Many people are looking for ways to maximize the space they already have.  At Patio Covers Place, we fully embrace and support this type of idea.  An outdoor storage bench is the perfect solution to get both function and comfort – if you do it right that is.  By right, we mean to say that you also consider those bench cushions that will keep you and your backside cushioned as you enjoy your new sitting spot in your outdoor space.

A storage bench is great for not only keeping those necessary but unsightly items out of your site, but for providing a good resting spot for you or other garden and backyard friendly animals that may come by to visit.  If you plan on just leaving your bench out in the elements to capture that nice rustic look, then you can appreciate the fact that you may have other Mother Nature’s creatures enjoying that place as well.

For this reason alone, we would recommend that you ensure that you don’t keep any items inside for too long that may be damaged by insects or small animals that happen to find their way into your storage bench.  This is really only a concern if your outdoor bench has space for these critters to enter.  A well-sealed and constructed wooden bench will not likely leave too much room for small animals to enter, but it may still allow some insects in.

Keeping your patio chair cushions and other items inside your outdoor bench is what it is for after all.  However, if you plan on retiring your outdoor patio adventures for the season, then you should store your cushions and other items that you think need more special care indoors.  A garage, storage shed or attic space can be a better place to keep these items until you are ready to use them again in the following season.  For items like grilling equipment or gardening tools that are small enough to fit into this storage bench, the seat itself should be plenty of protection.  Again, you should use your best judgment about the type of outdoor storage bench you have and the impact that the long-term exposure from the elements will cause.

With the trend in bringing much more of indoors out, chairs and dining furniture have come with it.  Outdoor patio furniture is nothing like what it used to be.  Any more, it is difficult to separate what furniture could be used indoor or out.  The strides in materials, fabric choices and overall design elements, have made patio living a much more enjoyable aspect to many homes.

This trend in outdoor rooms is not going to be ending anytime soon.  Because of the way that we use our homes today, there is an even greater need for flexibility.  Today, a typical four bedroom home may only find itself with beds in two of those bedrooms.  The other two rooms are used as home offices, playrooms, exercise rooms or even blown out to create one larger room.

Because of the needs we have for using our space, these designs for your outdoor room have really blossomed.  If we were to talk about outdoor kitchens even 8-10 years ago, it would seem cutting edge.  Now, patios all over the country have outdoor grills, sinks, refrigerators and even ovens.  Others have the addition of special features like pizza ovens and wine refrigerators.

A nice looking outdoor dining furniture set.

Outdoor patio dining has certainly taken a turn in the direction of being more popular and trendy.  You’ve probably eaten outdoors yourself at a backyard party recently.  There are many themes that can be organized and outdoor dining furniture can make the eating part even more enjoyable.  Gone are the days of having to find an available plastic folding chair or rock to sit on in someone’s outdoor space.  These are still totally acceptable ways to eat outdoors, of course, it is just that these aren’t the only ways – it’s the choice that we are discussing here.

So, what are some of these new patio sets made of?  Well, our favorites here are made of wood.  Nothing speaks more of the outdoors than wood, just make sure that it is an environmentally friendly choice.  If you choose to buy new, there are plenty of great cedar outdoor dining sets that look great.  Usually, you will find that they come with 4 chairs, a table and a bench.  Just like with your garden bench, you’ll want to make this seat more comfortable.  In fact, you’ll want all your seats to be comfortable – this means chair cushions for the chairs and a good bench cushion for the bench.  Don’t worry about having a bench to sit on.  This is no longer a punishment for your least favorite guest or the seating that is reserved only for the kids.  Bench seating is a popular trend now as well.  You’ll even find this type of bench seating in many indoor kitchen nook designs.

Like the picture shows, you can really have an elegant and relaxed setting with an outdoor dining environment.  Maybe global warming will actually be a small blessing in disguise – it may help get us and keep us outdoors more days of the year.  That doesn’t bode well for those living in the desert southwest, but it can mean greater patio dining seasons for many more weeks in most parts of the country.  All joking aside, if you are in the market for outdoor dining furniture, you will be glad you made this decision.

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This is what potting benches do for you.  Sure, you can do your transplanting and potting on an old table or even a make-shift flat surface, but if you want your space to be really user-friendly, then you should step up to the formal bench.  Sometimes, you’ll hear them referred to as a planting bench.  For obvious reasons, they are one in the same.  At Patio Covers Place, we are really crazy about quality and sustainability.

A great looking potting bench with shelves and a re-purposed window.

These things go hand in hand, because the better something is built and the finer materials used, the longer it lasts.  This is good not only for the environment, but for your budget as well.  There are several ways to get a great garden potting bench.  One is to simply shop for one online, see the one you like and buy it.  This is the easiest to handle and can certainly be right up your alley.  Another option is to re-purpose some older wood members or pieces of furniture.  Yet a third option is to build your own.

Because of the sustainability issue, we would prefer the latter two options, but a new potting bench can still be purchased ‘responsibly’ from our perspective.  For example, we are big fans of cedar – we’ve talked about this before in our garden bench and outdoor storage bench articles.  You can get a cedar potting bench whose wood has been certified as sustainably grown.  Yes, it will take more effort on your part and yes, it will cost more – in most cases.  However, there are other costs to the environment that can be considered as well.

Potting Bench Features, Benefits and Costs

No matter which style you choose to buy, build or re-purpose, there are some things you should consider.  If you look up potting bench plans, you’ll notice some similar features about them.  For one thing, they usually have a lower shelf for storage of pots, extra potting soil, etc.  The main shelf at waist level is for the actual working area.  Often, there is also a slighter smaller shelf above that for extra storage of smaller pots or some smaller hand tools.  You can also customize yours if you build it yourself by mounting a wider mesh type of screen on the back of the bench.  This will give you a place to use some hardware hooks where you can hang your gloves or small tools out of the way.

If you plan on building your own or assembling it from older furniture items, make sure that there are no nails or screws that can stick you.  One suggestion is to make the frame rigid and strong, but having the shelves ‘float’ on the rails or support members.  This gives you the ability to remove them to get excess dirt or soil off and also to keep them from getting a bunch of build-up between transplants.  If you plan on putting it out in direct exposure to the elements, you should consider sealing the bench to avoid premature deterioration.  Also, if it will be sitting on the ground, putting the legs of your planting bench on some bricks, flagstone or other flat stone or masonry surface will help to prevent wood rot from sitting in water from your landscape or rain water drainage.

The real benefits of having a bench like these are that they are designed for the purpose that you want.  You can use a small chair or folding table to do some work on, but it will only frustrate and annoy you over time.  Plus, they will not last.  If you are a more avid gardener, then you know what we’re talking about.  Like all things, you need the right tools for the job.  For about $200-300 USD and up new, less than $100 USD for materials if you buy them at your local home improvement warehouse, or practically free if you re-purpose some old furniture items, a potting bench will give you returns of fresh herbs, flowers and plants in your patio garden for years to come.

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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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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.