How to avoid food guilt this Christmas
How to avoid food guilt this Christmas

IMAGE

‘For the first time, we weren’t alone… Somebody would listen to us’
‘For the first time, we weren’t alone… Somebody would listen to us’

Lia Hynes

This Christmas, hold space for those carrying the quiet burden of grief
This Christmas, hold space for those carrying the quiet burden of grief

Dominique McMullan

Inside the glittering Dublin home of jewellery designer, Chupi Sweetman-Durney
Inside the glittering Dublin home of jewellery designer, Chupi Sweetman-Durney

Megan Burns

‘For every festive freak, there are those who don’t consider this the most wonderful time of the year’
‘For every festive freak, there are those who don’t consider this the most wonderful time...

Suzie Coen

Five delicious vegetarian recipes to enjoy over the Christmas season
Five delicious vegetarian recipes to enjoy over the Christmas season

IMAGE

This year, let’s shatter the illusion of a “perfect” Christmas
This year, let’s shatter the illusion of a “perfect” Christmas

Amanda Cassidy

‘I was a child who received a Christmas shoebox. This is what it meant to me’
‘I was a child who received a Christmas shoebox. This is what it meant to...

Amanda Cassidy

An ode to Christmas Eve mass, the festive season’s greatest social occasion
An ode to Christmas Eve mass, the festive season’s greatest social occasion

Edaein OConnell

How to host Christmas without breaking the bank
How to host Christmas without breaking the bank

Megan Burns

Image / Living / Interiors

The best outdoor furniture for even the smallest spaces


By Megan Burns
02nd Apr 2021
The best outdoor furniture for even the smallest spaces

House Doctor

A tiny patio or a bijou balcony can become a relaxing outdoor space once you find the right furniture.

Now that we’ve enjoyed our first few sunny days of the year, our thoughts have naturally turned to how we can make the most of our outdoor spaces, no matter how small they may be. 

Having a place where you can sit outside when the sun is shining, reading a book or enjoying a cup of coffee, or maybe even a glass of wine as the sun goes down, definitely makes life a little brighter at the moment. 

If your space is on the small side, especially a narrow balcony or patio, it can be tricky to find outdoor furniture that fits. And while a full dining table or outdoor sofa may be out of the question, there are plenty of ways you can turn your space into a comfortable retreat.

We’ve found some gorgeous garden furniture that will work for smaller spaces, without compromising on style. 

Lounge chairs 

small space outdoor furniture
Lost Weekend

If you’re tight on space, you’re probably going to have to choose just one type of seating for your outdoor area. If you don’t have space for a table, or maybe you don’t like eating outside anyway (does anyone else’s hair always blow into their mouth?), why not go for a lounge chair? 

Perfect for relaxing, reading and just taking some time to soak up the sun, some lounge chairs are quite bulky, so look for something with an upright silhouette for a more compact design.

Tables 

small space outdoor furniture
Maven

You might not have space for a large dining table, but there are plenty of neater alternatives that mean you still have something to rest a glass, a plate or a magazine on.

From clever balcony-friendly designs to multi-level side tables that can fit a surprising amount of things, there’s something to suit your space.

Dining chair

small space outdoor furniture
April and the Bear

If you prefer a more upright chair, you have plenty of choice as most dining chairs are around the same dimensions.

However, to make them more small-space friendly, look for a design that stacks or folds when not in use, or something that you’d be happy to use inside as well as out, so you don’t need to store it away in the colder months.