Gardening Gardening Basics

15 Garden Bench Ideas for Your Backyard

Metal garden bench with floral motif on brick-paved floor in garden

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

That bench in your front or backyard may look casual and random, but there should be more thought that went into where it eventually ends up. At least a few considerations should be involved in the placement of a bench in a landscape or garden. Among them:

  • Is there a view? It doesn't have to be a spectacular, million-dollar view of the mountains or whitecaps (although if it's there, go for it). What view would you like to gaze upon from your bench? It might be your garden or a charming vignette, like a pool or pond, rose bushes, or flowers in bloom.
  • Location, location, location. Does it get hot where you live? Would a bench in the shade be a welcome respite? Or, do you live in a rainy climate, like the Pacific Northwest? A bench under a roof or tree canopy might provide much-needed shelter during an unexpected sprinkle or storm.
  • Materials and style: Benches don't have to be perfectly coordinated, but if your house is a distinct architectural style—say, Mid-century modern or Victorian—then the bench design and materials do matter. Something sleek, geometric, and absent of intricate carvings and details would probably go with a modern house, while a Victorian might call for a highly ornamental cast iron bench.
  • What's underfoot? The ground or surface material can influence the type of bench you place on top of it. A patio with flagstone pavers will be somewhat rough and uneven—making certain types of benches, like those made of metal, unstable and rocky. A pathway, lawn, or area with decomposed granite (DG) as a surface is more casual and will accommodate most informal benches. Also, measure the space and the bench you have in mind before finding out that the bench is too big.
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    Vintage Park Bench

    Old park bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    Where do old park benches go when they get replaced by updated models? This homeowner in Santa Monica, California, found a spot in her front garden that blended in with the landscape and provides a quick resting place while working on the vegetables and other front-yard crops. For those who know what they are looking at, the bench is a nostalgic reminder of the past.

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    Elegant Garden Bench

    Elegant green bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    In a large formal garden, an elegant bench with matching tables nestles into the perfectly manicured shrubs. A teal bench cushion complements, rather than competes, with the nearby greenery, and makes a beautiful place to sit, enjoy tea, visitors, and the pond that is in front of it.

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    Arbor and Bench

    Arbor and bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    An arbor-covered bench can be tucked in a corner, used as a way to delineate or divide parts of a yard, or as a focal point and place to rest near a pool or on a deck. Soften it by planting vines nearby or in containers—climbing roses would be pretty and also add a sweet scent to whoever is sitting on the bench.

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    Outdoor Shower Bench

    Outdoor shower bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    A simple, low bench against the wall of an outdoor shower area allows the person rinsing off to put his/her clothes, swimsuit, or personal gear to the side while quickly showering off. The bench is almost strictly utilitarian and works perfectly in this setting.

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    Pebble Bench

    A girl sitting on Mod Pebbles bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    EIS Studios' Pebbles are a lively, human-sized, pebble-shaped take on the typical backless bench. Pebbles are made in fiberglass, wood, fabric, or cast stone. The studio is based in Venice, California, and the seats have been featured at top design shows and events, including the annual Dwell on Design in Los Angeles.

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    Grass Bench

    Grass lawn bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    Instead of a water-guzzling lawn, people who still need to have a touch of green grass can get their fix, and sit on it, too. While this isn't exactly the type of bench that invites you to sit for hours, it makes a fine conversation piece, focal point and adds a touch of fun to a landscape. It might not be comfortable for swimsuit-wearing guests, however, since grass has a reputation for being itchy on bare skin.

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    Victorian Bench

    Michael Jackson estate bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor

    This is an authentic cast iron Victorian bench, once owned by the late pop star Michael Jackson. The bench was part of a vast collection of outdoor statues and furniture that decorated the grounds of his Neverland estate near Santa Barbara, California.

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    Memorial Bench

    Memorial bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    Placed under a tree off the beaten path a wooden bench can be a place for quiet reflection, an escape, or reading.

    Memorial benches are a nice way to remember someone who has passed away, especially a nature lover or someone who liked to work in a garden. This type of bench can be placed in public, like a park, or in a residential landscape.

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    Artistic Bench

    Artistic bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    Sometimes something as ordinary as a garden bench can be a work of art—like a vibrant painting or sculpture for an outdoor living space. This colorful assemblage (mixed media) bench can be found at the San Diego Botanical Garden in Encinitas, California. If you're feeling ambitious and have some talent, why not make a piece of art that you can sit on? Other possible materials include acrylic paint or mosaic tiles.

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    Bench for Plants

    Bench for plants
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    An unassuming narrow bench that is slightly weathered can find a new purpose as a low shelf or table displaying potted plants, or—in this case—outdoor terrarium gardens. Not to encourage you to hang on to something you may not want anymore, but it never hurts to look at something in the yard with a fresh perspective and the possibility of repurposing, before it ends up in a landfill.

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    Bench for Peeking

    Bench for peeking
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    A low brick wall with some missing pieces is perfect for a game of hide-and-seek or peek-a-boo. The low bench is just asking for the kid to climb on it and peer over the wall, into the rest of the garden. This landscape was cleverly designed with children's curiosity in mind.

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    Slat Bench

    Wooden slat bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    A wood-slat bench—a popular project featured in mid-20th-century how-to books and magazines—gets an updated look with a backrest, paint, and a small umbrella. The bench is situated along a pathway, which is a good place to escape or contemplate projects in the immediate vicinity.

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    Rock-Leg Bench

    A plank bench on rocks
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    It doesn't get much more basic or clever than this wood-plank bench with two similar-sized rocks to support it. Just make sure the rocks are spaced as supports and won't give a see-saw or teeter-totter experience for anyone who sits on it.

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    Deck Bench

    Modern bench on a deck
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    A gleaming warm wood deck seamlessly extends indoor space to the outdoors at the Southern California home. A simple wooden bench on chrome legs is aligned with the edge of the deck and the distressed-wood fence behind it—simple yet elegant.

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    Wagon Wheel Bench

    Wagon wheel bench
    Lisa Hallett Taylor/The Spruce

    Two wagon wheels become the arms and supports for this rustic Western-style bench that's perfect for a yard that features cacti, succulents, and drought-tolerant landscaping.