that only require you to infrequently refill a tank. Michaels says drip irrigation systems or drought-resistant plants can also work well.

Try to create some visual interest with your containers. This can be accomplished through a mixture of container types, size, and placement.

The balcony will be an even nicer place to relax once you've added some vegetation, so you'll probably want to leave some room for furniture. Combiths says a bistro table is perfect for a smaller space. Larger balconies may be able to accommodate a more extensive setup, such as a full table or a large seating area.