If you happen to live in any German city, you're probably used to fitting most of your outdoor living onto your balcony.
They may be slightly smaller than your average garden, but it's amazing how versatile they can be, from hosting friends for dinner and drinks to testing out your fledgling plant-growing skills.
Of course, this being Germany, there are a set of rules that you need to follow in order to stay on the best possible terms with your neighbours.
Here's how to make the most of your balcony this summer while avoiding awkward conversations or even visits from the police.
Naked sunbathing
Legend has it that the English poet William Blake and his wife used enjoy sitting out in their garden stark naked pretending to be Adam and Eve.
But while nude biblical scenes may be all well and good in a Lambeth garden, German law unfortunately calls for a slightly more conservative approach.
That doesn't mean that stripping off on your balcony is necessarily forbidden. However, you do need to consider whether the neighbours might see more than they want to while you're catching some rays.
As is generally the case with rules for what you can and can't do on your balcony, the law says that you're more than entitled to take off your clothes in your own private space - but this shouldn't impact your neighbours.
To get around this, you may want to put up a screen between you and your neighbour's balcony, or even go full Adam and Eve (William Blake style) with a strategically placed plant or two.
Another option is to position your sun umbrella so it blocks your neighbour's view - just watch out for any gusts of wind that may strike at an inopportune moment.
READ ALSO: What are the laws around nudity in Germany?
Sex
If al fresco sex is your thing, you'll once again need to make sure the neighbours don't accidentally catch sight of what's going on. Obviously, getting a report filed against you may dampen the mood somewhat.
The same applies to making loud noises or even having some "intimate" time in front of a window that people can see into. In the worst-case scenarios, both can be grounds for a police complaint.
Barbecues
Participating in Germany's unofficial national sport - Grillen - is technically also allowed on the balcony, but there are some rules to know.
The first is that you should avoid open flames and any kind of BBQ that doesn't come with an actual grill.
If you can, you should also try not to send a billowing cloud of smoke over to your neighbours' windows or balcony while you're cooking up a storm. In the worse-case scenario, you could face a fine for excessive smoke under the Emissions Control Act.
That means an electric grill might be preferable to an old-fashioned coal barbecue.
Certain states and districts also have rules about how often you're allowed to barbecue outside. In Berlin for example, twice a month is considered reasonable. It's also a good idea to alert the neighbours beforehand if you're planning a grill-fest anytime soon, and some regions require this by law.
The other thing to note is that some rental contracts have clauses that ban barbecues on the property or even just certain types of barbecue. So be sure to read the small-print in your Mietvertrag (rental contract) to ensure you don't accidentally break the rules.
READ ALSO: Reader question: Can I have a barbecue on my balcony in Germany?
Parties
There's very little better than sitting out on a warm summer evening sharing a drink with friends - but you may wonder how much socialising is considered too much.
The good news is, you're perfectly entitled to invite people over and have fun in your own home, and you certainly don't need to whisper the second you go outside.
That said, German states do put in place a legal Nachtruhe (night-time quiet) period between 10pm and 7am, so you may want to turn the music down or take the party inside during these hours.
Once again, it's also considered polite to give neighbours a heads-up before inviting a big group of people round, especially if it's going to be a big event like a birthday party: most of them won't begrudge you a bit of extra noise on a special occasion, but it's always nice if they know what's going on beforehand.
Smoking
Surely no neighbour would begrudge you a quick ciggie on the balcony once in a while, right? Right.
In principle, you're perfectly allowed to smoke on the balcony. Once again, just be mindful of the neighbours, who may not be that pleased if a cloud of smelly smoke blows over their way.
READ ALSO: Can you get in trouble for smoking on your balcony in Germany?
CCTV
Depending on where you live, you may have considered installing a CCTV camera for a bit of extra security. But is this actually allowed under German privacy laws?
Yes and no.
In Germany, everyone is entitled to protect their own residence and property with video surveillance, but this should exclusively record what happens on the property.
That means you can have a CCTV camera pointing at your balcony that can record any trespassers, but it shouldn't record people and areas outside of this remit - so you certainly can't use it to spy on your neighbours or record what's going on in their private space.
Decor and plants
When it comes to turning your balcony into your own personal oasis, you pretty much have free rein. Whether you want to try your hand at growing tomatoes or fancy hanging a banner for your favourite football team, it really is up to you.
The only thing to watch out for is that you don't obstruct your neighbours' view or install anything so elaborate that you end up damaging the brickwork or the integrity of the balcony. For this reason, snap hooks and dowels are a no-no.
Fairy lights and other light features are absolutely fine as well, although your neighbour does have the right to demand they get turned off at 10pm if they're disturbed by the light pollution at night.
It's a similar state of affairs with wind chimes, which may constitute a noise disturbance if your neighbour happens to dislike them. Once again: communication is key. Check with them beforehand if you're worried your musical decor may be considered a nuisance.
On the plant front, pretty much anything goes, apart from ivy and other climbing plants. These tend to be a problem because their roots can damage the brickwork.
You'll also need to make sure your plant pots are relatively secure and won't fall down onto the street in heavy winds. And, it should probably go without saying, but spraying your neighbours in the face with a hose every time you do some "watering" is not considered very neighbourly.
As always, common sense should be the order of the day: a few drips of water or stray petals from your plants on your neighbour's balcony can't be helped, and as such, they shouldn't be a problem.
Hanging out laundry
If your balcony is big enough, you may want to hang your clothes on a rack out to dry on your balcony.
Although it seems harmless enough, it can actually be forbidden if that is written into your rental contract. As with everything in Germany, check the fine print in your contract before you go hanging your underwear out to dry in the wind.
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