Guide  /  Small Spaces

Essential Outdoor Balcony Furniture for Small Spaces

How to fit real comfort onto a tight balcony, and choose pieces that survive an exposed apartment position.

Outdoor Furniture Ideas  ·  8 min read

A small balcony works hard when every piece is chosen to fit, fold or stack.

A balcony is often the only outdoor space an apartment gets, so it has to earn its keep as a morning coffee spot, a place to eat, and somewhere to unwind after work. The trick is not cramming in more furniture, it is choosing the few pieces that fit the footprint, handle the exposure, and still leave room to move. Done well, even a two-square-metre balcony becomes genuinely usable. Start with the pieces made for it in our balcony furniture range.

No. 01

Getting It Right in an Apartment or High-Rise

A balcony is not a small backyard. Before you buy anything, measure the usable floor space, then note where the door swings, where the railing sits, and anything overhead. High floors cop wind, full sun and driving rain with no shade, so anything that relies on being covered simply will not get covered. Choose pieces that handle the weather on their own.

• Keep the doorway clear. A round table has no sharp corners and lets you walk past and open the door without shuffling furniture.
• Stay body-corporate friendly. Avoid drilling, permanent fixtures or anything fixed to the railing. Freestanding, movable pieces keep you onside with strata rules.
• Skip untreated timber. On an exposed balcony it can warp within a couple of summers. Powder-coated aluminium, polypropylene resin and rope hold up far better.
• Think cost per year, not sticker price. A $400 setting replaced every two summers costs more than a $1,200 setting that lasts ten.

Match the furniture to the space you actually have:

No. 02

Stackable Chairs That Save Space

Stackable chairs are the backbone of a small balcony. They stack neatly out of the way when you need the floor, then come back out for guests. Look for lightweight designs that are easy to move but tough enough for constant outdoor use.

• Comfort still counts. Modern stackable chairs use ergonomic, supportive shapes, so a compact seat does not mean an uncomfortable one.
• Choose low-maintenance materials. Weather-resistant aluminium and UV-stabilised resin keep their looks for years with almost no upkeep.
• Colour sets the tone. Resin ranges come in soft neutrals through to bold tones, so the chairs can match or lift the balcony's palette.

Browse the full range of outdoor chairs for stackable options that suit a balcony.

No. 03

Compact Tables and Bistro Sets

A compact table turns a balcony into a place to eat, work or set down a drink. Paired with two chairs, a small bistro set creates a proper spot without overwhelming the space.

• Bistro sets. A small table with matching chairs is the classic small-balcony solution. Drop-side or folding tops make them even easier to store.
• Multi-functional designs. Tables with a lower shelf or extendable top do double duty as storage or a workspace. A Nardi extendable table grows only when you need it.
• Easy-care materials. Powder-coated metal and resin resist rust and wipe clean, while compact laminate tops handle sun and spills without fuss.

No. 04

Outdoor Bar Settings for Small Balconies

A bar setting is one of the best space-savers going, because it works vertically instead of spreading out. Slim outdoor bar stools tuck fully under a narrow bar table when they are not in use, so the footprint all but disappears.

• Measure and zone first. Note railings, walls and overhead structures, then split the balcony into a bar zone and a standing or mingling zone.
• Choose foldable or rail-side bar tables. A drop-side or against-the-rail bar table gives you a surface for drinks without eating into the walkway.
• Pick lightweight, stackable stools. Resin stools like the Nardi stackable range move and store easily, and shrug off UV and rain.

A bar setting stacks the seating upward, freeing the floor a dining set would use.

Shop Outdoor Bar Furniture

No. 05

Corner Lounges for Compact Areas

If you want to actually lounge rather than perch, a compact corner lounge uses the balcony's least useful spot, the corner, and turns it into the main event. The key is modularity: a set you can arrange as an L-shape, a straight run or a tight square adapts to whatever shape your balcony is.

• Match the footprint to the space. Smaller three-piece corner sets suit balconies; larger modular sets are better saved for courtyards.
• Stick to weatherproof frames. UV-stable resin, powder-coated aluminium and rope with thick, quick-dry cushions handle exposed balconies best. Modular resin ranges like the Nardi Komodo and Maximo reconfigure easily.
• Add a double-duty ottoman. One that works as a footrest, an extra seat and a low table earns its place on a small balcony.

A modular corner lounge reshapes to fit an L-shaped or narrow balcony.

See the outdoor corner lounges range, or the wider outdoor lounges collection.

“On a small balcony the best piece is the one that folds, stacks or does two jobs at once.”

No. 06

Growing Up: Vertical Gardening Ideas

When floor space is tight, use the walls and railings. Vertical greenery adds life to a balcony without giving up a single square metre of standing room.

• Vertical planters. Wall-mounted planters and trellises let you grow herbs, flowers or succulents up rather than out.
• Herb gardens. Basil, parsley and mint grow happily in hanging baskets or rail planters and give you fresh cooking ingredients.
• Privacy screens. Tall potted plants, climbers or bamboo screens add privacy and shelter without drilling into the building.