• garden metal furniture image by araraadt from Fotolia.com
  
  Finding furniture for a small outdoor patio or space can take some effort. With so many choices in styles, colors and functions, first and foremost, keep in mind how much space you have to work with. The "perfect" piece may be just what you want, but if it doesn't fit your space, you won't get enjoyment from it. Take the measurements of the space before you go shopping, and be prepared to make some compromises.
  
  

Tables and Chairs

• The best tables and chairs for small outdoor spaces are ones that fold up compactly or that can be stacked or hung up on hooks on the wall. These can be metal, wood or resin. A bistro table with two or four chairs may be appropriate for small square spaces. For long narrow spaces, such as apartment or condominium patios, look for tables that are designed to lay flush against the wall. Some tables have seats that can be pushed under the table when not in use for a clean cube shape. Consider an Adirondack chair and foot rest or a small hammock for laid-back afternoons. If you have room for only a long slender bench, choose one with storage underneath.
  
  

Shade Canopies

• Patio Umbrellaumbrella beach image by Albo from Fotolia.com
  
  Umbrellas and shade canopies for small outdoor spaces are plentiful. Pick one to slip through the hole in the table, or choose a freestanding umbrella that hangs over your furniture to provide protection from the sun. Canvas shade canopies come in square, round or rectangular shapes and sizes. Some can be attached directly to the wall to shade a small seating area without a pole in the way. Retractable canopies shelter small spaces from the sun, keep the rain at bay or retract completely.
  
  

Swings

• You can find swing chairs designed for one person only. Two of these may fit a small space better than a two-seater swing. Accessories are available, such as attachable arm trays, for spaces that can't accommodate the swing and side tables. Swings can be freestanding or hang from chains attached to the roof.
  
  

Lighting

• Candles are a favorite outdoor lighting source. Keep them shielded from wind and away from flammable materials. An alternative to candles is stick-on LED pot lights. These come in small round or square shapes with one light, a tray of two or more lights or a strip of several lights. They have adhesive backs that make them easy to attach just where you want light. Add a string of lights around the top or around the base of your small space to give a soft glow without overpowering the space. What kind of lights you should buy depends on whether your small space is protected from the elements or part of the backyard.
  
  

BBQ Grills

• Hibachi Grillbbq image by Qdigits from Fotolia.com
  
  Don't underestimate the advantages of an old-fashioned hibachi grill and its many designs for small spaces. Other compact grills come in all shapes and sizes and can be free-standing or sit on tabletops or a shelf attached to a wall. Fuels for grills include charcoal briquettes to propane gas tanks to built-in gas lines. Do not place open flames on unstable surfaces or near flammable materials.