5-Piece Rattan Patio Conversation Set with Hidden Ottomans, Black

Balconies are small, and most outdoor furniture is designed as though they are not. There are five pieces here, and several of them nest. The ottomans tuck completely under the chairs when you are not using them, so the set takes a full seating footprint when you want to put your feet up and a much smaller one the rest of the time. On a narrow porch or an apartment balcony, that difference is the whole decision.

The weave is hand-done in all-weather PE wicker over a sturdy, rust-proof frame. PE is the material worth paying for outdoors because it is waterproof and UV-proof, so it will not fade in strong sun or in a humid climate. The frame underneath is what carries the load. A single seat is rated to 352.74 pounds, each ottoman to 55.12 pounds, and the coffee table to 33.07 pounds. A chair measures 26 inches wide, 25.3 inches long, and 28.7 inches tall. The full set weighs 81 pounds and ships in two boxes, so no single carton is unmanageable.

Cushions are filled with high-density sponge and cotton, thick enough that an afternoon outside does not end with a sore back. The footstool cushions attach with velcro straps, which sounds minor until a gust takes an unsecured cushion over a railing. One honest caveat: the cushions are not rain-proof. Do not leave them sitting out through a long rain. Bring them in or cover them and they will last.

The coffee table is topped with tempered glass for added weight-bearing, and there is an open storage space underneath for blankets, books, or the magazines you keep outside. That shelf keeps the tabletop usable instead of letting it become the only flat surface on the balcony.

In black, with modern lines and iron and rattan construction, the set reads more like furniture than patio kit. It holds up on a porch, a lawn, a garden corner, or the balcony it was sized for, and it goes together quickly.