Garden Benches

One of the best things about the Spring and Summer months is the opportunity to sit outside, whether it’s in your own garden, in a park or woodland, or along the coast overlooking the sea on holiday. Chances are, in all of these cases, the first thing you will look for is a bench.

The UK is packed full of benches, from memorial benches purchased by families to mark the favourite views of loved ones, to picnic benches designed to support family rest stops, and secluded benches to provide a little peace and quiet to walkers. Finding the perfect bench for your garden rests on a number of different questions: namely incorporating your desired use, your ideal size, and the design finish you are looking to achieve.

The top uses of a garden bench

We know that many of our members love a garden product which serves more than one purpose – and so, we introduce the picnic garden bench. Designed to replicate the large picnic table benches you can find in many national parks, these garden benches are designed to provide adequate seating and somewhere to rest your meal or work – the ideal place to enjoy work or indeed a break.

If you’re limited on space or simply wish to enjoy sitting on your garden bench, then the standard bench seat should provide sufficient usability.

The third option and one which provides more of a decadent and luxurious finish, is a bench swing seat – hoisting the bench itself into the air and providing your garden with a design feature which oozes comfort and style (best placed in the corner of the garden, overlooking your finest views).

Finding the right size

Finding the right sized garden bench will depend primarily on the retailer and the design you go for. Picnic benches tend to be much larger so as to incorporate two sides of seating and a large table in the middle. While taking up far more room, these styles of garden bench can in fact look really stylish and rustic in more of a wild garden and may be used to replace the standard garden dining table and chair set.

For a typical seated garden bench, make sure to measure your desired area before purchasing. You will find that many outdoor furniture retailers provide a selection of sizes, with some even featuring built in seats which allow each used to have their own armrest – a pretty cool and unique feature which exudes practical comfort and makes for a slightly different finish.

TOP TIP: Many of our members like to turn each item of garden furniture into its own feature, and your garden bench need not be any different! Accessorise your garden bench to achieve the desired finish, either with outdoor cushions and throws, strings of fairy lights hung above it, or even a lick of paint.

Where to find the best garden benches

The most commonly found garden benches are made from either wood or metal – both providing a reliable structure and solid base. Outdoor retailers and garden centres are often the best places to find garden benches, though it is worth noting that the widest selection of benches will be launched in the early Spring months, just in time for the warmer weather. If you’re looking for a garden bench out of season, incorporate some wider online searches into your hunt to make sure you view the widest possibly variety. Failing that, independent retailers and crafters are often a good option for tailored sizes and finishes, though the price point will inevitably be a little higher.