Improvement and arrangement landscape territory personal plot, it’s not a matter of one day. You will have to spend a lot of effort, time, use your imagination, be patient, and only then the result will be obvious. But even after painstaking work, the area will require attention: cleaning up fallen leaves, dust, somewhere something needs to be touched up or corrected.
And so that the site does not seem ordinary, it can be periodically supplemented with various decorative elements: , fashionable in last years- in addition, you can install in the garden beautiful benches... That’s exactly what this review will be devoted to benches and benches.
Is a bench needed at all on the site?
The question immediately arises: is a bench needed in the garden at all? The answer is clear - of course, it is necessary! We argue that at every site there must be a place where you can take a break from work, hide from the hustle and bustle, just sit, listen to the birds singing, enjoy fresh air, read a book, and dream, in the end.
How to make a bench with your own hands (video)
Any person needs all this, thus he gains strength, strengthens his nerves, discovers the hidden potential in himself, because it is not for nothing that the Eastern sages spend so much time in their gardens, meditating. In addition, we have all known for a long time that many creative people They look for inspiration in precisely such calm, beautiful corners at any time of the year.
Where to put a bench
When choosing a place for a future bench, it is better to give preference to that part of the site where trees grow, flower beds are thought out, fruit bushes, and a babbling brook runs nearby. After all, it is in such places that unity with nature is most clearly felt; here a person will relax calmly, and his nervous system will quickly recover from the stress of everyday life and other negative factors. Also, the best place for a bench will be in work areas, next to flower beds or beds. After weeding or watering the plants, you can immediately sit down on a bench and gain strength for further work.
DIY pallet bench (video)
Bench selection
As for choosing a bench, the assortment in stores is really wide; you can buy a metal bench, wooden, plastic, stone (marble, granite, quartzite), or a combination bench. Models with carved wood elements or forged metal additions are in great demand. If you want something more exclusive, you can make a sketch of the future product yourself and visit a carpenter with it, he will be happy to make your dreams come true. When choosing this product, we recommend that you take a closer look at benches with a back, as well as handles; they are comfortable to sit on in a completely relaxed position. But benches without a back are not intended for long gatherings, since sitting on them you will need to constantly keep your back in good shape.
Unusual shop with three XXX do it yourself (video)
Bench to site style
First of all, you need to start from the style direction of the site, if the garden is designed in Japanese style, a bamboo bench painted red will fit wonderfully here, which should be located near a pond. 
In a Chinese garden, a bench with a lattice back entwined with climbing plants will look advantageous. And a gravel, winding path should lead to the bench.
Country style implies the presence of the most simple but comfortable wooden bench, traditional natural color or painted in a discreet brown shade.
Of course, one cannot fail to mention the Provence style, borrowed from the inhabitants of the provinces - France. The bench should be quite modest, a little antique, in a vintage direction, white, blue, purple or light blue.
The Art Nouveau style garden can be supplemented with benches strict forms, possibly with forged elements, or stone benches in the shape of animals, insects, etc. By the way, stone benches will look great next to improvised Alpine roller coaster.
The area in the Italian style is successfully emphasized by beautiful benches with stucco elements. Such a bench can be placed near a small pond, with sculptures on its shore.
English is reserved but excellent organized garden, it is better to complement it with stone benches with wooden or metal inserts; the color may contain golden shades. 
The natural style, which is otherwise called forest style, can be emphasized with a bench made from tree cuts, on a hemp-like base (legs).
The colonial style, which originated in early America, is best complemented with wicker benches, but you can also install an ordinary wooden bench in metal frame.
Garden benches - photos
With the coming summer season hardworking summer residents rush to the garden. Over the cold months, so much work has accumulated that, perhaps, it is impossible to find such a corner in the country house or in the garden where the maximum investment of the gardener’s strength and energy is not required. Weed here, dig there, water here... Of course, with such an intense load, sometimes you want to sit down for a while and rest. And a garden bench is the simplest solution.
Garden bench - design object of the garden
Besides his direct use, garden benches today can safely be called a real design object and the main attribute of a good rest in the country or in the garden.
In recent years, the focus of spending time at the dacha has changed noticeably. If previously the vast majority of gardeners worked hard on their 6 acres to feed themselves and their families, now everyone more people They prefer to go to the dacha precisely in order to relax. That is why the role of the design component has increased country holiday. The influence of comfort and aesthetic pleasure from admiring the landscape has expanded. And garden benches, as one of the types of small architectural forms, do an excellent job as a decorative artist.
It must be said that attention began to be paid to the importance of designing benches back in the Renaissance. Already in those days, the best palace architects gave the most simple and familiar shops exquisite forms. And garden benches gradually ceased to be just an object for respite, but turned into a full-fledged design object, which is part of a large, beautiful garden.
In order for the recreation area or dining area to emphasize the unique image of your garden, it is important to arrange garden benches correctly, taking into account the surrounding landscape, topography and general style of the site.
Garden Bench Styles
The style of garden benches directly depends on the style of the house. As a rule, benches appear in a garden where there is already a main building. This means that the style direction is already present.
- For a classic garden, benches made of wood with carvings, forged metal and stone benches with stucco elements are suitable.
- For a country-style garden, benches made of brutal wood with deliberately rough shapes are suitable.
- Japanese or chinese garden decorate bamboo garden benches.
- The English style of the garden is emphasized by combined benches - metal base and a wooden seat.
- Metal benches with beautiful, complex curves will look good in a French garden.
- In a natural style garden, benches made of stumps and rough boards would be appropriate.
- Unusual benches in the shape of a cat or horse (made of wood or forging) will decorate the garden in a vintage style.
Garden benches are an excellent tool for zoning an area in landscape design. With their help, you can mark the boundaries of a recreation area or garden room, the beginning or end of a green corridor, etc. The garden may include a terrace, dining area, reception area, swimming pool, playground, etc. functional areas. In order for each of them not only to be comfortable, but also to stand out visually, parts of the garden are usually zoned. And garden benches, as one of the types of small architectural forms, cope with this task perfectly.
By functional purpose benches can be divided into:
They are usually placed at the entrance to the house. Therefore, the design and material of the front bench should match the exterior of the main house. For example, if next to entrance group If there are forged elements (for example, a canopy over the entrance, window bars or a flower stand), then a forged bench will look more harmonious. It is wiser to choose the style of all forged products in advance. Strictly following the canons garden design, in all forged products of the garden (from the fence to the trellises) a single pattern should be traced. Therefore, everything is thought out at the design stage.
Dining garden benches. As a rule, such benches are part of a single dining group, which means they must match the design and material of the table. Such benches are placed in the barbecue area, in gazebos, on terraces or in those places where the family likes to dine. This area can look formal and serve as a kind of platform for receiving guests. Or maybe it’s simple and cozy at home. It is in such corners that quiet family gatherings and tea parties take place.
Garden benches for relaxation. These benches are located in places where it is pleasant to retire and relax. This could be a secluded corner in the garden or an area in front of a pond. But the specific location of the bench in a given area has its own nuances. At correct placement viewing angle reveals the most attractive and beautiful view plot. In addition, the bench or bench itself becomes a decoration of the garden and an integral part of the landscape.
I must say that benches for rest include another subgroup that is worth highlighting separately. These are the so-called relaxation benches. They are intended for the most secluded corners, away from any irritants and observers. You can even lie down on such a bench-bench if you wish. Soft pillows with your favorite tune, auto-training or croaking frogs will help you relax as much as possible during the summer heat.
Such small benches are located next to a vegetable garden, flower bed or flower beds. The name speaks for itself. You can use them to relax a little while working in the country. There are no special requirements for the design of garden benches. They can be of the simplest form, without decorative frills.
In addition, garden benches come stationary And mobile. The type, material and design of stationary benches are selected more carefully, since they are located in the garden for a long period, and form (including) the final image of the garden.
Main advantage folding benches is their mobility. Folding benches are indispensable for small gardens. They unfold quickly and easily and weigh little. The design of these benches is very durable. And although with design garden plot folding benches may not be compatible at all, but one cannot help but admit the fact of their convenience.
Concerning external design, then benches can be with or without a back, with or without armrests, as well as with drawers in which it is convenient to store some necessary things.
A bench is considered comfortable if:
- Seat width – 50-55 cm
- Seat height from the ground – 40-50 cm
- Back height - 40-50 cm
- Back tilt - 15-45 degrees
- The height of the armrests from the seat is 15-20 cm
Material for garden benches
Garden benches are traditionally made of wood, stone, metal, wicker and plastic. The choice of material depends on both personal preferences and the exterior of the garden. IN Lately in the manufacture of garden furniture, materials are combined (for example, wood in combination with artistic forging), which makes it possible to most accurately capture the stylistic direction.
Correctly selected furniture always becomes a real decoration of the garden. Otherwise (for example, a super modern plastic garden bench) will look out of place next to a farmhouse style home.
Wood- most popular material for making benches. At all times, the tree looked both beautiful and modern. Harmlessness and durability are the main criteria for choosing this material.
The most durable type of wood is teak. It was this material that was used in the construction of ships. Therefore, for open spaces with constant exposure to external factors, it is better to purchase teak garden benches. With proper care, they will serve you for many years. Alternative options– oak, pine, larch, hazel.
Even deliberate roughness looks original and stylish.
Metal. The popularity of metal garden benches is understandable. Metal products are practical, durable and, with proper care, resistant to precipitation. This group includes elegant forged benches, light aluminum and heavy cast iron. Each of these types has a number of advantages and is suitable for its own tasks.
Aluminum, contrary to popular opinion, very durable material. It does not require special care and is not subject to corrosion. Aluminum garden benches retain their original appearance for a very long time appearance, and thanks varied design suitable for different zones recreation.
Cast iron garden benches. To this day, some parks still have ancient cast iron benches made more than a hundred years ago. This is a very durable, heavy and quite expensive material. Modern cast iron benches are available with various tinting and anti-corrosion impregnations, which can significantly increase their service life. Such benches - perfect option for parks, squares and large gardens.
This refers to products made of steel using artistic forging. In fact, only a specialist can tell the difference between cast iron and forging. Without going into details chemical composition, we can say that wrought-iron garden benches are always delicate, elegant lines that give any summer cottage a sophisticated look. In combination with other exterior elements forged bench can literally transform a garden. It must be said that forged products can be made in any style.
Stone benches. Stone benches look impressive and monumental. Stone benches look most advantageous in a spacious garden. Despite the fact that they are not very comfortable and are not intended for long-term rest, stone garden benches are still quite popular. They give the garden a special flavor and hint at the respectability of the owners. The problem of discomfort can be easily solved by placing soft cushions on the bench. In some cases, stone benches are even cheaper than wooden ones.
Plastic. The advent of plastic furniture created a real revolution just a few decades ago. The owners especially loved it country houses. The advantages are obvious - plastic furniture cheap and practical. It can be left outside, it comes in a variety of colors and shapes. In addition, plastic furniture is lightweight, which allows you to move it in different areas garden If the exterior of your home is made in modern style, plastic garden benches and chairs will look quite harmonious.
Wicker benches graceful, sweet, airy, light, but short-lived. They will not last long even if they stand under a canopy. This primarily applies to products made from willow vine. Benches coated with a special varnish will last longer. And yet, such garden furniture has many fans. A corner with a wicker bench immediately resembles a French garden or a view of the sea coast.
In recent years, garden rattan benches. This material is much stronger than willow. This means that such furniture lasts much longer. Unfortunately, rattan does not grow in our latitudes, and export from hot countries is expensive. Furniture manufacturers offer products from artificial rattan. It is stronger and lasts longer, as it is not afraid of any scorching sun, no rain.
Also, recently it has been gaining popularity Hularo furniture– synthetic rattan. This material, based on rubber and other artificial additives, is in no way inferior in external characteristics natural. And in some respects it even surpasses natural rattan. Wicker benches made from hularo do not fade and are not afraid of large temperature changes. Such furniture is pleasant to the touch and very easy to care for - it can be washed directly with a hose. In addition, manufacturers offer different colors, textures and weaving patterns. It is not surprising that wicker benches made from hularo are becoming more and more popular every year.
An arch with a bench is an excellent solution for a summer house
This is an almost ready-made place to relax. Now on sale there are models of arches or trellises made of metal, wood or plastic. A forged arch with a bench has always been an attribute of grace and aristocracy. On such a bench you can not only retire surrounded by climbing plants, but also to arrange a romantic date. Suitable for decorating such an arch climbing grapes, clematis, campsis and climbing rose.
Benches and benches in the country house and in the garden are primarily a place of relaxation. But just putting up a bench is not interesting. After all, you can create a beautiful corner. To not just relax, but to enjoy nature and the fruits of your labor. There are many interesting ideas. Moreover, they often play out the most simple designs such that these benches can be made with their own hands by any person whose arms grow from their shoulders.
Photos of original benches (ideas for cottages and gardens)
Everyone knows what ordinary benches look like—they’ve seen them more than once. But I don’t want the usual one - the simplest one. Especially if you have already started the process of decorating the site or are just planning it. Why not start from the bench? And then other decorations will follow. You just have to start.
In the garden or near the house I want to have more greenery: beautiful and different flowers. - that's good, but why not combine them with a bench.
What could be simpler? Two wooden boxes in which flowers are planted and between them a couple of planed and sanded boards. This bench can be placed near the wall, and a couple of long boards can be placed on the wall to create a backrest.
Not everyone likes flower beds made of wood: wood requires maintenance, and without it it quickly loses its appearance. It is especially difficult to care for a tree that is in contact with the soil. Instead of wooden boxes there may be, for example, stone or concrete cabinets.
It’s very easy to make such a bench at the dacha with your own hands. You can find ready-made concrete flower beds or do something similar. You can buy a processed board, or you can do it yourself. Instead of a board, there can be half a log - depending on the style of the site. It is easier to secure the seat using metal corner. It is attached to concrete using dowels, to wood - with self-tapping screws from below or through bolts.
If anyone has large plants in durable flowerpots, you can implement the following idea. In this option, the bench covers the plants. To avoid surprises, flowerpots must be very durable...
There is a similar version of a bench made of boards and without plants: it may need to be placed on or in. The supports are made of boards of the same size, and the seat is made of timber.
Bench made of boards - a non-standard option
And more variations on the same theme: hollow building blocks are used as support. Treated bars are inserted into the holes. This is the seat of the bench. Just round the edges of the beam, or it will be uncomfortable to sit.
For this garden bench it is advisable to find blocks big size, with thick walls. If not, you need to securely fasten the blocks to one another. The whole task is to first secure the blocks (for example, with pins), and then attach the bars to them (with bolts or dowels).
Log benches
If your site is decorated in a rustic or ethno style, the standard approach will not suit you. It is best to use logs in this case - with or without bark - it’s your choice.
The seat for the bench is made of logs - a trunk of large or medium diameter sawn lengthwise. The back is either a smaller diameter trunk, or simply a cut closer to the edge. The legs can also be made from narrow pieces of logs (look at the photo below).
Log bench - quick and easy
The legs and seats are connected to each other with metal pins: a hole of slightly smaller diameter is drilled under the pin in both parts. The pin is driven into one of them, the second part is pushed in and is also driven in, but this time they hit the wood rather than the pin. To avoid leaving traces, lay a piece of unnecessary board and hit it with a hammer (or sledgehammer). Such a connection should be quite reliable, but to be sure, you can install two or three pins, or you can cut a little log, making a flat area of the same size on both parts being connected. By increasing the support area, you will increase the reliability of the seat fastening: after all, the log weighs a lot.
Bench option without backrest
Another interesting option in the “ethno” style is presented in the photo above. It is made in stone, but this bench can also be made from logs. The seat is a very thick board, the legs are most of decks large diameter. A groove is cut in the deck for laying the seat. If you have a tool (you can make a cut with an axe, grinder or chainsaw), it’s easy to do.
Often in the countryside a work desk is needed. From a log you can make not only a bench, but also a table. A version of such an ensemble is shown in the photo. Only the tabletop is made of boards, all other parts are logs of different diameters or from halves.
A greater degree of processing is inherent in the next bench in the same style. The back, legs, and armrests are made of thick and not very thick branches, the seat is made of sanded and treated (barked and sanded) unedged boards.
The other bench was made almost the same way. Only the boards and branches are located in a different direction and the result is a different look. A DIY bench of this type does not require much skill. In this case, the more careless the work, the more decorative the result.
Wicker back - not often seen
You can make a rest area and a bench around the tree. The designs are simple, making the flooring is generally easy.
You can also supplement your recreation group. And you can put it above the bench - this is the “progenitor” of the usual arch - one of the types light gazebo. And to make the relaxation completely complete, you can do, or.
Made of metal and wood
Few people will install completely metal benches in their dacha. They, of course, can be very beautiful, but in the summer they heat up to incredible temperatures, and when it gets a little colder, you can’t sit on them because they are too cold. Benches made of metal and wood do not have these disadvantages. Legs and load-bearing structure made of metal, and the seat and back (if any) are made of wood. Moreover, there are also interesting shops in modern design.
Rectangles are welded from the profile, jumpers are welded to the side walls, on which the seat boards rest. Simple, stylish, reliable, functional.
In a more advanced form - with armrests, a backrest, soft cushions on the seat, such a design may look like in the photo. The wide seat turns the bench into a sofa, and pillows add comfort - covered with fabric furniture foam rubber. The tables are made in the same style - a frame made of corrugated pipe and a table top made of boards.
One important point: if you make a seat or tabletop from several adjacent elements, they do not need to be butted end to end. There should be a gap of 3-4 mm between adjacent boards/bars. The wood swells and shrinks. In order for the surface to remain relatively flat during these processes, a gap is necessary.
If smoother lines are needed - for families with children - you can bend the pipes and make garden benches and a table with rounded edges. This garden furniture is completely safe. An ordinary round or corrugated pipe is bent, leaving the sides in the shape of the letter “P” with a wide back. The length of this backrest is the length of the bench. For the table, the dimensions are made a little larger: the legs and back are longer.
Make two identical blanks for the table and bench. Next, cut the boards to equal lengths. For the seat, about 40 cm, for the tabletop, at least 55 cm. They are fastened to the pipes with furniture bolts with a flat head. To prevent the caps from sticking out, drill a hole of a slightly larger diameter under them.
Benches made of boards
The largest group is benches and benches made of boards. There are designs that are more reminiscent of sofas, especially if you put soft pillows on them - and you can lie down.
Garden furniture in a modern style is easy to assemble: rectangles with partitions made of thinner boards, connected to each other.
Even the usual design of a country bench can become exclusive if you approach it with imagination: instead of legs and armrests, wooden wheels. The result is a designer item.
A bench made of boards with a back and wheels instead of sides - looks interesting
And the simplest possible is a board with legs in the shape of the letter “X”. Such shops were built centuries ago, and you can still see them today.
From the boards you can make a bench in a modern style: in the shape of the letter “P”. With this design, the main task is to ensure rigid fixation of the legs and seat: the pushing forces are not compensated for in any way. In this case, it is important to take a thick board or timber so that it does not sag. You can place the board “on edge”: this way the rigidity will be greater. To increase reliability, you can install corners from below.
The photo shows an option with a 45° cut. Having a miter box or circular saw Accurate cutting is easy to achieve. By accurately joining the workpieces and fastening them, we obtain an angle of 90°. If the seat does not sag, it will last a long time...
Interesting and reliable option The benches are shown in the photo below. The legs are assembled from boards of different lengths: each second is shorter by the width of the board for the seat. Interesting idea. It is easy to make such a bench: it is important to maintain the dimensions, and everything is connected very simply: with nails into the face of the seat.
Original benches
Now, it seems that you can come up with something else... but it turns out there is a lot. For example, attach the seat to a large stone.
Make a structure from bamboo trunks.
Or a stone.
Sitting in winter will be unpleasant, but beautiful...
How to make a bench: photo reports
We won’t make benches out of stone—not everyone has the equipment, but we can make them out of different pieces of wood. Let's talk about making simple but unusual designs. So that a handmade bench can be a source of pride.
Bench without back
The design is simple, but looks interesting due to the specific material. For the legs, timber with rounded edges was used. If you have logs small size, you can trim them on the sides. You'll get almost the same effect. THIS material is not so rare; the legs are assembled from it in an unusual way: the bars are laid flat on top of each other. This adds zest and appeal.
This bench without a back has a length of about 120 cm, a width of about 45 cm, and a height of 38 cm. You can round the edges of the beam using a cutter, or you can find a similar profiled one. It costs more, but it will be easier to work with: it is already well processed and is easy to connect.
Depending on the found cross-section of the timber, calculate the length you will need. Determine how many bars will have to be stacked on top of each other to achieve the desired height. In this case, 5 bars were used for one leg. Total 45 cm * 5 pieces - 2.25 m. Two legs required 4.5 m of timber. A board 40 mm thick and 90 mm wide was used on the seat. For the seat you need 5 boards 1.5 meters long. It turned out 1.2 m * 5 pieces = 6 m.
First we cut and process the boards for the seat. Their edges must be rounded. If not grinder or a router, you will have to work sandpaper, or you can find such a board or arrange at a sawmill to have it processed and sanded for you: it will be much less work. So, we cut the boards to the same length, sand them and varnish them (with or without tinting - your choice).
Place the bars for the legs one next to the other, aligning their edges. Using a square and a pencil, draw lines where the fasteners will be placed. The distance between the lines is 7-10 cm.
You can take metal pins, or you can make dowels - carved from wood. Holes slightly smaller in diameter are drilled for them; the depth of the hole is half the length of the pin. Then they are hammered into one part, and a second part is inserted into the same hole on top. The connection is reliable, but to be sure, you can add glue, although then the structure will turn out to be one-piece.
With a pin connection, the main task is to make the holes strictly one above the other so that the parts mounted on the pin give a smooth edge. We've done part of the work - we've drawn lines where we'll drill, now we need to measure the same distance from the edge. For this we will create a template. We take a piece of plank about 1.5 cm wide. We will drill holes at this distance from the edge of the bars. Having placed it exactly along the edge, we mark the places of intersection with the drawn perpendicular lines.
We will install the pins in a checkerboard pattern, so we will drill holes through one intersection. We also make holes on one block from different sides in a checkerboard pattern. In a similar way, using pins, the legs are connected to the seat: two pins for each plank.
Technologically, this type of connection is correct, but it is complex and requires a certain skill. It could be easier. Place all the bars one on top of the other, secure with clamps, drill through in two or three sets - in the center and along the edges, connect with a long pin, with washers placed under the head and nut. You can nail the seat strip legs to the legs assembled in this way with nails from above or try to make a pin connection.
The bench was made by hand. Finishing work remains
If you nailed the seat, take some wood mastic suitable color, add some very fine sawdust and stir. Apply this mixture to the joints. When dry, smooth it with sandpaper. Sand all parts smooth and coat with varnish or wood paints for exterior use (preferably not covering ones, but those that leave the wood texture visible).
Read how and with what you can paint wood. In it we're talking about about lining, but the painting techniques remain the same, and the compositions must be taken for external use.
DIY bench made from broken chairs
In any household you can find two old chairs. They should be the same and still strong enough. We disassemble the chairs, leaving the part with the back and legs. We connect the two backs using bars of a suitable cross-section.
For greater rigidity at the bottom, at a distance of about 20 cm from the floor, where previously the chairs also had jumpers, we make another frame with transverse crossbars. It can be used as a footstool or to store some things.
After sanding, we paint the resulting structure. This time the paint should be normal: different breeds Wood can only be painted with covering paints. Apply with a brush or from a spray can.
All that's left to do is cut the seat to size from thick plywood (8-10 mm thick) and cover it with foam rubber and fabric.
Garden chair/bench made from pallets
Everything is useful on the farm. You can even make it from cargo pallets garden furniture. Moreover, there is no need to disassemble them: we use one for a seat, and from the second we will make a backrest. You will only need well-processed planks for the armrests and bars for the legs.
In one of the pallets we strengthen the fastening points by inserting pieces of bars. Having inserted it, we fasten it with self-tapping screws on one side and the other.
From a timber with a cross-section of at least 100*100 mm, we cut four identical sections 80 cm long. We screw them in those places that we have just reinforced. We leave 20-25 cm on the legs. We fasten with four long screws - 150 mm and no shorter.
It is important to maintain verticality and leave the same distance on the legs. Then the seat will be level. If there are errors in height, you can try to file it down, but then you will have to cut it from the top too - so that the armrests are even. So try to screw it straight. Deviations from the vertical can only be dealt with by screwing the leg back on.
We attach a second pallet to the rear posts, and boards for armrests on the sides.
All that remains is to cut out a piece of furniture foam rubber and cover it with fabric. You can also make pillows for the back. If you are not going to process everything thoroughly, but make a loft-style chair, use sandpaper or a sander, sanding all surfaces until smooth. You can coat it with paint, giving the wood a dark color.
Drawings of wooden benches
Video lessons
Several videos on how to make benches with your own hands.
A light and comfortable garden bench can be placed on a cozy veranda or placed in the shade of trees so that you can hide from the heat and enjoy reading a book or a pleasant conversation. So, let's describe the main stages of its manufacture.
Whatever material you decide to make a bench from, to make it as comfortable as possible, certain proportions should be observed when constructing it:
- height: the seat is always located at a level of 0.5 m from the ground;
- width: at least half a meter;
- back height: 0.45 m;
- its tilt angle: ideal 45°;
- Armrest height: calculated from the seat level and should be 20 cm.
If the bench is dug into the ground, the length of the legs increases by at least 70 cm. In this case, its legs are lowered into the prepared holes, covered with stones and filled with concrete. Do not forget to pre-treat the wood with a solution that protects against rot and mold.
DIY bench step by step
It is better to make the back and seat of a garden bench not a solid canvas, but to make a small distance between the planks. In this case rainwater the boards will drain completely, the boards will be better ventilated, and the product will be less susceptible to rotting:
You can replace the stain with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. Wood treated with a similar composition acquires a dark and rich color. Depending on the amount of manganese, you can get a walnut shade or a rich mahogany color.
Bench made of wide boards
Bench made of flexible vine or willow twigs
Eco-friendly garden furniture, not only a bench, but also chairs and even a table, can be made from pre-soaked willow or vine twigs. You can also use branches of hazel, willow, aspen or even birch, but in the latter cases the product will last much less and will look rougher. 
To collect raw materials, it will be necessary to wait until the shoots “ripen”. The optimal season for harvesting branches is from September to March. It is at this time that the rods acquire the required flexibility:
Types of benches
We have described only the simplest options for making a garden bench. It can be made from practically any materials:
If you are planning to make a wooden outdoor bench, it is better to use conifers or larch, which is difficult to rot. Left by inheritance old furniture oak or hickory can also be used as a material to create a durable and very original garden product.
Should I buy a bench or make it myself?
Buying a bench for the garden is, of course, much easier. Moreover, the simplest of them are quite cheap.
But still, work done with your own hands will bring more satisfaction. And with a certain patience and dexterity, even made from improvised materials, it can become an exclusive work that you won’t be ashamed to show off to your friends and neighbors. For example, in the next photo the bench is made of ordinary pallets, painted with bright paint and decorated with decorative pillows. 
According to the classic, everything in a person should be beautiful. This also applies to everything that surrounds us. Creating comfort in your country house, don’t forget about the garden plot. Smooth lawn or flower beds serve as decoration for your garden is not at all important, the main thing is that there is a place where to sit and relax from the bustle of the city and household chores. A DIY garden bench is a great opportunity to add individuality to your country cottage area. Let's look at a few interesting options handmade benches and figure out how to make some of them.
The simplicity of the design and the availability of materials allows even a novice craftsman to decide to create such an interior element. The best material Wood or stone will be used to create a garden bench. They will fit perfectly into the design of your garden plot and create a feeling of unity with nature. It is possible to create a bench from scrap materials. Surely a zealous owner will have a couple of obsolete wooden chairs, which can be put into action.
Whatever you decide to make a bench from, the first thing you will need in any case is a design project, and the necessary drawings and assembly diagram for it. Drawings of garden benches for every taste can be found on the Internet, but if you wish, you can develop them yourself; after all, we all received the initial skills of creating them in school, and the design of a bench is not so complicated.
- height - about 40-50 cm;
- seat width - on average 55 cm;
- back height - 30-50 cm;
- the height of the armrests from the seat is 15-20 cm.
These are the dimensions that will allow you to sit comfortably on the bench.
DIY wooden bench
Let's first consider the option of a simple wooden bench.
Below is an approximate drawing of such a bench for a do-it-yourself garden. Its most complex element is the slightly concave seat. The dimensions of the elements depend on the final dimensions of the bench. We offer the following sizes of individual elements:
- seat boards – 25x100x1200 mm (4 pcs.);
- legs - 100x100x440 mm (4 pcs.);
- front upper drawers – 25x100x1200 mm (2 pcs.);
- front lower drawers – 25x100x1200 mm (2 pcs.);
- seat board supports – 25x100x400 mm (6 pcs.).
Prepare all the necessary tools and materials and you can begin. You will need:
- suitable boards and timber for making the seat and legs of the bench;
- jigsaw;
- sander;
- self-tapping screws;
- screwdriver;
- antiseptic for wood processing;
- stain;
Operating procedure:
- First of all, cut everything out necessary details according to the list with a jigsaw.
Pay special attention to preparing the seat supports. Before cutting, make appropriate markings to simplify the task.
- The cuts must be sanded to protect them from splinters.
- When the parts are ready, carefully treat them with an antiseptic to protect the wood from destruction and insects. This will extend the life of the product.
- Start assembly by attaching the seat supports to the upper frames according to the diagram.
Advice! Make all connections with self-tapping screws. The connection with nails is short-lived, it quickly becomes loose, and such a bench will lose stability.
- Attach the seat boards to the resulting frame, deepening the screw heads.
- Lastly, attach the legs, securing them with the lower drawers for strength.
- The already assembled bench can be covered with stain. This product will help give the tree a more noble appearance. expensive material and emphasizes its structure.
This DIY bench made from natural material will decorate any garden and will not create a dent in your wallet.
Bench with wooden back
A bench with a back is undoubtedly a more convenient option than a bench. And don’t think that making one yourself is more difficult. You can, for example, create a bench with a backrest with your own hands in an ethno style from a solid log.
For the seat of such a bench you just need to cut a log. The second part of the log can be used to make bench legs. These parts are connected to each other using metal pins.
First, holes are made in the fastening areas, the diameter of which is slightly less than the diameter of the pin. First, the pin is driven with a sledgehammer into one part to about half the height, then the second part is pushed on top.
Advice! Before hitting the material with a sledgehammer, place an unnecessary piece of board on top, this will prevent damage to the surface of the material.
The back of such a bench can be made from a log of smaller diameter. To attach the backrest you can use metal elements or, if you don’t have it, take wooden ones.
Don't forget to treat the wood with a protective antiseptic.
Bench - swing
The garden bench can also be made in the form of a swing. This option is especially relevant if you have children, they will obviously like it.
Have you decided to make a swing with your own hands? In addition to the usual materials for making a bench and a bench, you will need durable fastening material, such as rope or chain, as well as metal chains and carabiners. The swing can be decorated with colorful pillows made, if possible, from moisture-resistant materials.
Shop - sandbox
Another bench option that will definitely make your children happy is a sandbox with a lid.
Very convenient option, which will fit into the country house landscape design, will not take up much space, will appeal to children and adults. Approximate dimensions: 1.20x1.45x0.3 m.
When making such a sandbox bench, you can rest assured that country cats will not get to the sand, and the ubiquitous magpies will not steal small toys.
Bench - flowerbed
Lovers of wild blooms surround themselves with flowers everywhere. For them, we can recommend making a bench - a flowerbed.
Even a novice master can work on such a bench. It is necessary to build wood flooring between two boxes. It’s simpler - there’s just nowhere. The boxes are filled with soil and your favorite plants are planted there. A green corner made in this way will decorate any summer cottage.
Benches from scrap materials
To create a designer bench, it is not at all necessary to purchase material, even inexpensive ones. You can make an excellent bench from scrap materials. For example, old wooden chairs.
To create such a simple but very elegant bench, assemble a frame from a 50x30 mm beam of the same length as the seat of your bench should be. For two people 120 mm is enough. Attach the backs of the chairs to it as in the picture. For fastenings, use long self-tapping screws.
Paint the structure created in this way in the color you need.
To make the seat, you can use a sheet of plywood, fiberboard or wood furniture board. Cut the seat slightly wider than the frame. If desired, it can be covered with batting or foam rubber and upholstery fabric or leather substitute. A furniture stapler is very useful for covering the material.
The bench is ready! All that remains is for her to find appropriate place and enjoy the result.
Another handy material for quickly creating a bench can be construction pallets.
If you have the appropriate tools, it will not be difficult to assemble a bench of any design from them. The main thing is to carefully treat the pallet boards with sandpaper and antiseptic protective agent(this rule works for everyone wooden products planned for outdoor use). In addition, such a bench can be painted in your favorite color or covered wooden elements stain. You can decorate it with simple jute rope and metal rivets, as well as pillows of various sizes and colors and textures.
As you can see, a garden bench made by yourself is not only a place to sit. It is enough to show a little imagination and a corner for relaxation with the whole family is ready. Made by you yourself, it will save money and time on searching. suitable option, which sometimes you simply cannot find. If you do not have sufficient carpentry skills, create a bench from scrap materials; it does not require much labor, but it looks no less aesthetically pleasing.
How to make a garden bench with your own hands from wood. Video instruction.