10 furniture ideas for small gardens

Furnishing small gardens and outdoor spaces comes with its own unique challenges, but there’s no reason for this to become a huge headache. Don’t worry, help is at hand. It is now easy to find garden furniture from the best garden furniture manufacturers which is perfect for smaller spaces and takes a clever approach to saving space and optimizing the enjoyment of a petite patio. Armed with our guide to the top 10 tips for the best garden furniture for small spaces, you’ll find small garden ideas along with handy tips and advice.

Our top 10 tips for the perfect garden furniture for small spaces

1. Folding furniture

Having a mini-area to furnish needn’t mean compromising in the style stakes . A Bistro set is essentially a small garden table and chairs set. Perfect for a balcony or small patio area, the slimline design of a folding Bistro Set makes it perfect for even the tiniest patio or balcony. In addition to being a practical solution which is simple to fold away and store flat when not in use, foldaway furniture can be a chic style statement which complements your small space spectacularly. Available in a variety of styles to suit all tastes, use a Bistro Set as either your primary seating, or as additional furniture which you bring out when guests come calling.

2. Stackable seating

What could be better than sitting in the sun sharing a glass of wine? Or connecting over a coffee in the courtyard? Like folding furniture, stackable furniture looks great when in use, is particularly supportive to sit in and when stacked it gives you more space to spread out. Choose a stackable Bistro Set for drinks and snacks, or a Dining Set for the flexibility to serve a full-on-feast.

3. Balcony Cube Set

A tuck-away Balcony Cube Set is an innovative, versatile and elegant solution for entertaining in a small space. The Tetbury Balcony Set from Bramblecrest finished in either Cloud or Nutmeg, has seating for up to eight people, yet stows away in a space just (W) 22cm x (D)125cm. It even comes with a parasol and base to provide shade from the shine. Made from Rattan, it can be left out in all weathers, so you don’t need to find space to store it (although we recommend storing the cushions indoors).

4. Modular Garden Lounge Set

Whilst it may appear on the surface that a Garden Lounge Set is designed for those with lots of space to play with, in actual fact they make perfect sense for those with more modest patios as well. A space-efficient approach is to locate them in the corner of a small patio where they will provide the ultimate in sumptuous space-saving-seating. With the seating arranged around the table, this gives focus to the design, and the space appears larger and more organised than it otherwise might. Adjustable table heights on the the La Rochelle Mini Modular Sofa Set from Bramblecrest offers the flexibility to be used for either lounging or dining, which is a great option for a petite patio.

5. Curved Casual Dining Set

Providing a circular seating arrangement, the Palma Round Casual Dining Set by Kettler is fantastic if you have a curve to your patio, making efficient use of all the available space. As well seating 7 people in comfort, once the seat cushions are removed, the stools can be stowed away neatly, upside down on the sofa.

6. Bar Set

If you like something cool, refreshing and bubbly out in a sunny spot of a summer evening and would like something sophisticated to entertain around, then a bar set is a great idea for a tiny terrace. Cool, stylish and flexible, the Bramblecrest La Rochelle 4 Seat Bar Set, finished in anthracite aluminium, requires only a small footprint, yet gives the feeling of space, due to its impressive height. Particularly useful if there is a view shielded by a balcony wall that you’d like to see over. The bar stools tuck away to save space when not in use and there is some clever storage included for bottles, glasses, cocktail shakers or stirrers, so you won’t need to keep running to the kitchen for supplies. Grab an ice bucket and a few bowls of your favourite nibbles and you’re all sorted.

7. Half Parasol

Provide shade from the sun’s rays in a small space using the Catalan Half Round Balcony Parasol by Hartman. This is an inventive product which can be pushed up against a wall or fence, and gives ample sun coverage for several people. Perfect for balconies, decking, patios, terraces and near to garden walls.

8. Folding Recliner or Sun Lounger

Picture the scene. It’s summer, the sun’s out and where you want to be is out in the rays, relaxing in a recliner or stretched out on a sun lounger, maybe with a good book. The beauty of a folding reclining chair or sun lounger is that it stores flat so it is great for freeing up space when you need it, but you have multiple positions, from sitting up to reclining, for maximum comfort and versatility. The high quality examples from Quest feature hardwearing, weatherproof fames. Look for additional comfort features such as padding, head cushions, breathable fabric or even a side table for that much-needed thirst quencher. What’s more they are portable enough to take to the beach, the park, camping, caravanning, or in fact wherever the mood takes you.

9. Hammock

Yes, the humble hammock is seeing a resurgence in popularity too. Modern examples are made from soft, quick-drying fabric, in a range of handsome colours and come in either 1 or 2 person options. This is probably the ultimate in small space outdoor furniture. They provide the user somewhere to kick back in comfort, perhaps with a good read, yet fold away to virtually nothing. They can be slung between trees of course, but these days we are also seeing them attached between walls, hung from a strong ceiling or even a purpose-built frame. Just mind you don’t fall out.

10. Don’t forget to fill up

Whilst you’re outside enjoying your new furniture, and you’ve got friends or family round, consider that you might like to sear some food over hot coals whilst you’re out there. If you want to get cooking outdoors and you don’t have much room, then a great option is a portable barbecue, such as the Smokey Joe Premium Charcoal Barbecue by Weber. Large enough to grill 6 burgers or a whole stack of sausages at a time, as its name suggests this grill delivers big on smoky BBQ flavours, yet it is small enough to easily store when not in use. Ready to travel with you on all your adventures in the great outdoors, the Smokey Joe comes in a range of attractive colours too. If you live in a building that doesn’t allow naked flames outdoors, look at one of our Weber Electric Barbecues, which are great for balconies.

The key to getting the most value out of your small space is flexibility. The best small space furniture makes a virtue of its small footprint and has flexible features in-built which make it particularly good in a tight squeeze. Features might include folding away, stacking or portability. Clever storage ideas and innovative modular uses are also high on the agenda. If you find you are stuck on how to plan out your space, then see our blog on How to buy the best outdoor furniture for small spaces.

If you have any questions or queries about garden furniture, then don’t hesitate to visit our Outdoor Living Team instore, contact them on 01664 454309, or shop online for home delivery or collection from our Leicestershire store.