The Most Popular Nardi Komodo Balcony Set-Ups: Small-Space Ideas & Plans (2026)

A balcony is a small room with the roof taken off. Whether yours is a slim apartment ledge, a juliet balcony off the bedroom, a townhouse terrace or a breezy roof balcony ten floors up, the question is always the same: how do you get real, sink-in lounging onto a footprint the size of a hallway — and still swing the door open and walk past? For low, laid-back comfort on a tight floor, the system we reach for again and again is the Nardi Komodo.

Komodo is a modular outdoor seating system: a family of matching pieces — terminal (end) modules, a central module, a corner, a pouf, backrests, armrests and a pair of low tables — that you buy individually and combine however your space allows. That single idea is what makes it so good on a balcony. You don’t buy a fixed three-seater and pray it fits; you take exactly the pieces you need and no more. This guide walks through balcony planning in real millimetres, then hands you the most popular Komodo balcony set-ups as ready-to-order recipe cards, each with a top-down plan sketch, the exact pieces, real prices and a styling tip.

A quick word on how we work: Custom Wood Designs is a made-to-order Nardi specialist. We don’t hold stock on a shelf — every Komodo piece is made to order in your choice of frame and Sunbrella® fabric and supplied to your door in Ireland or the UK. On a balcony, where the furniture is most of what you see, that colour match is worth having.

Why Komodo works so well on balconies

It’s modular, so you take only what fits. This is the whole game on a balcony. A single terminal module dressed with a backrest and two armrests is a complete, comfortable armchair on its own. Add a pouf and you have a lounger; add a second module and you have a two-seater; add a corner and you turn a wall. Nothing is wasted, and nothing over-fills the floor. If you move to a bigger space later, you simply order more modules and grow the same set.

Low, deep, lounge-y profile. This is where Komodo earns its keep. It sits lower and deeper than most modular ranges — a properly reclined, sink-back lounge seat rather than an upright sofa. On a balcony that low line does something clever: it keeps the seating below the railing top, so it never blocks the view or boxes the space in, and it makes even a small ledge feel like a lounge rather than a waiting room.

Weatherproof for exposed, high balconies. Nardi frames are moulded from high-grade, UV-stabilised resin that shrugs off salt air, rain and relentless sun — exactly the conditions a high or coastal balcony throws at furniture. The cushions are wrapped in Sunbrella®, the benchmark solution-dyed acrylic that resists fading, water and mildew. Few systems are as genuinely suited to an exposed floor.

Made to order, your colours. Because every piece is made to order, you choose the frame tone — Bianco, Antracite, Tortora or Agave — and the Sunbrella cushion fabric to suit your light and your railings: warm Rosa Quarzo, cool Grigio, deep Adriatic, pale Ghiaccio, earthy Avocado, rich Giungla, classic Canvas, or the textured TECH Panama. There is no single stock colour to compromise on.

Komodo or Maximo?

We’re often asked which of the two big Nardi modular ranges suits a balcony better. In short: Komodo sits lower and loungier — a deep, reclined seat that stays below the rail and reads as relaxed lounging; Maximo sits taller and roomier — a slightly more upright, sofa-like seat with a bigger footprint. On a very shallow balcony where you want the view kept open and a lie-back feel, Komodo tends to win. If you want a more conventional, upright sofa height, look at Maximo. We’ve written a companion guide, the most popular Nardi Maximo balcony set-ups, if you’d like to compare the two side by side.

Planning a small balcony: real measurements & clearances

Before you fall for a layout, measure. Five minutes with a tape saves a lot of disappointment. Here are the figures we plan to, all in millimetres.

• Balcony depth. New Irish apartment balconies have a minimum depth of 1500 mm and typically run about 1500–2000 mm deep. At around 1500 mm, think single-depth pieces — a terminal armchair, a two-module in-line seat, a bench run along the rail. From roughly 1700 mm up you can start facing seats across a table or turning an L into the corner. Komodo’s low back helps here: a shallow balcony feels less crowded when the seating stays under the railing line.
• Keep a walkway. Leave a clear path of 500–600 mm so you can move past the furniture comfortably. On the plans below, that clear lane is the dashed walkway line.
• Door swing. If your balcony door opens outward, it sweeps an arc of around 600–800 mm. Keep that arc empty (see the door swing on each sketch) or your lovely new armchair becomes a doorstop.
• Weight on apartment balconies. Cantilevered balconies have load limits. Komodo is reassuringly light — moulded resin frames, not cast metal — but spread the pieces out rather than clustering a heavy corner plus five people in one spot, and check your building’s guidance for anything substantial.
• Drainage. Balconies fall very slightly toward a drainage edge. Komodo’s feet cope fine with this and the resin doesn’t mind sitting on a damp floor — but avoid trapping water under a solid rug on a poorly draining surface.
• Wind on high floors. Height means gusts. The good news: Komodo modules sit low and heavy enough not to skate about. Be more careful with lightweight extras — a free-standing parasol especially needs a secure fixing rather than a loose base up high. The clip-on Komodo Ombra sunshade is a smarter answer on an exposed floor.
• Privacy & the railing line. Use the railing as a design line: rail planters, a screen or a run of greenery along it add privacy and shelter, and most layouts below deliberately orient seating toward that edge and the view beyond.
• Sun & shade orientation. Note where the sun lands and when. A south or west balcony wants shade for the middle of the day; an east balcony is a morning-coffee spot; a shaded north balcony benefits from lighter frame and fabric tones — Bianco with Ghiaccio or Canvas — to keep it from feeling dim.

Typical Irish balcony sizes

Wondering whether your balcony is a ‘normal’ size? Ireland’s Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments (2020, the current guidance) sets the minimum private amenity space — the balcony or terrace — for new apartments, so most balconies built in recent years land in a fairly predictable range. Measure yours to be sure, but here’s what’s typical.

The standards set a minimum balcony depth of 1500 mm in one useable length, plus a minimum area by apartment type. Worked into rough real dimensions in millimetres, that looks like this:

• Studio — 4 m² minimum — e.g. about 2700 × 1500 mm.
• 1-bed — 5 m² minimum — e.g. about 3300 × 1500 mm.
• 2-bed (3-person) — 6 m² minimum — e.g. about 3500 × 1700 mm, or 4000 × 1600 mm.
• 2-bed (4-person) — 7 m² minimum — e.g. about 4100 × 1700 mm.
• 3-bed — 9 m² minimum — e.g. about 4500 × 2000 mm.

In practice, then, most Irish apartment balconies run roughly 4–9 m², with a depth from about 1500 mm upward. Depth is the figure that matters most for a Komodo: at 1500 mm you have room for single-depth pieces such as a terminal armchair, a two-module in-line seat and a bench run along the rail; from about 1700–2000 mm you can turn an L into the corner or face two chairs across a table. Every recipe below states the balcony footprint in millimetres it’s designed for, so you can match a layout to your own measurements.

The most popular Komodo balcony set-ups

Eight recipes, from a single-seat nook to a small family corner. Each shows a top-down plan (balcony rectangle with its footprint in millimetres, railing edge and door), the exact Komodo pieces to order with real prices, and a styling tip. A quick note on how Komodo is built: the seat modules (terminal, central and corner) form the base, and you dress them with backrests and armrests exactly where you want them — that’s how the same few parts make an armchair, a bench or an L. All prices are ex-VAT and correct as of January 2026 — add 23% VAT at checkout. Mix and match — that’s the whole point of a modular system.

Sketches are indicative layout plans, not to scale.

1. The solo lounger nook (terminal armchair + pouf)

Plan view: one Komodo terminal module dressed as an armchair with the pouf set beside it (not in front) and a low Tavolino, keeping the walkway to the door clear.

Designed for a balcony around 2700 × 1500 mm (≈ 4.1 m²).

For a studio ledge or a narrow balcony that only really needs one seat, this is the most comfortable pound-for-pound. A single terminal module, dressed with a backrest and two armrests, becomes a deep, low armchair you sink into; the pouf sits beside it as a footstool and spare perch, and the low Tavolino sits at elbow height for a coffee or a book. Because a Komodo module is about 780 mm deep, keeping the pouf beside the armchair rather than in front holds the seating depth to roughly 780 mm — leaving a clear 550 mm-plus walkway within the balcony’s 1500 mm depth. Slide the pouf in front when you want to stretch out and you simply borrow from the walkway for the afternoon.

The pieces you’d order:

Komodo prices vary by cushion fabric. Prices shown are ‘from’ (Rosa Quarzo). Sunbrella® colours and TECH Panama cost more — e.g. the central module is €367 (Rosa Quarzo), €450 (Sunbrella colours) or €550 (TECH Panama); the corner module €490 / €605 / €735.

All prices are ex-VAT and correct as of January 2026 — add 23% VAT at checkout.

Styling tip. Choose a warm fabric such as Rosa Quarzo or Avocado to make a single seat feel cosseting, tuck a tall slim planter beside the chair, and add a lightweight throw over the arm for cooler evenings.

2. The compact 2-seat in-line sofa

Plan view: two Komodo terminal modules joined into a two-seat sofa along the back wall with the Tavolino placed at the end of the run.

Designed for a balcony around 3300 × 1500 mm (≈ 5.0 m²).

Two terminal modules clip together to make a tidy two-seat sofa (a left end plus a right end, no centre needed) that sits flat against the back wall and keeps the whole railing edge free. Each end carries a backrest and an outer armrest, so you get a proper arm at each side and an open join in the middle. On a 1-bed balcony around 1500 mm deep this is the sweet spot: real sofa comfort and Komodo’s low back keeping the view over the rail wide open. On a 1500 mm-deep balcony, place the table at the end of the run rather than in front — a 780 mm-deep module plus a 700 mm table would overrun the depth, so setting the Tavolino at the end keeps a clear walkway.

The pieces you’d order:

Styling tip. Because the sofa hugs the wall, decorate upward: an outdoor mirror or a wall-mounted shade sail behind, rail planters along the front, and two contrasting scatter cushions in Grigio or Adriatic to soften the low line.

3. The L-shape mini corner

Plan view: an L of a corner module and two terminal modules — one running along the wall, one forming the side leg into the depth — with a low Tavolino.

Designed for a balcony around 3500 × 1700 mm (≈ 6.0 m²).

When your balcony has a usable corner, an L-shape wraps seating into the angle and seats three comfortably while leaving the middle of the floor open. Two terminal modules and a single corner module form the L; the corner piece is what lets the run turn 90 degrees cleanly. With the corner module at 780 mm square and a 780 mm-deep terminal forming the side leg, that leg reaches roughly 1525 mm into the balcony — so about 1700 mm of depth gives room for the L and a walkway. It is the most popular ‘proper lounge’ layout for deeper 2-bed balconies and roof terraces where you want to face inward and chat rather than line everyone along the rail. Komodo’s deep, low seat makes the corner the spot everyone fights for.

The pieces you’d order:

Styling tip. Anchor the L with a 1600×2300 mm outdoor rug, pile the corner with two or three cushions so it reads as the comfiest seat, and stand a floor lantern where the two runs meet.

4. The corner + pouf chaise

Plan view: a corner and terminal module with a pouf pushed out from the corner to form a chaise, and a Tavolino alongside.

Designed for a balcony around 3000 × 1700 mm (≈ 5.1 m²).

A corner module and a terminal seat make a compact two-seat angle, and a pouf pulled out in front of the corner turns that seat into a chaise you can swing your legs onto. It’s the layout for anyone who wants one true lie-back lounging position plus a companion seat, on a balcony that’s a little deeper than the shallowest. Slide the pouf back against the run and you’ve freed the floor and gained a spare seat — the modular trick that keeps a small balcony flexible.

The pieces you’d order:

Styling tip. Dress the chaise as a daybed with a long bolster and two scatter cushions, keep the fabric tonal (Grigio or Canvas) so the run reads as one calm piece, and point the pouf end toward the afternoon sun.

5. The bench run along the railing

Plan view: three Komodo modules (terminal, central, terminal) in a straight bench run parallel to the railing with the glass Tavolino Vetro at the end of the run.

Designed for a balcony around 4000 × 1500 mm (≈ 6.0 m²).

A three-seat straight run — terminal, central, terminal — set parallel to the railing turns the whole long edge into a sociable bench facing the view. This is the go-to for long, shallow balconies and juliet-style terraces where depth is tight but length is generous. Everyone sits shoulder-to-shoulder looking out, and because Komodo sits low the backrest never blocks the outlook. On a 1500 mm-deep balcony, place the table at the end of the run rather than in front — a 780 mm-deep module plus a 700 mm table would overrun the depth. A glass-topped Tavolino Vetro at the end keeps the run feeling light and open.

The pieces you’d order:

Styling tip. Run a low line of matching rail planters behind the bench for a green backdrop, add three scatter cushions in one accent tone, and clip a Komodo Ombra sunshade to the run for midday shade instead of a free-standing parasol.

6. The facing pair for morning coffee

Plan view: two Komodo terminal armchairs facing each other across a low Tavolino with a table gap between them, walkway kept clear to one side.

Designed for a balcony around 3000 × 2100 mm (≈ 6.3 m²).

Two terminal modules dressed as armchairs, facing each other across a low table, is the most conversational set-up — but two 780 mm-deep seats facing across a table gap need roughly 2100 mm of depth (2×780 + a ~500 mm gap), so this is one for a larger balcony or a roof terrace rather than a shallow ledge. It reads like a tiny outdoor breakfast room: pull the chairs in for coffee, ease them back to the walls when you need the floor. Each chair carries a backrest and two armrests, so both feel like proper standalone lounge seats. Popular with couples who take their morning coffee outside.

The pieces you’d order:

Styling tip. Keep the low Tavolino clear for cups and pastries, choose a matching pair of seat cushions so the two chairs read as a set, and stand a small potted herb — mint or rosemary — on the table for the morning scent.

7. The lounger-style seat with pouf daybed

Plan view: a two-module Komodo lounger with a pouf pushed to the end as a footrest, forming a compact daybed along the wall.

Designed for a balcony around 2800 × 1700 mm (≈ 4.8 m²).

This is Komodo doing what it does best. A terminal and a central module make a two-seat lounger, and a pouf pushed hard to the open end turns it into a stretch-out daybed — a chaise you can lie back on in the sun. Two extra back cushions build the sink-in, pile-of-pillows feel. It suits anyone who wants the balcony’s lazy-Sunday spot rather than upright seating, and the same pouf slides away to become a footstool or spare seat the moment company arrives.

The pieces you’d order:

Styling tip. Layer the extra back cushions with a long throw to build the daybed feel, keep the whole thing tonal so it reads as one lazy surface, and add a slim side table at the head end for a drink and a book.

8. The small family corner

Plan view: a larger L of two terminals, a central and a corner module with a glass Tavolino Vetro for a family balcony.

Designed for a balcony around 4500 × 2000 mm (≈ 9.0 m²).

For a wide roof terrace or a generous 3-bed townhouse balcony, this is the full family layout: two terminals, a central and a corner wrap around to seat four or five, with a glass-topped Tavolino Vetro in the middle for shared plates and drinks. It is the largest set-up we’d recommend for a balcony — measure carefully — but on the right space Komodo’s low, deep seating turns the balcony into the family’s favourite room. Everyone can sprawl, and the view stays open over the low backs.

The pieces you’d order:

Styling tip. Go big on soft furnishings — a set of coordinating cushions and a large 2000×2900 mm rug — string festoon lights along the wall, and add a Komodo Ombra sunshade over the corner so the family spot stays shaded through the afternoon.

The pieces that build every set

Komodo’s cleverness is in its parts. The seat central module and terminal module form the base of any run, while the backrest (schienale) and armrest (bracciolo) clip on wherever you want a back or an arm — that’s how the same handful of parts make an armchair, a bench or an L. A spare Komodo back cushion adds extra lumbar softness and a shot of accent colour to finish any set.

Balcony styling & shade

Ombra sunshade vs parasol. On a balcony, a big free-standing parasol and its heavy base often cost you more floor than they’re worth — and on a high floor the wind makes them a liability. Komodo has its own answer: the Komodo Ombra 2 and Komodo Ombra 3 sunshades fix to the modules themselves, shading the seat without stealing standing space and without a base to trip over. On an exposed floor that’s a far smarter shade than a loose parasol.

Zone with a rug. A flat-weave outdoor rug instantly makes a hard balcony floor feel like a room and visually anchors your Komodo pieces. Size it to sit just under the front feet of the seating, roughly 1600×2300 mm for most of these layouts.

Greenery on the rail. Rail planters and a couple of tall slim pots do more for a balcony than any ornament — they add privacy, soften the hard edges and bring the whole set-up to life. Keep them to the railing line and corners so they don’t eat the walkway.

Cushions to restyle by season. The Sunbrella cushions handle sun and showers with ease. Keep a spare set of scatter cushions in a second fabric — swap Grigio for Rosa Quarzo, or Canvas for Giungla — to change the whole mood of the balcony between seasons.

Light it for evenings. A rechargeable cordless outdoor lamp or a run of festoon lights along the wall turns the balcony into an evening room without any wiring — and Komodo’s low profile means the light carries across the space rather than being blocked by a high sofa back.

Care on exposed balconies

Sunbrella does the heavy lifting. Solution-dyed Sunbrella® is coloured through the fibre, so sun won’t leach it and rain won’t stain it. A rinse with fresh water and the odd mild soapy wipe keeps it looking new; it dries quickly and resists mildew even on a shaded, damp balcony.

The resin frames love the outdoors. Nardi’s UV-stabilised resin frames are happy to over-winter outside — salt air, rain and sun don’t bother them. A quick wipe-down is all the maintenance the frames need from one season to the next.

Bring the cushions in over winter. The smart move on an exposed balcony is to bring the fabric cushions and back cushions indoors through the wettest, darkest months, or store them in a sealed box. Come spring, they’re as good as the day they arrived. On a high or coastal floor this single habit does more than anything to keep a Komodo set looking fresh year to year.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the best Nardi Komodo set for a small balcony?

For most small balconies the solo lounger nook (Recipe 1) or the compact 2-seat in-line sofa (Recipe 2) are the sweet spot — real low-lounge comfort, tiny footprint, clear walkway. If your balcony is long and shallow, the bench run along the railing (Recipe 5) makes better use of the shape. There’s no single ‘best’ — because Komodo is modular, the best set is the one built to your exact measurements.

How much space do I need for a Komodo on a balcony?

As a rule of thumb: a single terminal armchair-and-pouf nook works on a balcony from about 1500 mm deep; a two-seat in-line sofa or a bench run wants around 1500–1700 mm; and an L-shape is comfortable from about 1700 mm deep and a facing-chairs layout from roughly 2100 mm up. Always keep a 500–600 mm walkway and leave the door swing clear. Komodo’s low back means it feels less crowded than a taller sofa on the same depth.

Can Komodo go on an apartment balcony?

Yes — it’s one of the best choices for one. The resin frames are light, so they’re kind to cantilevered balcony loadings, and the modular pieces let you fit seating to a tight footprint. The low, deep profile keeps the seating below the railing so the view stays open. Spread the weight sensibly and check your building’s balcony guidance for larger multi-module layouts.

Are Komodo cushions weatherproof for a high balcony?

The cushions are wrapped in Sunbrella® solution-dyed acrylic, which resists fading, water and mildew, and the fillings drain and dry quickly. That makes them well suited to exposed, sunny or coastal balconies. For very exposed high floors we’d still bring the cushions in over winter for the longest life; the resin frames can stay out year-round.

Can I buy Komodo pieces individually?

Absolutely — that’s the whole idea. Every Komodo module, corner, pouf, backrest, armrest and table is available to order individually, so you can start with a single terminal armchair or a two-piece nook and add to it later. Everything is made to order in your chosen frame and Sunbrella® fabric, so future pieces match. Browse the full range in our Nardi outdoor furniture collection.

Do prices include VAT?

All prices on this page are ex-VAT and correct as of January 2026. Irish VAT of 23% is added at checkout, so the set totals shown will rise by 23% at the final step. Komodo prices also vary by cushion fabric, so set totals are shown ‘from’ the Rosa Quarzo entry price. Every piece is made to order and supplied to your door in Ireland or the UK.

Ready to plan your balcony?

Every set-up on this page is built from the same handful of made-to-order Komodo pieces — so once you’ve measured your balcony and picked a recipe, ordering is simple. Choose your frame (Bianco, Antracite, Tortora or Agave) and your Sunbrella® fabric, add the modules, backrests and armrests, and we’ll make your set to order and supply it to your door. Explore the full range in the Nardi outdoor furniture collection, and if you’d like a hand matching a layout to your measurements, just ask — small-space planning is what we love.