Spring is in the air, finally freeing us city-dwellers from the too close walls of our too small apartments. If you don’t want to spend the weekend throwing elbows for a patch of grass at Malcolm X Park, perhaps it’s time to invest in some small-scale outdoor furniture for that front yard, balcony, or fire escape.
Here are 7 of our favorites:
1. These grayscale hand-laid concrete tiles are a modern alternative to the wrought-iron bistro classic. Plus, they’re a heck of a lot easier to balance a beer on. Table, $399, and driftwood chairs, $198 for two, at West Elm.
2. These tables and chairs from Blu Dot’s Hot Mesh collection come in a variety of colors you can mix and match to your liking. Another upside? The four-legged table makes it easier to balance on an uneven yard. $657 for a table and two chairs at Blu Dot.
3. From the kings of small scale living, a collapsible balcony table. Big enough for breakfast, small enough to store under the bed. $57.99 for a table and two chairs at Ikea.
4. This stainless steel cafe classic from Mark Daniel, who also designs for DWR and Z Gallerie, is ideal for slow mornings with plenty of refills. Pair with these mid-century inspired chairs by Modway. Table $219 at CB2, chairs $79.99 each at Wayfair.
5. Designed for summer drinks and long days of lounging, this bamboo-framed foldable set is light enough for you and a friend to take up to the rooftop (30 pounds for all 3 pieces). $133.99 at AllModern.
6. Splurge on this marble-topped brasserie table from Pier 1, but save on the the rattan French bistro side chairs. The vintage-inspired table can perform double-duty through the winter months; it’s just the right size for a cozy breakfast nook. Table, $399.95 at Pier 1. Chairs, set of 2 for $249.99 at Overstock.
7. This bar-height three piece set from Regal Teak was made for summer happy hours at home. Perfect for your backyard island oasis; just add tiki drinks. $1,199 at One Kings Lane.
Amanda has contributed to Washingtonian since 2016. She has written about the right-wing media personality Britt McHenry, chronicled her night with Stormy Daniels, and come clean about owning too much stuff. She lives on H Street. She can be reached at [email protected].
