Garden furniture benches add the perfect serenity to any garden or spot that you place them in. They come in many shapes, sizes, and materials. Your choice of style and material will all depend on the style of your garden, and the best price for you. Adding a garden bench to your garden gives you a wonderful place where you can find some peace and rest from the hustle and bustle of the day, and if placed in a nice, shady, spot – it’s perfect for an afternoon’s reading or just soaking up the natural beauty all around you.
Some garden benches come in the normal two seater style, while others may wrap around a tree or be a ‘jack and jill’ style (two one seaters, joined together, with a table in the middle.) Depending on the size of your garden, and the placement, either one of these three styles could be ideal. The next thing in style to look for is when you look at the material you prefer the garden bench to be made out of. Wrought iron benches can be quite elaborate in style, with shapes of flowers and birds, while Teak or hardwood benches can be quite simple and austere.
Teak wood is one of the best kinds of wood there is when it comes to garden furniture benches, for the simple reason that Teak ages very well and is practically invincible against the outside elements – whether it be rain, sunshine, insects or anything else the weather wants to throw at it. Teak ages into a beautiful, gray white color, and so as it gets older it adds more and more character to the garden.
Hardwood also stands up very well against the elements, and it’s simplicity can be very attractive. Hardwood is usually plantation grown, but make sure it is FSC harvested when you buy (FSC are the organisation that ensure the wood is harvested in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way.)
Aluminium is an alternative to wrought iron, and is considerably lighter and can also be considerably simpler in design (although, not necessarily.) It’s light weight makes it great for a garden bench, as you can move it around as seasons change and you want to perhaps have a different focal point in the garden.
There are many places to consider placing a garden bench – you can place it so that it faces a particularly lovely flower arrangement, or surround it with plants and flowers to create a wondrous atmosphere of rest. Also, you can place a bench down a particularly long or winding path in your garden, so that those that walk down the path can relax a little and enjoy the path (and their conversation) a little longer. Placing a garden bench next to a fountain or something you want to create as a focal point is also of worthy consideration.
Garden furniture benches are wonderfully versatile, and can last you a lifetime (and more.) You may even consider cushions to compliment your garden bench, for a nice snooze on a cool summer day.