Small Patio Furniture and Design Ideas for 2024
By: Britteny
The right furniture can elevate your outdoor living space and impact how well it functions for you, your family, and your guests. This is especially true for smaller areas where every inch of space is crucial and needs to be utilized properly. If you’re in the market for some small patio furniture, you’re in luck because we’re sharing our top picks and advice for incorporating these pieces into your tiny space.
Continue reading to discover our tips for picking the best small patio furniture for your space and shop some of our favorite pieces.
Whether you need help making the most of a small outdoor space, selecting the perfect paint colors for your home, or something else entirely, you can count on brick&batten’s expert exterior designers. We’ll create a personalized exterior design for you based on your style preferences, desired updates, and more. Learn more about our virtual exterior design services.
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Get creative with seating options
Adequate seating is crucial for any outdoor space, and areas with smaller footprints often require you to be extra strategic to maximize function and aesthetics. When it comes to smaller spaces, hanging chairs and outdoor swings are smart seating solutions. They provide a place to sit and relax without dominating the footprint of your patio.
The small patio above would’ve felt cramped with regular chairs or a bench, but the two hanging rattan chairs fit the area perfectly. There’s even room for two sets of terracotta planters and a larger concrete planter box.
Extend your indoor space
Seamlessly blending your indoor and outdoor spaces is not only on trend, but it’s also an effective way to make a tiny outdoor area feel bigger. The sliding French doors in the design above maximize the views from inside the home and create good indoor-outdoor flow. When the doors are open, the raised patio will feel like a natural extension of the home’s interior. Using patio furniture that’s a similar color and style to what’s on the inside of your home will also help create cohesion.
We took a similar approach for the home below. We suggested multi-slide doors to connect the patio with the living room inside.
Comfort is key
No matter the size of your outdoor living space, comfort should always be a top priority. If the space isn’t comfortable, you won’t want to spend much time there. Plastic outdoor furniture might be affordable, but it won’t entice people to relax and enjoy your patio. Instead, invest in high-quality, comfortable furniture like you would for rooms in your interior.
The patio in the rendering above is tiny, but what it lacks in space it makes up for in comfort. The sofa set features a loveseat and two chairs with plush cushions with machine-washable covers. It also comes with a wood table that can easily hold snacks and drinks.
Keep it neutral
A light, neutral color palette can help your small patio feel bigger and prevent the space from looking too busy.
The covered patio above is quite narrow, but the white hue on the stucco and the light gray and brown colors of the chairs create an open and airy aesthetic. Our design also features wood accents, light stone, and white trim for the picture windows.
The home above features a neutral off-white — Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee — as the main exterior paint color. Swiss Coffee is creamy and warm and acts as the perfect backdrop for this home’s small patio. The furniture set also features neutral hues that make it look like a cohesive part of the overall design. Landscaping in front of the patio helps separate it from the rest of the yard and also adds a subtle pop of color.
Furniture size matters
Size is another important factor to consider when shopping for patio furniture. If you pick pieces that are too big, they’ll make the space feel crowded and uncomfortable.
When recommending small patio furniture for our clients, we often suggest a cozy bistro set like the one seen above. This compact outdoor dining option offers seating for two and a place to hold food and drinks without taking up too much real estate on the patio.
Invest in quality pieces
The quality of the furniture you’re purchasing for your patio is another important factor to keep in mind. Look for pieces made from durable, weather-resistant materials and cushion covers that are machine washable. Investing in quality products will ensure you don’t have to replace them year after year.
The two lounge chairs seen in the design above feature seat cushions that are upholstered in a brushed performance fabric and are treated to be resistant to harsh weather elements. The matching coffee table is made with a powder coated steel, textured regatta cord, and natural teak panel. The colors of the patio furniture correlate with other items in our design, such as the patio awning, fascia, and garage and front door.
Define the space
If you have more of an open patio design, defining the space can help it look and function better. We like to create zones within a space by using design elements, such as a rug, or different flooring materials.
The outdoor rug used in the rendering above helps anchor the furniture and soften the stone beneath it. We also dotted the outline of the patio area with landscaping, which adds another layer of separation between the space and the rest of the front yard.
Optimize your layout
When your patio is small, you want to ensure you’re utilizing every inch of space possible. Corner seating, like the l-shaped sectional above, offers plenty of space to relax without eating up too much of the patio’s footprint. There’s still plenty of room for a coffee table and some planters.
Connect to other outdoor areas
If your patio is small but you have other outdoor living areas nearby, consider connecting them to enhance the flow and function of your yard.
In the rendering above, we connected the ground-level patio and the second-story deck via wood stairs. Because it’s so easy to move from one area to the next, they almost feel like one large space. We also used the same furniture throughout to create cohesion between the separate spaces.
Perfect patio furniture for small spaces
Turning your petite patio into an outdoor oasis can be as easy as selecting the right furniture. From picking pieces that optimize your layout and offer comfort to choosing a color palette that creates a feeling of openness, there are plenty of ways you can maximize your modest patio space. We hope this post provided you with plenty of inspiration and ideas for your own home project.
From furniture and accessories to paint colors and cladding materials, there’s a lot of variables to consider when designing your home exterior. Don’t let all the decisions overwhelm you — instead, enlist the help of the pros at brick&batten. Our expert exterior designers are ready to help you make your dream home a reality. Begin your exterior design project today.
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