5 furnishings to make the most of a small patio – Straight.com

Spring has sprung, and we are all still in lockdownmeaning we have to make the most of whatever postage-stamp-sized balcony or patio that our Vancouver condos and apartments allow.

Because it now ranks as one of the citys only safe outdoor refuges, we need to find ways to make our mini-deck a place to lounge, work, and eat over the coming weeks. And that means finding versatile furniture that not only optimizes the square footage, but also turns it into an inviting oasis away from the COVID-19 storm.

Here are a few style-savvy furnishings to help you outfit a tight outdoor space.

Folding bistro chairs and tables are your best bet for a squeezed high-rise patio. We like the clean lines and eucalyptus wood of Canadian Tires Canvas Sherbrooke style ($99.99 for the table, $75 per chair). At 66 centimetres wide, the table may not accommodate a feast, but its just right for your morning coffee and croissant, or evening hors doeuvres. You can tuck the set away in the corner when youre not using it, or into your storage locker over the winter months. Throw a bright outdoor cushion on the chair, grab your laptop, and youre good to go for a 9-to-5 workday with fresh air and a view.

Small outdoor ottomans or poufs are a multifunctioning must-have, adding a blast of colour. You can use one as a footrest when you want to lounge in the sun, as an end table for your 5-oclock tray of martinis and olives, or for extra seating when youre allowed to entertain again. Wayfair.ca has eco-friendly, bright-patterned beanbag versions in a variety of cube, rectangular-prism, and cylinder shapes; washable slipcovers are woven from outdoor-treated polyester, promising protection from both weather and UV rays. We like the funky Nerys, the polka-dot Telly, and the geometric Harvard. Resist neutral grey for patterns that set white against vibrant orange or yellow ($113.99 to $159.99).

Boost atmosphere with vintage string lights.

Vintage-style string lights add instant old-school atmosphere to your patio in the evening. If you have an enclosed balcony, hang them in loose rows from the ceiling over your chairs; for a ground-floor deck, scallop them between fenceposts or trees. We found an incandescent-bulb version with chunky moulded bases on Amazon.ca ($50.99); at 14 metres with 15 lights, it has enough wire to play with and creates a warm glimmer.

The Rhino umbrella.

If youre going to be living on your deck, youre going to need shade. Consider a white umbrella, which helps a tight, enclosed balcony feel airy and bright, but still blocks out the UV rays. Many of the umbrellas out there hit a nine- or 10-foot radius; if your condo is Vancouver-scaled, youll need to search out something significantly smaller. Wayfair.cas Rhino market umbrella, in crisp white, clocks in at just six feet wide (1.8 metres), sporting a canvas-look polyester canopy with wood trim. You can pop it into the hole in your deck table or buy a base so it can stand alone. This one has a manual tilt functiona must as the sun sets ($145.99).

Complete your outdoor living room with a weatherproof rug, scaled to fit a smaller patio. Some of the freshest new patio palettes mix brilliant yellow with white and greythe hues youll find in Lowes.cas Erbanica Fiesta striped rug. The eco-friendly style, which measures about 1.5 by 2.5 metres, is crafted from recycled plastic straws, tightly woven to resist moisture and mildew, to clean easily, and yet to feel surprisingly soft ($62.99 on sale).

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5 furnishings to make the most of a small patio - Straight.com