You measure the balcony, get 1.5 metres from the sliding door to the balustrade, and think: that is plenty. Then the first setting you like turns out to be 65 cm deep before anyone sits in it, and the chairs still need somewhere to go when they slide back. Choosing balcony furniture for an apartment is rarely a style problem. It is an arithmetic problem, and depth is the number that settles it.
This guide is for anyone furnishing the narrow strip that comes with most apartments in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. We work through the clearance maths, compare five sets from our balcony furniture sets range by their published footprint, and cover the strata and wind issues that catch people out after delivery.
Measure the depth first, then worry about the look
A balcony has three numbers that matter: depth, width, and the swing of the door. Depth is the one that kills most orders. On a 1.5 m deep balcony you have 150 cm to spend, and a table plus one chair will usually eat most of it.
The general rule for dining is roughly 75 cm behind a chair, so someone can push back and stand. You also want 60 cm of clear walkway. On a narrow balcony you rarely get both, and it is normally the second row of seating that gives way.
Run the sums before you commit to a photo. The Stella 3pc Balcony Set ($1,317) has a table 120 cm long and 65 cm deep, with armchairs 58 cm deep. Put the table against the wall with one chair in front and you are at 123 cm, leaving 27 cm of floor. That is enough to shuffle past, not enough to walk past with a tray.
Do the exercise with masking tape on the floor before you order. Mark the table depth, mark the chair, then walk the gap that is left. Most people find their balcony is a one-side-only dining space, which is a perfectly good answer.
Balcony furniture that genuinely fits 1.5 metres
Below are five sets ranked by what they ask of your floor. Every dimension comes straight off the product page, and every price is what the set sells for today.
| Set | Price | Depth it needs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coke Cola Cafe Set | $498 | 70 cm square table | Two coffees, tight budget |
| Andorra Slat 3pce Bistro Set | $748 | 49 cm table, 85 cm chairs | A drink, not a meal |
| Kwila Jack and Jill | $862 | 65 cm, sits flat to the wall | Keeping the walkway clear |
| Stella 3pc Balcony Set | $1,317 | 65 cm table, 58 cm chairs | Two people eating a meal |
| Pluto Balcony Set | $2,049 | 61 cm table, 65 cm chairs | Putting your feet up |
The cheapest way in is the Coke Cola Cafe Set ($498), an aluminium table 70 cm square with two chairs that slide underneath. Aluminium matters here for a reason unrelated to rust. It is light enough to lift one-handed, so you can shift the whole setting when you want the floor back.
At the other end, the Pluto Balcony Set ($2,049) is built around everything disappearing. The table is 115 cm long and 61 cm deep, and two sling chairs and two footstools all slide flush underneath. It arrives fully assembled, which on a fifth-floor balcony with no bench space is worth more than it sounds.
Three layouts that work on a narrow balcony
The first layout is tuck-under. The table sits against the wall or balustrade, the chairs live underneath, and the balcony reads as empty until you use it. Both the Stella and the Pluto are designed this way, and it is the only layout that keeps a 1.5 m balcony walkable every day.
The second is wall-hugging: a single piece that sits flat against the wall and never needs pulling out. The Kwila Jack and Jill ($862) does exactly that, with two seats, a built-in table between them and a lower shelf, 157 cm wide and only 65 cm deep. On a 150 cm balcony that leaves 85 cm of clear floor — a genuine walkway rather than a shuffle.
The third is lounge-first: two deeper chairs with a small table between them, for a drink rather than dinner. The Andorra Slat - 3pce - Outdoor Bistro Set ($748) pairs a 49 cm slatted side table with chairs 85 cm deep. Those chairs are the constraint, not the table. Browse our outdoor side tables if you want to swap in something narrower. And if lounging is the whole point of the space, our guide to balcony sun loungers covers low chairs and slimline lounges that fit the same strip of floor.
Folding chairs are the option people always raise. They work, but a folded chair still needs a wall or a cupboard to live against, and on an apartment balcony that space is usually spoken for. Tuck-under seating solves the same problem without the nightly ritual.
Strata, wind and the Australian balcony
Check your by-laws before you order. Most strata schemes and body corporate rules say something about what may be kept on a balcony, how it looks from the street, and whether anything can be fixed to walls or balustrades. The detail varies by state and by scheme, so read your own by-laws or ask your owners corporation.
Two restrictions turn up often. Storage is usually limited, so a balcony that doubles as a shed can attract a notice. And many schemes ban anything attached to the balustrade, which rules out clamp-on tables and rail planters.
Then there is wind. Above the third or fourth floor, and anywhere on the coast, a light chair can move on its own in a southerly. That is the trade-off with aluminium: the lightness that lets you shift a setting one-handed also lets a gust shift it for you. Heavier timber or seating that tucks under a table both reduce the problem. For more on making a small space work, our guide to furnishing compact outdoor spaces covers layout, greenery and storage.
September is the sensible month to sort this out, before the summer rush and while you still have weekends free to enjoy it.
Balcony furniture — frequently asked questions
What size table fits a 1.5 m deep balcony?
Aim for a table no deeper than 65 cm. That leaves room for one row of chairs and a narrow walkway on a 150 cm balcony. Long and narrow beats square: a 120 cm x 65 cm table seats two along its length while using less depth than an 80 cm square one.
Do I need strata approval to put furniture on my balcony?
Usually no for freestanding furniture, and often yes for anything fixed to the building. Loose tables and chairs are generally your own business, while drilling into walls or attaching anything to the balustrade normally needs written approval. Rules differ by state and scheme, so check with your owners corporation first.
Is aluminium or timber better for an apartment balcony?
Aluminium is better if you move the furniture often, timber is better if wind is your main problem. Aluminium settings are light enough to reposition on your own. Hardwood pieces like Kwila stay put in a breeze but are a two-person lift, so think about how the piece gets upstairs.
How much clearance do I need behind a balcony chair?
Allow about 75 cm behind a dining chair so someone can push back and stand. On a narrow balcony you can borrow that from the walkway, provided the chair tucks fully under the table when it is not in use. If it cannot tuck in, subtract its full depth from your available floor.
Shop the range
Every set above sits in our balcony furniture sets collection, with a wider selection across outdoor tables and chairs if your space is closer to a courtyard. We deliver Australia-wide, delivery is free over $100, and most orders are dispatched in 3 to 10 business days. Returns run for 30 days with no restocking fee.
