Woman moves into apartment in Austin with a ‘balcony’ – in reality, it’s a ‘minimum security prison yard’

Finding the perfect apartment can be a tricky challenge. There are so many factors to consider such as how much natural light the property gets. That’s why it’s important to do a tour before putting down a deposit, something one woman on TikTok found out the hard way.

The TikTok account “welltraveledd” shared a short clip showing a pretty frustrating design flaw with her new home: The view from the balcony which she had been told about was almost entirely blocked by an adjacent wall. As a result there is only the smallest sliver of natural light getting in from outside. In the video she compared it to a “minimum security prison yard,” and it’s hard to deny it certainly gives off that vibe.

It kind of looks like one of those Norwegian prisons, but this isn’t Norway,l it’s Austin, Texas, and this isn’t a cell for an inmate, it’s supposed to be a home. The bleakness of the balcony, coupled with the low level of natural light in the property makes for an oppressing feel and the responses on TikTok have been a mix of sympathy and incredulousness.

“You didn’t tour the place before signing a lease?” asked one shocked viewer. “[T]his is actually the worst the lack of natural light would literally make me go crazy,” wrote another. However, it’s not all doom and gloom as many people actually admitted this would be their ideal arrangement for a balcony. “I want a balcony like this,” one person said, meanwhile another claimed they would love to be able to read in the fresh air without seeing people.

Making the most of the situation

A few viewers offered suggestions to make the balcony situation work a bit better. One of the solutions involved using mirrors to reflect light inside. In a second part, the tenant admitted she was excited to try out some of the suggestions. In another video she wrote, “this is OUR balcony now. We’re making it work.” She showed herself cleaning the small space, adding that she had ordered some stuff to vowing to make it work.

Over the next few videos the miserable balcony is transformed bit by bit. First of all a cute rug is laid out on the floor, then a small set of chairs with a table that attached to the balcony railing. She also ordered lights but has yet to show what they look like.

Slowly but surely the lifeless grey space is turning into something more inviting. Viewers are still chiming in with their suggestions, one person even suggested a green wall of plants to cover up the grey. It just goes to show, when life hands you lemon, make lemonade. The balcony might have looked like a prison yard on move in, but pretty soon it will be a much more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing space, it’ll just take a little work.