Make It Nice: Do Not Put Contact Paper On Your Countertops

Welcome back to Make It Nice, Defector’s best interior design advice column.

Today we have a balcony makeover, thoughts on washable rugs, and a plea to please, please not use contact paper on your countertops!

Jessica asks:

By NYC standards my balcony is HUGE (11' x 5') but I can't seem to make the layout quite work.

The two most important things to me are being able to lounge comfortably, and also have a table/chairs for two. 

I have a small couch with ottomans and also a gravity chair.

Neither are super comfortable to be honest.

I like being able to easily move the couch around—at one point I had it against the door instead of under the window—but it's not quite big enough all around to really relax in.

The gravity chair is pretty swagless, which I wouldn't mind except it's also not as comfortable as it looked on the website. 

I also end up with a lot of dead space in the middle (currently filled by the gravity chair, but I'm thinking of getting rid of the whole setup).

Is there an obvious seating arrangement that I'm missing?

Should I consider two lounge chairs instead of the couch?

The door next to the couch isn't used—the actual entrance is the sliding glass door next to the table.