Beyond the bistro set: furniture for balconies
by Rose Crompton

Nardi Zic Zac set
Bistro sets may be the classic choice for balconies but now there’s all manner of specially-designed furniture and accessories with a mission to make the most of every inch.
Planters
Bring your balcony into bloom with the help of some space-saving containers.
- Single Vertigro vertical allotment, £179 from Vertigro, www.vertigro.co.uk
- Tripot hanging planters, €29.95 from My Balconia, www.mybalconia.de
- VertVert planting system for walls and railings by Rephorm, €45 from Connox, www.connox.com
- The Elho Corsica Flower Bridge 30cm pot sits on top of balcony railings, £6.99 each from Podington Garden Centre, www.podington.co.uk
- Pottichelli lightweight hanging planter, £7.50 from Garden House Design, www.gardenhousedesign.co.uk
- Set of two tall cream zinc planters, £65 from Next, www.next.co.uk
- Square pot and saucer, £12.95 from The Balcony Gardener, www.thebalconygardener.com
- Höstö hanging pots, £5.99 each from Ikea (currently not available online), www.ikea.com
- Accrochée two-pocket hanging window box by Bacsac, £44.30 from Made in Design, www.madeindesign.co.uk
- The Indian Summer planter tray with three buckets is screwed to the wall to save space, £25 from Dutch By Design, www.dutchbydesign.com
Tables and chairs
This furniture should fit in nicely.
- The Äpplarö bench with wall panel provides seating and hanging space, £75 from Ikea (currently not available online), www.ikea.com
- PicNik aluminium table and seating in blue and earth, £3,927 each from Twentytwentyone, www.twentytwentyone.com
- The Balconcept table / desk and planter / wine cooler by Rephorm slots on to balcony railings, €129 from Connox, www.connox.com
- Nardi Zic Zac set. The table can be folded against the balcony wall when it’s not in use and the chairs slot in behind, £230, contact Europa Leisure, www.europaleisure.co.uk for stockist details
- The Love Bench can be used for lounging and dining, €229 from My Balconia, www.mybalconia.de
- Duo wooden bench, £110 from Next, www.next.co.uk
Lighting
These lamps and lanterns are the perfect high lights.
- Fatboy Edison Petit battery-powered outdoor table lamp, £44 from Heal’s, www.heals.co.uk
- Bucky flame oil lamp, €17.98 from My Balconia, www.mybalconia.de
- Glass and stainless steel oil lamp – push the pole into planters, £39.75 from Bouf, www.bouf.com
- Bridget outdoor lights, £40 from Habitat, www.habitat.co.uk
- Solvinden solar- and wind-powered light, £39.99 from Ikea (currently not available online and only in stock until 1st August), www.ikea.com
- String paper lantern solar lights, £8 from Matalan, www.matalan.co.uk
- These Solvinden solar-powered lights look pretty pushed into planters, £12.99 for five from Ikea (currently not available online and only in stock until 1st August), www.ikea.com
- Orb tealight holder, £6 from John Lewis, www.johnlewis.com
- Pack of six outdoor flare candles, £12 from John Lewis, www.johnlewis.com
- Bonsai battery- or mains-powered light, £107.99 from Garden Beet, www.gardenbeet.com
- Hummingbird fairy lights, £17.28 from Laura Ashley, www.lauraashley.com
- Folie outdoor garland, £35 from Habitat, www.habitat.co.uk
- Salerno wall light, £120 from Heal’s, www.heals.co.uk
Barbecues
There’s even room for a spot of cooking with these compact charcoal grills.
- Note book fold away BBQ, £28 from Heal’s, www.heals.co.uk
- Stainless steel compact grill barbecue, £35 from Marks & Spencer, www.marksandspencer.com
- Weber Smokey Joe BBQ, £52 from Heal’s, www.heals.co.uk
- Hot-pot BBQ which doubles up as a herb planter, £99 from black + blum, www.black-blum.com
- BBQ bucket, £28 from The Balcony Gardener, www.thebalconygardener.com
- Bruce railing-mounted BBQ, €59, My Balconia, www.mybalconia.de
Birds & Wildlife
Use feeders and boxes to attract high-flyers.
- Fiesta diner bird feeder, £7.95 from CJ WildBird Foods, www.birdfood.co.uk
- Flower peanut feeder, £4.49 from Podington Garden Centre, www.podington.co.uk
- Chalet multi feeder. Use the suckers provided to stick it to a window or screw it to a wall, £12.25 from the RSPB shop, http://shopping.rspb.org.uk
- The pollinating bee log for solitary bees is fixed on a pole so it can be pushed into planters, by Wildlife World, £22.99 from Amazon, www.amazon.co.uk
- The Pipeep bird feeder and nesting box by Rephorm comes with magnetic fixings to attach it to metal pipes and railings, €59 from Connox, www.connox.com
- Nectar feeding station for butterflies and bees by Wildlife World, £4.75 from Ark Wildlife, www.arkwildlife.co.uk
- Set of two cup bird feeders, £7.99 from the RSPB shop, http://shopping.rspb.org.uk
- Water drinker for wild birds by Gardman, £4.99 from Podington Garden Centre, www.podington.co.uk
Bistro Sets
And when only a classic will do, these are our favourite tables for two.
- Roxö table and two chairs, £70 from Ikea (currently not available online), www.ikea.com
- Conran Bourne table and two chairs set, £74.50 from Marks & Spencer, www.marksandspencer.com
- Bright rectangular garden table, £39 and bright metal garden chairs, £39 each from Oliver Bonas, www.oliverbonas.com
- Red iron and wood garden chairs, £108 each and small round table, £104 from Graham and Green, www.grahamandgreen.co.uk
- Zinc table and chairs, £165 from The Balcony Gardener, www.thebalconygardener.com