10 Ways To Make Use Of Space With Small Outdoor Furniture

Especially if you live in a suburban area, you may not be lucky enough to have a spacious backyard. While you may not be able to host a good game of backyard cricket, there are certainly many ways you can get creative with your space. Small outdoor furniture is one of these cost-effective ways without structurally changing your yard or deck. 

Whether you’re a first home buyer or think your deck or patio needs a refresh, there are many creative ways to use small outdoor furniture. Whether getting smart with outdoor chairs or choosing modern outdoor lounge furniture that’s sleek in design, the opportunities are endless. At Briscoes, we know a thing or two about quality outdoor furniture. So, we’ve put together this blog to inspire you with ways to get creative. Let’s get started!

1. Get creative with outdoor lighting

Especially during summer, there’s nothing like sitting out on your deck or in your backyard with family with the temperature is cooler. As well as enjoying long evenings outside, outdoor lighting also comes with other benefits. If you position your outdoor lighting well, it can make your outdoor space seem larger than it is. For example, if you strategically place lighting in the corners of your yard. 

There are many ways to get creative with outdoor lighting. You could even set up strip lighting along a fence line to make your small outdoor space seem cosy and inviting. We’ve got a fantastic blog on things to consider when setting up lighting outdoors. Otherwise, you can view our range of lighting options online. 

2. Keep camping chairs handy

Camping chairs don’t need to be exclusively used when you head out to the bush or to the beach. In reality, camping chairs are fantastic multi-use outdoor chairs to have on hand at home. The real benefit of camping outdoor chairs is that you can fold and pack them away after use. 

Especially if you have a group of guests coming around, whip out your camping chairs. Then, when they’re all gone, pack them away in your garden shed or garage. Your small outdoor space will have room to move and enjoy when folded away. If you’re considering camping outdoor chairs or need to stock up on any camping quality outdoor furniture, you can view our range of camping gear online.

3. Curved outdoor furniture

When it comes to outdoor garden furniture, it’s good to think outside the box, literally! Not everyone's deck or backyard is a set square or rectangle. As well as that, with some small outdoor spaces, you’ll need to plan your outdoor furniture around trees, garden beds or even a deck on the spa if you’re lucky. It’s in situations like these where sometimes curved outdoor furniture is the best use of a small space. 

There are so many fantastic curved outdoor furniture options out there to ensure every square centimetre of your deck or garden is well-spent. And hey, curved furniture could still be a good idea, even if you are working with a square or rectangular outdoor area. Just pop a standing lamp or some kind of other outdoor ornament in the unused corner space. 

4. Table with an umbrella hole

Umbrellas are handy to have during both summer and winter. Especially if you plan to be a barbecue star and invite around guests, you’ll want a nice shady area. But, good umbrellas that more than one person can sit under are usually large and take up a lot of space. As well as that, many traditional large umbrellas also come with a large umbrella base which isn’t ideal if you have a small deck area.

The good news is that you can still have an umbrella, even working with a small deck space or garden area. The answer is choosing a rectangle or round outdoor table top with an umbrella hole. It seems like a simple solution, but choosing an umbrella designed to slot inside a hole in your outdoor table means the umbrella doesn’t stick out and take up space. It also means that the umbrella doesn’t need to be folded and stored after use. At Briscoes, we have a wide variety of market umbrellas and gazebos to choose from. 

5. Buying a furniture set

When shopping at Briscoes, you can either buy individual tables and outdoor chairs, like more casual outdoor furniture. Or, you can opt to buy a fully complete outdoor furniture set. If you have a small balcony or deck space, buying a new outdoor furniture set from scratch may be preferred. This is mainly because the outdoor furniture set is meant to be together. Not only will it look great all being a set, but it also often means that the chairs may be designed to slot underneath each other. 

You can, of course, buy that one off comfy outdoor furniture piece. But, sometimes, when you have a collection of one off pieces, you’ll need to force awkward shapes together in a tight space. At Briscoes, we’ve got many furniture sets available to browse online.

Top tip: Choosing to buy a furniture set instead or individual outdoor furniture tables and chairs can also save you money. Read our blog on transforming your outdoor area on a budget for tips. 

6. Fold-away loungers

There’s nothing like spudding into your couch and watching your favourite show after a long day. We don’t recommend dragging your favourite leather couch onto the deck. Instead, a lounger is a great option for people looking for comfy outdoor furniture. 

A great thing about many of the outdoor loungers available at Briscoes is that they fold away. So, just like camping chairs, you can bust out the big guns when you’re entertaining guests, and store them after use (or if you need room for a game of backyard cricket). With outdoor fold-away loungers, you get the best of both worlds - convenience and comfort. Fold-away loungers are sure to make any small outdoor space feel comfortable,

7. An offset market umbrella

If you don’t have a round outdoor table top with an umbrella hole but still need the shade, there are some fantastic options to use space. A cantilever, or offset market umbrella, is perfect for tight deck areas of outdoor gardens. Basically, an offset market umbrella is designed to have its base off to the side and out of the way. 

Given that offset market umbrellas are designed to not be in the way, the bases are normally smaller and more subtle as well. You can view our range of offset market umbrellas available at Briscoes online. 

8. Outdoor furniture with internal storage

When space is tight, you want to make use of the room you have. Aside from larger outdoor furniture, you may also have other items on your deck or in your garden to consider. Some of these considerations may include:

• BBQ equipment
• Outdoor cushions
• Backyard sports equipment 

If you do have items like these, consider modern outdoor furniture with internal storage built. For example, a table with drawers underneath, stools that open up or even a bench where the lid lifts open. These are all great ways to utilise space in a small area for storage. For more ideas, read our blog on 12 things to consider when choosing outdoor furniture.

9. Stackable outdoor chairs

Some outdoor chairs are specially designed to stack on top of each other for storage. If you have a small deck, having stackable outdoor chairs means you easily store them after use. Or, at least you can stack them up, so they’re the width of one chair, and push them to the side of your outdoor area. At Briscoes, we have a wide range of outdoor chairs to choose from, including stackable options.

10. Indoor-outdoor furniture

Now, this is a good one, especially if you live in a small apartment. Furniture that can be used indoors and outdoors is a great option to use space. So, it’s a win-win. You’re saving space on your balcony and inside. The main thing to look for in indoor-outdoor furniture is that it is durable and won’t be damaged outside. It’s also worth noting that it can be a drag (excuse the pun) to constantly move furniture inside and outside. 

Top tip: If you want advice on maintenance and cleaning, read our guide on how to clean and protect outdoor furniture. 

Create an amazing space with Briscoes

While some see a small outdoor space as a limitation, in reality, it’s an opportunity to express yourself with small outdoor furniture. There are many creative ways to upgrade your backyard or deck with furniture. All whilst still leaving room to move around and not feel too constricted. 

At Briscoes, we have many outdoor furniture options to suit any area. View our range online now. Or, reach out to your local Briscoes if you have any questions or want to see products in person. If you’re looking for a new small BBQ for your deck, read our BBQ buying guide.