Balcony bliss: Outdoor furniture for urban spaces
Monday, 28 March 2011 5:04 PM
The sun put in its first convincing appearance of the year at the weekend and looking around we realised how neglected city balconies can become. Just because they're small it doesn’t mean they should be any less loved than an enormous garden – so we've done the research and compiled a top-ten of the most cheerful, stylish, balcony-friendly furniture and accessories of spring/summer 2011.
Roll on summertime...
1. 'London Looking East' deckchair by Hartwig Braun
Made from a hard-wearing polyester-cotton mix, the canvas of this deckchair features a fabulously fun London print by Hartwig Braun.
£195 + P&P, ArtyGlobe.com
2. Zinc heart hanging lantern
These are uber-cute – we love the slightly rustic, handmade look of the zinc frame.
£1.95, HandpickedCollection.com
3. Rattan lazy chair
Perfect for reclining with a book and a summer Pimms, this rattan chair is casual and stylish.
£499, CotswoldCo.com
4. Bunnies by Catalina Estrada
No room for chairs? Stock up on big funky cushions like this 100cm x 100cm beauty, perfect for lounging around on with friends.
£139, ThisIsALimitedEdition.com
5. Beach set hammock
Who cares what the views from your balcony are like when you're kicking back in a hammock? We love the on-trend oranges in this version.
£80 including stand, HammockHeaven.co.uk
6. Fatboy outdoor bean bag
Another funky orange number, everyone loves a Fatboy – just don’t overdo it on the balcony BBQs or you'll never get up again.
£225, AllUpAndOn.co.uk
7. Beach hut fairy lights
Fairy lights are great – but novelty fairy lights are better. These beach hut ones are about as kitsch as you can get, and we love them. Take them inside when it rains though.
£16.99 for battery-operated set, £34.99 for mains set, RockingPony.co.uk
8. Pentium light-up furniture
M&S's new light-up furniture range is supremely cool and sure to be a talking point at any balcony party.
From £129, MarksAndSpencer.com
9. Ceramic hanging basket
Don’t let limited space put you off the grow-your-own trend. Strawberries and tomatoes both work fabulously in hanging baskets, and growing them on a balcony can actually be an advantage in keeping pesky slugs away.
£13.99, GreenFingers.com
10. Livorno outdoor table
This chic table is made from synthetic wicker for durability and has an easy-to-clean glass top.
£250, JohnLewis.com
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