Small Balcony Furniture: Bistro Sets, Folding Tables and Rail Bars

The best furniture for a small balcony folds, stacks or mounts out of the way: a two-seat folding bistro set, a wall table that drops down, or a bar ledge on the inside of the railing. Measure the depth left when the door opens, keep a clear path, and keep anything a child could climb away from the railing.

This page is part of our set up the space section, the route for anyone who wants to sit outside whether or not they garden.

Measure before you buy

Take these four measurements before you shop:

1. Clear depth. From the wall to the railing, minus anything the door sweeps when it opens.
2. Length. The full run of the balcony, minus planters, the drain and any air-conditioner unit.
3. The walkway. Leave a path from the door to the railing; you need it to water, close an umbrella or reach a screen.
4. Railing height and shape. Note the top rail’s width and whether it is round, square or a glass panel. Check which rails a railing table or planter fits before you buy.

Draw it on paper with the door swing marked. A table and two chairs need room to pull the chairs out, not only to stand them.

The main options compared

Folding bistro sets

A bistro set is the simplest answer: a small table and two chairs that fold flat. IKEA describes its TÄRNÖ set as acacia wood on a powder-coated steel frame, with a table 21 5/8 inches long and 21 inches wide, and says the chairs and table fold flat to store.

Wall-mounted folding tables

A wall table drops down when you are done, freeing almost the whole floor. IKEA’s ASKHOLMEN is 27 1/2 by 17 3/8 inches and seats two, but IKEA says it must be secured to the wall. On a rented balcony, that means asking first.

Railing bar tables

A railing table clamps or hooks over the top rail and gives you a ledge for drinks or a laptop. Before you buy, check two things on the maker’s page: which railing widths and shapes it fits, and its stated load limit. Then stay under that limit, hang it on the inside of the railing, and check the clamps after windy days. A railing is a guard, not a shelf; our balcony weight guide explains why.

Layouts that work on a narrow balcony

A long, shallow balcony and a small square one need different layouts. Some patterns to sketch before you buy:

• Long and shallow. Put a wall table or a narrow bench along the building wall, and keep the strip by the railing as the walkway. Chairs tuck under or fold flat against the wall.
• Small and square. One bistro table in a corner with two chairs angled toward the view. Leave the door’s swing clear.
• Room for one. A single folding chair and a railing ledge for a cup. Nothing else on the floor except a rug.
• Plants and seating together. Put planters along the wall side, where the bench is, and keep heavier pots away from the railing.

Whatever the shape, nothing should sit right against the railing where it could become a step, and the drain stays uncovered. Deck tiles or a rug under the set also stop metal legs from scraping the concrete; see balcony flooring.

Materials for sun and rain

• Powder-coated steel. The frame finish IKEA uses on TÄRNÖ; wipe it down and fold and store it before storms.
• Acacia and other hardwoods. Warm to the touch, but need care. IKEA advises re-staining its acacia pieces once or twice a year, and using a waterproof cover if stored outside.
• Resin wicker. Light; tie down or bring in single chairs on windy balconies.

Cushions dry slowly. Bring them in after use or keep them in a storage bench.

Storage benches that double as planters or seats

A bench with a lift-up lid gives you a seat and a dry place for cushions, a watering can or bags of potting mix. Some combine a bench with planter boxes at the ends, a way to add greenery without more floor space. Wet soil adds weight fast, so keep them light.

Keep the railing clear of climbing spots

Safe Kids Worldwide advises keeping children from playing on high balconies without an adult supervising, and moving furniture away from windows so young climbers cannot reach them. On a balcony, the same logic says: no chair, bench, planter or storage box right against the railing.

Finish the space with a floor that clicks together, a privacy screen and a few artificial plants if you would rather not water.