Patio Furniture For Small Spaces

A small patio or terrace may appear limited, but with a little thought you can really make the most of any outside space no matter how small it may initially appear. Even the smallest courtyard or balcony can be made practical with some clever furniture, lighting, painting and planting – with a little effort you could create a charming space in which to relax, dine or simply soak up the great British sunshine.

When buying furniture for your patio, consider what you want to use it for. In a small patio, space is at a premium, so you need to avoid cluttering the area with furniture you don’t really need or won’t really use. Invest only in furniture to match your needs.

Outdoor Patio Dining Furniture

Outdoor patio dining furniture is a popular choice in the UK and there are countless chair and table sets available online, from garden centres and superstores. You need to identify the type of furniture that’s right for you so consider the following:

Comfort - If you are planning to dine alfresco on a regular basis you need to ensure that the chairs are comfortable. Hard wood chairs are popular but do tend to be uncomfortable and rigid. If you want the most comfort from the chairs then look at resin wicker (otherwise known as “All Weather Wicker”) furniture. Such chairs are made from a synthetic wicker, designed to look like rattan, which has been woven around a metal frame. As the chair base and back is woven it has a certain amount of “give” which adds to the comfort. Of course you can always add cushions for added luxury.

Textoline is another great patio furniture material used to make comfortable chairs. This is a synthetic fabric, slung over a metal frame. Unlike cotton or polyester fabric chairs, textoline garden chairs are waterproof meaning they can be left outside year round. When buying textoline or resin wicker patio furniture look for guarantees that the items are fade and rot resistant. Quality models will be supplied with this guarantee and this ensures the set looks great, year after year.

Look out for chairs that have adjustable backs. They are commonly known as recliner or relaxer chairs and they offer you huge flexibility. You can have them upright when dining and reclined back if you want to sunbathe or relax with a book.

Seating Capacity – As a rule, if space is limited try and buy furniture to seat only the number of people who will use it regularly. For instance, do not buy a six seat patio dining set if only two people are ever going to use it. The table takes up too much valuable space.

Patio dining furniture sets are available to seat a variety of people, from sets for two right up to 16 seater sets. You will also find that the tables are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, from square, to round, rectangle to octagonal and even triangular. Buy the shape that closest matches the shape of your patio, otherwise the angles will look awkward.

Aesthetic Appeal – Try and buy a patio dining set that fits in with your natural environment. If the furniture blends seamlessly into the patio it will look less intrusive, creating the illusion of more space. Ultra modern balconies with steel balcony rails look stunning when you add brushed steel and teak patio furniture. Conversely, this modern furniture does not look appropriate in a cottage garden where something more traditional such as cast aluminium furniture is better suited.

If your patio area uses wooden decking you may be tempted to buy a wooden patio set. However, you can find that the furniture looks lost, with wood being the dominating theme. Perhaps you would find a colourful textoline set much more appropriate in this setting.

Storage – During the winter months you may want to keep your patio free from clutter and this means storing your furniture away. In this instance it is vital that you buy folding patio furniture because if takes up far less space than rigid stacking furniture. You can buy a variety of chairs that will fold flat easily. When buying the table make sure it states folding or gate leg, otherwise you may find yourself unscrewing the legs in order to store it.

If you choose not to store your patio furniture away during winter you should consider investing in a cover. Patio Furniture covers are an affordable way of protecting your furniture from the elements, dust and dirt, bird droppings and pollution and can be found in a wide range of sizes.

Patio Accessories 

Once you have chosen your patio dining furniture you can start think about adding accessories. In a small or confined area you may think this is difficult but there are some neat and simple tricks to make the area more enticing. Consider adding one or more of the following:

Garden Parasol – in a size suitable to cover the table and a colour that blends in with the garden, rather than dominating it.

Garden Lighting – from solar lights dotted around the floor to a chain of outdoor fairy lights draped over a trellis

Sunlounger or Steamer – if space allows you could add a co-ordinating sunlounger or steamer chair. Less formal and more relaxing than a dining chair.

Patio Awning – a great way of quickly adding shade and protection from the odd rain shower to any outside space.

Outdoor music speakers – wired up to your internal sound system, the ideal way of improving the atmosphere. Just don’t annoy the neighbours!

BBQ – If you have sufficient ventilation why not purchase a gas BBQ? A quality model will last years and nothing tastes better than food cooked and enjoyed outdoors.

Plants and bird feeders - Don’t forget that your patio, balcony, courtyard or terrace should be a living, breathing space so get planting. And a small bird table stocked up with nuts and seeds should be a year round feature of any garden.