I transformed my balcony for under $200. Here are 7 ways I upgraded my space for cheap.

• I decided to spruce up my apartment's 16-foot long balcony using decor I already owned or thrifted.
• I used paint to upgrade furniture and stick-on plastic to add flair.
• In total, I spent less than $200 to transform my balcony in an affordable way.

When my mom and I first moved into our apartment, our 16-foot long balcony was nice but underwhelming.

Earlier this year, I overhauled the space for about $198 using sale pieces, items I already owned, and thrifted finds.

Here are seven affordable ways we transformed our outdoor space into a funky oasis:

Painting patio furniture brought much-needed color to my space

First, I transformed a $50 three-piece gray patio set that was glass, metal, and woven plastic.

I used $10 worth of leftover emulsion (a durable water-based paint) from another project to cover the set in pink, blue, and sage.

To spice up the table, I created a daisy design and used some acrylic paint to give the flower depth.

Once the patio furniture was dry, I used an $8 quick-dry varnish to waterproof the pieces and give them a nice sheen.

Creating designs on the concrete floor added a unique twist

We originally bought waterproof rugs for the balcony, but they didn't look as we'd hoped, so I painted the floors.

I thought I'd need to buy expensive masonry paint, but leftover matte emulsion topped with varnish worked just fine.

I painted stems and leaves by hand then cut an old sponge into a petal shape and used it as a stamper to create flowers.

Homemade flag buntings are easy to make

My mom and I used old pillowcases to make homemade flag buntings.

We cut the pillowcases in half lengthwise and then again along the fold at the top. Then, we attached strings and painted them with a Union Jack design.

If you don't have matte emulsion, acrylic paint works just as well, if not better.

Thrifting bike wheels added unique decor to our balcony

I got old bicycle tires from my uncle and originally planned to turn them into seasonal wreaths. Since they were already painted and varnished, I changed my plan.

Instead, I added affordable battery-powered LED lights and faux greenery stems to make them into simple accent pieces.

Use old light fittings to add flair

We bought battery-powered festoon lights and solar-powered fairy lights to add a warm glow to the balcony when the sun goes down.

To add a quirky touch, we placed an old lampshade we found in a charity shop over one of the festoon bulbs.

This creates a really unique atmosphere and brings the indoors, outdoors. We've also placed various lanterns around the balcony to add color.

Adding plants and planters to your space is a simple way to add color

Flowers and greenery complete an outdoor space, but planters can get pretty expensive.

I bought my planters and window boxes from eBay for around $9 each. The window boxes are attached to the balcony pole and propped up with old books and magazines, which add height and a bit of character.

The tall trough at the end of our balcony was found in our apartment building's trash room a few years ago and painted with a white gloss.

Our little trough has fairy lights twisted around it and it looks beautiful night or day.

Each season I probably spend around $20 - $25 on plants, seeds, earth, and feed. This year, we opted for petunias, sweet williams, geraniums, lavender, and a miniature rose.

For plants, we kept to a color palette of green, pink, and purple.

Sticky-back plastic and self-adhesive mirrors are great finishing touches

For around $30, we used sticky-back plastic to upgrade other parts of the space.

We put patterned sticky-back plastic sheets on the balcony divider at the end because it looks more appealing than misted glass and would help seclude us from neighbors.

We put patterned plastic on the white panels beneath the bedroom windows. So far, it's lasted for a year and a half.

To add the illusion of extra space, we stuck $5 self-adhesive mirrors on the divider.