My garden's tiny: How to choose outdoor furniture when space is tight

It is possible to source accessories to make the most of the summer without cluttering up your home the rest of the year

When you have a small home and a postage stamp-sized garden or outdoor area, you'll want to make the most of every inch of space. File picture

In the past year I have visited two of the world's biggest interior design trade shows, in Paris and Milan, and both times what struck me the most was the stunning garden furniture available outside of Ireland. 

That’s not saying you can’t get nice garden furniture here — of course you can — but the range is limited compared to what’s available abroad. This is for obvious reasons — we simply do not have the weather to accommodate an outdoor lifestyle.