Simona is an interior design and décor writer for Homedit. Since 2011, she has been writing about interior design, DIY solutions, and the latest trends in home architecture.
A bench is a welcomed feature in a garden. It provides a comfortable place for resting and admiring the surroundings plus there are many others ways in which it can be useful. Garden benches are more than just furniture. If it’s well-placed, a bench can make a huge difference in your garden and we’ll give some examples shortly.
One of the ways in which you can use a garden bench is if you want to highlight a view or maybe a water feature and to be able to make the most of it. Of course, a bench with a view would also need to be comfortable if it’s to be truly useful. In order to ensure that, there are a few things you can do. For instance, you can make sure that the bench is placed in a dry and stable setting so you can use it all year round. You could surround it with some gravel, pebbles or big rocks and you can even give it a roof.
If there happens to be a tree where you’d like to put the bench, just build the bench around itLet the garden shape the bench and look around you to find inspiration for its designSome green and fluffy accent pillows would complement a garden bench perfectly, given their visual connection to the grass
In the summer, you’ll want the bench to be in a shaded area. You can put it under a tree or install an umbrella or you can come up with a more permanent solution such as a trellis roof or some other sort of structure. Try to avoid putting up walls or dividers which could obstruct the view and diminish the freshness of the ambiance. To increase the comfort even more, you could also add some pillows. Just make sure they’re covered in all-weather fabric.
A garden bench can be built out of various different materials and wood is a pretty common optionAdd some color to the bench and implicitly to the garden with some accent pillowsPlant some shade-loving plants under the bench to surround yourself with greeneryThe bench can be built along an existing fence or you can let its backrest double as a divider and even as a planterIf you want the bench to blend in with the garden and the landscape, maybe this can inspire youLarge stones or blocks can serve both as decorations and as benches in a garden
Another way in which a garden bench can be practical is if it offers some sort of built-in storage. It could have a top that folds up or that’s removable and under it (inside the bench) there could be a secret storage compartment where you could keep some extra pillows and maybe even a blanket. You might also want to add some sort of table (maybe a tree stump) which can serve as a table.
Make sure there’s a path that offers access to the bench when the ground is wet or slipperySurround the bench with flowering plants for fragrance or plant trees for shadePlant some lavender around the garden bench. It smells lovely and it’s also relaxingPosition the garden bench strategically so it highlights a beautiful feature or a viewYou can also play with colors and forms when you’re choosing the plants to put around the benchYou can even have a garden bench that has a planter built right into itThis is actually an abstract structure and the bench is only a section of itYou can position the bench next to a garden sculpture or it can overlook something similarA water feature such as a small pond can be quite relaxing to look at and a bench can really help with thatPosition the bench or chair close to a water feature without stealing its thunderIf you prefer a bit of privacy, the bench can be placed in a nook or can be framed by large plantersThe wide rim of a large garden planter can double as a benchPlace a bench at the end of a path and surround it with a low fence, like a sort of gazebo but with no roofYou can repurpose tree stumps as stools and fallen tree trunks can be used as fence poles or decorationsThis is a unique bench that was built out of a repurposed old boatMetal is one of the most common materials that garden benches are made ofPlace a bench at the far end of your garden so anyone would wants to sit down has to first explore the garden
You should also try to picture the ambiance you’d like to be able to enjoy while sitting on the bench. Take into consideration all the senses and consider placing the bench near some flowering plants or to add some after you’ve installed the bench. This way there will be a nice fragrance that will make the experience even better. A corten steel planter might do the trick.
For a clean and modern look, consider a minimalist bench cast in concreteWooden benches tend to look a bit more bohemian, romantic evenThe bench can have a backrest that doubles both as a planter and as a tableYou can have the bench hidden in the garden between plants and bushes, like a secret door
