Home and Garden
Benches: Create Outdoor Seating With Style
A lovely bench can be one of the most valuable pieces of furniture for your deck. Not only will it help you organize your outdoor space, but an outdoor bench is also great for creating an inviting area where you can relax and enjoy the good weather.
But choosing a patio bench can be a daunting task, especially when you get hit by the huge range of choices once you decide to explore the market. So, we put together a couple of tips to help you choose the best option for your outdoor space and how to make it both functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time.
Consider the Material
Once you decide to get an outdoor bench seat, the most important thing to consider is the material the bench is made of. But the truth is that the market offers a plethora of options, and it’s important to choose the one that will fit your deck, match your area’s climate conditions and your home’s design.
One of the most commonly chosen materials for outdoor benches is definitely concrete. This is due to concrete being one of the strongest and the most durable materials, which makes it perfect for outdoors and for any climate area. But a concrete outdoor bench seat is far beyond just being a durable solution for your patio or deck, since it looks very elegant, completes almost every patio design and goes very well when mixed with any other material such as wood.
Wood is also a great choice for outdoor bench seats. Wooden benches give every outdoor space a natural yet modern touch, and this is why they’re mostly used for parks and other public spaces. But the truth is that there’re many different types of wood, and teak, pine and cedar are just a part of the most commonly used ones. This is due to these kinds of woods being very strong, durable and looking gorgeous at the same time.
Metals such as cast aluminium and iron are also good choices for an outdoor patio bench since they’re also heavy, strong and durable, look very elegant and give every outdoor space a luxurious, vintage touch.
Get the Right Size
Along with choosing the right material, it’s very important to choose the right size to match the layout of your outdoor space. So when it comes to the size, the first thing to consider is your available outdoor space and how much of it you want to dedicate to the bench. So, make sure the bench is not too large since it’ll overwhelm the entire outdoor space and overpower the other cute elements of your patio. On the other hand, a too-small one won’t give the desired impact, so make sure you opt for the place.
The second thing to do is to determine the number of people that are most likely to be sitting on the bench at one time. So, if you’re looking for a nice outside bench where you can sit and take some fresh air, or relax by reading a book in your backyard, then a smaller one would be absolutely fine. But if you’re popular for your barbequing skills and most likely to organize Sunday BBQ parties for your friends, then it’s best to get a set of larger benches that will be able to comfortably accommodate a larger group of people.
Find an Aesthetic Design
Once you determine the right material and size for your backyard, it’s time to choose a design that will fit your entire outdoor décor and look aesthetically pleasing at the same time. Benches for outside use can be found in many different designs, colours and finishes. For instance, wooden finishes are always an excellent choice, since they blend well with every outdoor space while creating a contrast of a stylishly contemporary area.
To break the monotony of the wooden finishes, there’re many gorgeous benches featuring the Scandinavian concept of mixing two different finishes such as wood and different metals, or wood and concrete. Not only do they give every deck or patio a simple, yet ultra-modern touch, but the concept of combining two different finishes blends excellently with natural elements such as greenery, flowers, outdoor planters and any other piece of décor you put in your outdoor space.
Where Should a Garden Bench Be Placed?
A lovely bench will look gorgeous and make a statement in your outdoor place only if it’s placed right, so make sure you carefully inspect the landscape and determine the perfect place to fit it. For instance, if you’re blessed with a large outdoor space with a walkway or a short path, you can always place it along so you always have a place to rest and admire the lovely surroundings. If you want some more privacy while resting, it’s ideal to place the bench among trees and taller shrubs too.
On the other hand, if you’re dealing with an open backyard or a larger patio or deck, you can always fill in the empty negative areas among flower beds, planters or anything where it feels empty. This will make your patio appear more organized and neat and give you a space to relax and enjoy the sight.
But it’s not uncommon for people to have small patios and decks, but this doesn’t mean that your outdoor area can’t look cute and be functional at the same time. For instance, you can turn your little private patio into your personal little space and place the bench in the quietest corner of it. Once you layer the bench with throws and soft cushions you’ll see how it’ll instantly feel cosier and more inviting.
Finally, if the sun has blessed you by getting settled down in your outdoor space for most of the day, then make sure you take advantage of it and place the bench in the sunniest spot. Make sure you “top it up” with a cute coffee table and you’ll get a cozy place where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a refreshing cold lemonade alone or with your most loved ones.
The range of possibilities with outdoor benches is endless. So, don’t wait to choose the ideal option and see how it changes your entire outdoor space.