So, there it is, you see it, the empty bench out there waiting for you to just grab a good book or a nice cup of your favorite beverage appropriate for the season.  Most garden benches could tell quite a tale of what they have experienced and seen transform and change in your garden.  They have seen the weather, the flora and fauna if you will and even the people who have rested there change over the years.

A gorgeous garden bench that also has a rustic feel.

And so it goes, when you are looking for that perfect garden bench to fit in that special place in your garden or patio.  Your outdoor garden bench can take on several different styles and materials for that matter.  The most popular, tried and true style is a wooden garden bench.  Metal garden benches can also be quite comfortable as well.  Some metal styles have wooden slats used for the seating and back support areas, which have a bit more give than the entirely metal ones.  However, there is something charming and wonderful about a wrought iron piece of patio furniture.

If you’ve done any looking around on Patio Covers Place, then you’ve likely discovered our passion and support of both sustainably grown and environmentally suitable objects and projects of all kinds that relate to your patio.  Having said this, we definitely understand the lure and beauty of wood.  You just can’t replicate the look of a cedar garden bench using some other type of material, stain or paint.  The grain and aging of cedar makes it a great choice for outdoor use.  It is possible, however, to find sustainably harvested wood and furniture made for people who share these same ideals.  On another note, maybe a teak garden bench is more your style.  You can always look for a used garden bench that someone simply doesn’t want anymore, this is also an Earth-friendly solution and one that gives you a well-broken in bench to boot.

Something else to think about is the comfort you will enjoy on your bench.  Just like if you were looking for patio cushions for your other patio furniture, may we suggest that you look into getting a bench cushion for this new bench you are getting?  You’ll be so much more comfortable and able to sit for a longer period of time if you get a padded area to rest on.

Other options are to look into getting an outdoor storage bench.  This can be very appealing and made of the same great cedar or teak wood that you are seeking with the added benefit of giving you additional patio storage.  While it may not be much, sometimes you just need a place for those extra cushions, lights or lighter for the barbecue grill nearby.  You can also now find garden benches that have liners in the storage area that can open up to be a cooler for storing your cold beverages when you are out on your patio entertaining.

Like all of your outdoor patio furniture, you should consider the costs in terms of both labor and materials to maintain your bench.  Because it will likely be sitting out in the elements year-round, it would be a good idea to either apply some type of sealant or water-proofing to extend its lifespan.  There are tinted and water-based stains and sealers now that are environmentally sensitive as well.  Also, maintaining your items, whether they be patio related or not is a ‘green’ thing to do.  If you think your bench will be sitting unused for extended periods, you can invest in a patio furniture cover for it.  In the end, you might find that this additional purchase will be worth the cost of protecting your $200-400 USD garden bench from premature deterioration or rusting.

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Isn’t that what it’s all about, comfort?  Of course it is, so no matter what you might read or hear about the beauty and material about this bench cushion or that one, remember that you need to give it a ‘seating test run’ to know for sure.  This may take a bit of patience on your part, but it will greatly pay off in the end – no pun intended.

Having said that, we are adamant about quality.  Like most things, a quality product is easily recognizable and will cost you much less over the life of the product because of its craftsmanship.  This relates to not only the materials used but the way they are put together.  With reputable companies, you will be given the choice of fabrics, padding thickness and other variable features.  These may fall into their custom cushions category, but not necessarily if they are truly customer oriented.  Your outdoor bench cushion should fit perfectly and that measurement is up to you.  So, unless you have a standard size bench and you can find that exact size online or in your local home improvement or patio furniture store, then you’ll probably need a custom bench cushion.

Shapes, Sizes and Materials of Bench Cushions

Definitely in need of a bench cushion.

There isn’t a whole lot of complexity with these, but there are some nuances you should be aware of if you are shopping around.  The main thing to note is the shape you are looking for.  Aside from the obvious rectangular shape

of a standard bench, there are ones that have rounded corners – either on the front edge or back.  Also, there are trapezoid shaped cushions that have both sharp corners or rounded corners.  As far as the size of the cushion, like mentioned above, you should really look into getting it measured properly.  There is nothing worse than having a cushion that slides around because of a poor fit.

Like patio awnings and outdoor curtains, you can get a bench seat cushion made with Sunbrella fabric as well.  This fabric is known for its UV resistance.  This property is due to the fact that the fabric is dyed while the acrylic fibers that make it up are still wet.  Then, when the fibers dry, the dye is part of the permanent structure of the material itself, making it resistant to stains and other fading due to the sun.  These cushions definitely last.

Another great feature of good patio bench cushions are their ability to shed water.  We’re not talking about shedding water like a good waxing job on your car or boat.  In this case, we are referring to the ability of your bench cushions to allow water to essentially pass through them and not keep them soaked for long periods of time.  Pooling or sitting water like this leads to mildew and rot of your cushions themselves.  Good acrylic and poly-fiber materials make the cushion padding durable and truly made to be outdoors.  So, feel free to use that wooden bench for an elegant dinner party, your guests will never know it could be so good.

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The whole point of an outdoor bench is that it serves as a sort of resting place.  You can just plop down on it any time you need to take a load off and it will always be there to do the job.  Maybe not as comfortable and plush as your full-length chaise lounge chair, but nonetheless, it still provides a great place to rest your weary body on a great outdoor kind of day.

Some people refer to these as a garden bench.  Typically, these wooden benches are made from a durable wood such as cedar or redwood.  Sure, you can find these in plastic as well.  At Patio Covers Place we like to encourage the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly products where possible, so we would encourage you to look for a sustainable harvested wood source.  Cedar happens to be a great choice for all these reasons and also emits low greenhouse gases.  Similarly, you could get an outdoor bench that is made from recycled materials and will be even more unique for your patio or outdoor space.  Local craftsman, garage sales and other ‘reusable’ benches are great environmental choices.

What Types of Outdoor Storage Benches Are Best?

Now, since you are looking for storage, we’ll need to determine what you plan on storing the majority of the time in your bench.  If it is cushions for your patio furniture, or even the bench cushion itself, then we’ve got a great

A new cedar storage bench - it will weather to a nice silvery gray color.

suggestion.  You should definitely opt for cedar bench.  The natural wood oils and earthy scent will not only help protect your cushions from pesky insects, but will keep them smelling fresh as well.  Even though a quality outdoor bench like cedar will weather very nicely, it would still be a good idea to keep it beneath your covered patio during rainy season.  Additionally, storing your patio furniture cushions in these for a long period of time is not recommended.  Unless you are in the season of using them often and just want some temporary protection from the elements, store your cushions indoors.

You can also find plastic storage benches as we mentioned.  These do work well and can hold up to the elements too.  You might find that they don’t have the same charm and warmth that a nice wooden bench provide, but if you are more concerned with function and price, then this might be your preferred choice for your outdoor storage bench.  What can you expect to pay for a quality wooden storage bench?  If you go for a cedar storage bench, you can find smaller ones for around $150 USD and larger, better quality for up to $400 USD.  The size of these benches also helps determine their price.  An average size storage bench like these would measure approximately 54” L x 24” W x 30” H.  In some cases, you can find that your bench will come with a cushion, but this is usually something you need to order if you want one.