This IKEA Space-Saver Just Replaced My Entire Backyard Bistro Set – And My Patio Feels Twice as Big
Full circles are feeling a little passé. This summer, the smartest shape for a small outdoor space is a semicircle
If there’s one mistake I see small outdoor-space owners making often, it’s having too big a bistro table. Despite sounding slightly oxymoronic (aren’t they supposed to be small?), many still come topped with full-sized round or square surfaces that sneakily monopolize your already-limited real estate. The solution? Cut it in half.
That’s exactly what IKEA did with its Askholmen outdoor wall table and chairs, whose tabletop takes the shape of a sweet space-saving semicircle that sits flush against the wall. There’s still plenty of room for all the aperitivo-or-coffee-hour necessities – stemware, snacks, an outdoor lamp for ambiance – but with the added luxury of folding down completely when not in use, reclaiming precious small backyard square footage in the process. Oh, and those chic tufted cushions are included, so the styling is already very ‘French cafe’ from the jump.
This gem of a bistro set – complete with a fold-down wall table, pair of chairs, and chic cream tufted cushions – has already earned IKEA’s dreaded ‘Last Chance’ label. In IKEA-speak, that’s usually code for ‘buy it now or spend the next six months regretting it.’ Swoop in on this 4.7-star find while you still can.
If anyone understands how glorious this very simple-sounding IKEA innovation is, it’s me. My crumb of an outdoor living space in New York City couldn’t even dream of housing a full-sized patio set. A bistro set fits – technically – but lately I’ve grown tired of the elaborate choreography required to move around when the table quite literally occupies the entire firescape.
By sacrificing 50% of the tabletop, you gain 50% more room where it actually counts: for mingling friends, second rounds of drinks, and the simple pleasure of not having to sidestep furniture like you’re making your way to seat 43E.
This, on the other hand, gives me the freedom to pretend my firescape is a real balcony. And while I wouldn’t call that priceless – I'm in Manhattan, where the additional square footage would probably run me an extra $900 a month – it feels pretty close.
Imagine what it could do in your (comparatively sprawling) patio, porch, or backyard. The real question is: what will you do with all that extra room?
How I'd Style It
You could simply let those chic included cushions speak for themselves. But I’m a style editor, and restraint has never really been my forte. My advice? A little shade, a little portable lamp for when drinks run long, something soft underfoot (because who wants to wear shoes in summer?), and, of course, a speaker for the soundtrack. Here’s everything I’m adding to my cart for an entertaining-ready vignette.
If you haven’t heard, IKEA recently launched a portable outdoor lamp that also happens to be a speaker. That means one less object competing for space on your half-moon table – and one less eyesore interrupting your charming alfresco setup.
If a standard-sized outdoor umbrella either overwhelms (or straight-up refuses to fit on) your balcony, IKEA’s compact TVEYÖ style might be the answer. It’s nearly half the width of the brand’s popular JOGGESÖE for less than half the price. Green flags abound.
This punchy orange colorway is currently trending at IKEA. Its flat-woven surface makes it easy to rearrange the Askholmen chairs when entertaining calls, while also serving a second purpose: as I recently discovered during a deep dive into small-balcony cooling tricks, outdoor rugs like these are a great way to beat the heat.
It seems there’s something in the water, because this summer’s best outdoor purchases all have one thing in common: they’re missing half of themselves. If you’re looking to lean in, there’s a delightful cabana-striped, scalloped-fringe umbrella from Wayfair that could shade your Askholmen set like a semicircular glove.
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