DIY wooden outdoor bench and stone garden benches | Looking for a way to enhance the beauty of your garden? Stone garden benches are a perfect addition to any outdoor space. Not only do they provide a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy your garden, but they also add a touch of rustic charm to your yard. In this article, we’ll share some DIY tips for building and decorating stone garden benches that will make your garden the envy of the neighborhood.
“I enjoyed a delightful Thanksgiving dinner with a lovely family in a gorgeous home in Long Beach, LA, California. The indoor space was tastefully decorated in a timeless contemporary design style.
The outside space was already a delightful match to the beautiful interior. However, home-owner Michael sighed he wished to add some contemplative garden space, that would take advantage of the yard’s beautiful corner viewpoint. He was excited about the idea of making his own outdoor wooden or stone bench for this purpose. But how to go about it? It was a project he had never done before. In appreciation for his hospitality, I decided to researched wooden or stone garden benches project for Michael. Today I’m sharing the ideas I developed.”
DIY Wooden Garden Bench
This wooden outdoor bench is made with 2x4s. Here are the complete instructions and building plans. Free.
Wooden outdoor bench DIY
(image credit | plans DIY Wooden Outdoor Bench: ‘Build it with Brooke’ 2X4 Outdoor Bench — https://builditwithbrooke.blogspot.com/2013/02/2×4-outdoor-bench.html — sorry, no longer online)
Long Beach, CA: More than a Beach
The name ‘Long Beach’ instantly conjures up an image of a long beach full of palm trees. However, there are also tree-lined lakes, parks and golf courses to be found on the land behind that beach. So
Micheal’s property is placed in a woodsy residential setting rather than a row of ocean-front beach houses. The suggested garden bench styles are in keeping with its more woodsy environment.
(image credit: John Saldano (https://www.panoramio.com/user/2217293?with_photo_id=13851206)
How to create your wooden or stone garden benches
Choose Your Stones
Look for natural stones in a variety of shapes and sizes
Consider the color and texture of the stones
Make sure the stones are level and stable
Plan Your Bench Design
Select the Bench Location in Your Garden. Put a seat in that spot for a while and see how you like the viewpoint and the ambiance. Is it too windy perhaps, and you must plant a scrub there first before it’s bench ready? is there enough light there, or do you need to cut some branches first? Etc.
Prepare Your Garden Bench Location. Measure the exact location of each bench leg, and dig out the lawn in that location and fill each base with stabilizing material. See videos below.
Then,
Decide on the size and shape of your bench
Determine how many stones you’ll need for the base, seat, and back
Sketch out a plan and make a materials list
Build Your Stone Garden Bench
Buy or make your bench design elements: and build or place the bench in location as follows:
Prepare the foundation for your bench
Arrange the stones in the desired pattern
Use mortar or concrete to secure the stones together
Allow the bench to dry and cure according to the instructions.
Add Personal Touches
Paint or stain the bench to match your garden decor
Add cushions or pillows for extra comfort
Decorate the bench with plants or flowers
Personalize the bench with a name or message using paint or stencils
Over to you
Stone garden benches are not only functional but also beautiful additions to any garden. With these DIY tips, you can create a charming and inviting space to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. Whether you prefer a classic or modern design, the possibilities are endless with stone garden benches. So, gather your supplies, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to add a touch of rustic charm to your garden.
Wooden or Stone Garden Benches ?
Michael initially asked for a stone bench. Stone benches are unique in their serene & rustic feel, their durability and low maintenance.
However, I can’t pass up the opportunity to point out that rustic benches can also be made from timber. Given the temperate climate in southern California, a wooden garden bench could also last Michael a long time.
Wooden garden benches typically cost a fraction of what a slate stone bench might cost, and given that they have their own unique charm, they are worth considering.
Rustic Wooden Garden Bench
Garden Bench #1: Log Bench. Difficulty LEVEL: very easy.
This rustic sealed raw-timber log bench is fast to make. No wood-working skills required, but you must have some measuring skills and be able to use a chain saw (or know someone who can ~ wink) No nails required. In fact, it requires nothing but a saw and some imagination.
This bench is great for larger lots and park-like yards, where lumber is abundant and where you might like a couple of benches spread around.
This bench will be a welcome feature next to or in a large wild flower bed, or opposite a veggie garden, allowing the fresh food grower a break and some happy glances over his growing produce.
Easy instructions for this bench were at HGTV but have been removed. Tip: For more refined wooden garden bench designs with instructions, see links at the end of this article. Still smitten on a stone garden bench? Here’s how to make some beautiful stone benches.
Stone – Wood Combination Garden Bench
Garden Bench #2: Neat ‘n Tidy Stone Block Garden Bench with Wooden Seat. Difficulty LEVEL: easy.
Another variation to keep cost to a minimum is to mould concrete into shapes that make up a bench. This video series explains the ‘how-to’ make a concrete garden bench.
This garden bench is made with stacked decorative concrete building blocks. This clear 2-minute how-to make a stone bench video explains each step: from how to make a compacted gravel base to placing the wood seat, all steps are simple without mixed concrete. (Click here for the video link if you don’t see the video screen in this post)
What these videos reveal is that while these benches could be adorable on their own, you could equally place these in groupings.
Bench Making Tools, Supplies & Suppliers
If you want to experiment with making your own cement-based stones and rocks, I suggest you go for one or both of these moulds. Once you have made a bench with these, you’ll want to add a few of these ‘slates’ to other elements in your garden also: tiles for path, accents for the fireplace, elements for a nearby stone planter. Professional garden designers create unity by repeating design elements, and I suggest you do the same. Buy your cement garden bench moulds here:
Rustic Wooden Garden Bench
