Although a small outdoor space is easier to maintain, it doesn’t always accomplish what we need it to. A balcony, patio, driveway or even a small patch of grass is perfect for those early morning cups of coffee, but they’re not a place we'd typically look to host large outdoor gatherings....until now.

In this EZ Living Furniture blog, we'll teach you how to unlock your tiny garden’s full potential. By using the correct garden furniture, you can maximise the space's capacity and potentially host a lot more summer parties at your house or apartment.

Laurel Recliner with table and footstool set at EZ Living Furniture.

Evaluate The Size & Shape Of Your Outdoor Area

When choosing garden furniture for small areas, it’s important to always measure everything against your space before you commit to it. This is a good way to determine exactly what you can and can’t accommodate. So, get out your measuring tape and start measuring.

EZ TIP: If you already have a particular garden set in mind, find its measurements and use newspaper to map out its size on the floor of your outdoor area. This will help you to understand the amount of space that it will really consume. It can also give you a good indication of if it will impact any entryways, exits, other furniture, or the overall ease of flow.

Fiji Egg Chair at EZ Living Furniture.

Understand Your Space’s Functionalities & Personal Preferences

For this step, you will need to ask yourself a few questions. Firstly, what do you want from your outdoor area? Do you want to use it as an office space on those sunny days, maybe you’d rather use it for the odd nap or two, or perhaps you just want a seating area for you and your friend to spend hours on end drinking tea and gossiping? Once you have decided on this, you will need to take the space you are working with into consideration. For example, a small balcony might be able to physically fit a stylish egg chair but can it swing fully? And if it can swing, does it hit against anything or block any doorways? Once you have determined your space’s functionality and understood your own personal preference, you can start to look at the different types of garden furniture.

Seville Round Garden Dining Table With Seville Chairs.

Browse The Various Types Of Garden Furniture

Certain garden sets are designed specifically for those smaller outdoor areas. So, just because you are limited in terms of space, it doesn’t mean that you can’t also fit a stylish garden set in your outdoor spot. After all, garden sets aren’t just solely reserved for those that have unlimited garden capacity.

To make the most out of your limited outdoor space, focus on:

  • Singular items such as egg chairs, lounge chairs, or garden chairs.
  • Round garden tables as these will likely consume less floor space than a rectangular alternative.
  • Garden side tables or lamp tables to use as a small surface.
  • Garden sets such as cube sets. Cube sets usually feature stools and chairs that can be folded in under the garden table when not in use to save on space.
  • Multi-functional items of garden furniture such as a sun lounger which can be used as a chair or surface to nap on. An egg chair can also be used both indoors and outdoors, maximising its use.

Santa Cruz Planters from EZ Living Furniture.

Consider Space-Saving Alternatives For Finishing Touches

If your outdoor space is so small that even a planter is completely out of the question, then we have the solution for you. Consider hanging planters and wall-mounted shelves as an alternative to traditional planters and outdoor storage. Place plant pots and vases on your outdoor shelving to add a pop of colour without compromising on floor space. Mirrors can also help because they can reflect light and space, and when hung from a wall won’t impact any available floor space.

Lupin 2 wicker chairs and table garden set at EZ Living Furniture.

We know there are lots to remember when buying garden furniture for your space. Unfortunately, there’s, even more, to think about when space is at a premium, but we hope this guide is something you can refer to again and again if you’re struggling to decide in the future.

For more information on this year’s essential items of furniture, read: Buyer’s Guide For Garden Furniture 2025.

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