Outdoor Furniture Size Guide for Aussie Patios, Decks and Courtyards

Buying outdoor furniture without measuring first is a bit like eyeing off a new lounge and hoping it squeezes through the front door; sometimes you get lucky, often you don’t. The sets that look perfect in a photoshoot can feel cramped on a small balcony or get lost on a long patio if the proportions are off. If you’d like a simple, buyer ready way to match your space to the right My Wicker pieces, this guide will walk you through a few common Aussie layouts, the clearances that keep everything comfortable, and the materials that actually stand up to our weather. And because every backyard is different, you’ll see how to adapt the same principles to a 3×3 metre courtyard, a 4×4 metre suburban deck, or a longer 6×3 metre entertainer’s patio without overthinking it.

Start with Your Space: What Fits in 3×3, 4×4 and 6×3 Metres?

Begin with tape on the ground rather than guesswork. Mark the footprint where furniture will sit and leave walking lanes so people can move without shuffling chairs every five minutes. As a rule of thumb, aim for about 60–75 centimetres of clearance around dining chairs so you can slide out, stand up and step away, and leave roughly 90 centimetres near sliding doors so they open freely.

For a 3×3 m balcony or courtyard, think compact and multi purpose. A petite four or five piece dining set with a table around 90–110 centimetres square usually feels right, or a two seater modular lounge with a chaise and a nesting coffee table if you prefer to put your feet up. Tall planters or a slimline bench against the wall add storage and seating without stealing floor area. Truth be told, a smaller setting that breathes looks more inviting than a large one jammed in tight.

Move to a 4×4 m deck and your options open up. A six to eight seat dining set with a 200–220 centimetre table fits comfortably if you keep the barbecue and traffic flow in mind, while an L shape modular lounge with an ottoman creates a proper conversation zone. This is the size where zoning starts to shine: one corner for meals, the other for lounging, with a metre or so of space to circulate between them. If your deck cops the westerly, measure shade cover as carefully as you measure furniture; it will decide how often you actually use the space in summer.

On a 6×3 m patio, the length works in your favour. A narrow, extendable dining table along one side leaves room for an eight to ten seat lineup when friends drop in, while a U shape or long modular lounge anchors the opposite end for the cricket on TV or a winter fire pit evening. Because the footprint is long rather than square, place larger pieces against the wall and let benches handle the overflow seating; the whole area reads as generous without blocking walkways. If you’re near the coast or on a windy block, keep the heavier items where they won’t become surfboards on a blowy afternoon.

Layouts That Actually Work (Copy Them, Then Tweak)

A small space lives large when every piece earns its keep, so try a “breakfast and sundown” layout in a 3×3 m courtyard. Put a round café table and two chairs in the sunniest morning corner for quick coffees, and anchor the shadier side with a compact modular lounge and a storage coffee table that hides cushions between showers. Measure the circle you need to pull chairs out comfortably, then tape it on the pavers to sanity check before you buy.

For a 4×4 m suburban deck, the “BBQ and big game” setup is hard to beat. Place a six or eight seat dining set within easy reach of the barbecue so serving is simple but smoke drifts away, and turn an L shape lounge to face the view, the fire, or a weatherproof TV wall under the pergola. Keep at least a metre clear between the two zones and give yourself a straight path from the kitchen door to the barbecue, because nobody likes weaving around chair legs with a platter of snags.

A 6×3 m entertainer’s patio calls for long lines and good traffic flow. Run an extendable dining table lengthways near the house so it doubles as a buffet when friends arrive, add bench seating against the fence for extra bodies, and complete the far end with a generous modular lounge and ottoman so people can stretch out. If the space is fully exposed, choose lighter coloured cushions that stay cooler in the sun and think about an umbrella offset or a cantilever that clears head height without poking eyes. You’ll know you’ve nailed the plan when you can move a tray from kitchen to table to lounge without a single sidestep.

Choose Materials and Care That Last in Australian Weather

Looks matter, but the way materials behave after three summers matters more. PE rattan woven over powder coated aluminium is the sweet spot for most Australian backyards because it gives you the classic wicker look with UV stability and minimal fuss, while aluminium frames keep weight down and shrug off corrosion in coastal air better than untreated steel. Natural wicker is beautiful indoors, yet it struggles outdoors unless you baby it, so if the set will live outside, synthetic wicker is the practical choice that still feels warm and textured.

Comfort is mostly about cushions, which is why thickness and foam type are worth a second glance. Ten to twelve centimetres of quick dry foam keeps shape and dries after a summer storm, removable covers make cleaning easier, and a mid tone fabric tends to hide red dust and pollen between washes. If the area sees a lot of rain or salty air, put fitted covers into the routine; tossing them on after the weekend takes thirty seconds and pays back years of extra life. Day to day, a soft brush and a bucket of mild soapy water handle most grime, and a gentle rinse finishes the job without forcing water into the weave.

Little choices extend the life of the set as well. Use felt pads or rubber feet on timber decks so chairs glide quietly and don’t chew the boards, angle lounge pieces so water drains rather than pools, and store throw cushions in a bench box when you’re not using them. A few careful habits mean your setting looks as good next Easter as it did on delivery day, and you’ll actually use the space because it’s always ready to go.