DIY garden bench

Comfortable, lightweight garden and home furniture - wooden bench - easy to manufacture. You just need to choose the right material, a drawing of the product and show a little imagination when decorating. We will tell you how a do-it-yourself bench can be made of wood, how to choose the optimal design and shape.

garden bench
A garden bench with a back is suitable for arranging a small recreation area.

How to make a do-it-yourself bench out of wood

The most important thing is to choose the materials of manufacture. The best choice would be plywood or solid wood. But you can also make a bench from pressed sheet materials. But it is worth considering that chipboard slabs are not suitable for outdoor use, since moisture can get into the raw edges, and the product will not serve the logo.

making a bench
Benches with a backrest, which have a stationary type of placement, are popular for making their own hands.

Choice of design

You can limit yourself to the simplest design or "invent" an original bench of non-standard shape.

bench design
Most of the owners of suburban areas, who decide to make a bench for a summer residence with their own hands, prefer wood.

With back

The most convenient option for outdoor recreation, installation on a summer veranda or kitchen. Depending on the materials of manufacture, the bench can be small, ergonomic or massive. In some models, the backrest is tilted, in others - at a right angle. The second option is less convenient: it is better to slightly deflect the bar.

bench with back
Regardless of the design of the garden or courtyard, wooden products can always harmoniously fit into the landscape.

Backless

The simplest model, the production of which will take a minimum of time. Consists of legs or supports and a seat strip. Great for garden, veranda. In the home interior, simple benches are used less often, but they can be suitable for a rustic, country or Provence style home.

backless bench
Bench and bench designs have some distinctive features. Building a bench is the easiest way to organize a seating area in your garden. The product has no back and, unlike the bench, has a simple outer design.

With a table

Furniture for the garden and veranda. The table can be connected to the bench with lower slats, which is very convenient. The only caveat is that it will be problematic to move such a structure, so you need to make it from a material that is not afraid of changes in temperature and moisture. It is also important to thoroughly stain and varnish.

bench with a table
In the ethno style, you can create a design with a non-standard performance.

Original bench

Depending on the imagination and perseverance of the home craftsman, the bench can take on a non-standard shape. For example, it can consist of a center and several ray branches. Such furniture is made according to the same principle as simple benches, but it takes a little more time.

original bench
On the site, stone elements must be present as an addition. The benches look especially advantageous against the background of a residential building, partly made of stone.

Scheme and drawing

DIY drawings of a garden bench with a back will differ depending on the materials of manufacture. All assembly schemes are quite simple, and even a novice master can handle this work.

Experts advise to comply with the standards:

  • seat height - 40-50 cm;
  • seat width - 50-55 cm;
  • back height - 35-50 cm.

However, the parameters can be changed to suit individual needs. For beginners in carpentry, it is better to choose simple forms of products.

product shape
The structure itself has a very simple structure, so everyone can cope with the technology of its creation.

Selection of tools and materials

The most important thing is to choose what the bench will be made of. The most popular option is logs or wooden planks. But plywood or laminated pressed boards will also work.

tools and materials
Depending on the type of bench for the material, tools are needed for manufacturing. The main requirement for safety and convenience of work is the serviceability of the devices and the ability to handle them.

What you need:

  • hacksaw or circular saw;
  • plane;
  • a grinder or sandpaper of varying degrees of grit;
  • screwdriver and drills;
  • roulette;
  • level, ruler, pencil.

Experienced craftsmen can replace a screwdriver with a hammer and nails.

tools for work
Different materials are used for the manufacture of the shop. The choice is primarily related to the availability of raw materials and ease of processing.

You will also need stain, varnish or paint, paint primer, brushes and rollers.

Creating a bench

selection of boards
Wood lends itself to processing many times easier than any other material. This allows you to easily make a shop and decorate it with taste.

The first step is the selection of suitable boards. You can order them or cut them yourself.

Important! If the bench is made of solid wood planks, they must be thoroughly dried. otherwise, the product will be deformed and cracks will appear on it.

work with boards
Standard configurations and sizes of building elements help to create the correct geometric shapes and reliably hold parts together.

It is advisable to choose the most even boards, but if this is not possible, then they need to be sanded before assembly: remove all jags, knots. Cracks can be covered with wood putty.

The next important point is the choice of the mounting method.

fastening materials
To protect the metal fasteners from corrosion at the joints, it is advisable to pre-drill the holes and slightly deepen the screw heads below the board level.

It can be done using fasteners of various types - screws, bolts, nuts and washers, nails or chops. The choice of the method of joining parts of a wooden bench for a summer residence depends on what kind of load the finished structure will have to withstand.

connection of elements
The front and rear support pairs of the bench are fastened from the inside with the help of bars and self-tapping screws.

Children's benches can be fastened with self-tapping screws or ordinary nails. It is better to connect benches for the whole family with bolts and nuts.

connection of parts
To make the back of the bench stronger, you can additionally strengthen its frame with stiffening ribs, transverse or longitudinal.

How to assemble a bench:

  1. on the boards with a pencil, mark the holes for the fasteners;
  2. drill holes in the marked places;
  3. choose fasteners suitable for the size;
  4. form a base - legs or supports are attached to the transverse beam;
  5. to strengthen the structure - to fix the longitudinal beam and transverse beams on it;
  6. mount the seat and backrest.

You can close the attachment points with plugs. To do this, the bolts are slightly deepened into the material, and the rest of the niche is filled with a mixture of shavings and sealant / other adhesive base or turned wood parts set on glue.

assembling the bench
Well-processed metal and wood easily tolerate high humidity and temperature changes, thanks to which a hand-made bench will serve for many years.

Decor features

The beauty of garden benches is that they don't need any special decor. Well-processed wood, varnished, will organically fit into the natural landscape.But it is not necessary to get by with an ordinary shop, if you have the skill and ability to decorate it with decorative elements.

decor bench
A successful design will make a comfortable attribute for relaxation a real decoration of the garden, which will stylishly fit into the landscape and significantly transform it.

This could be:

  • wood carving - patterns or openwork elements;
  • painting with acrylic paints;
  • decoupage.

You can combine several finishes, for example, apply decoupage patterns and add a carved back.
A simple and interesting solution would be to use several bars to create the back. The design will be laconic but stylish. In the same way, you can assemble the seat using several narrow boards, fastened with ties or nailed end-to-end. The alternation of light and dark wood will look interesting.

original shop decor
Benches with openwork carved inserts and overlaid ornaments will elegantly complement the design of the courtyard of the garden and a corner for family recreation in a natural landscape style.

What else can you make a bench

If there are solid logs on the site, they can be used to create an authentic, simple bench. You will need to cut the log lengthwise, divide one part into two equal halves across. Sand the details, treat with wood stain. From the outside of the supports, cut out the grooves under the seat and fix it in a convenient way (nail it together or put it on carpentry glue).

stone bench
Benches with an unusual configuration of details will become a spectacular decoration of the suburban landscape.

Another original idea is to assemble a bench from pallets. You can use whole pallets or cut them in half.
To make a sleek bench, consider attaching a wooden seat to metal supports. For your home, you can opt for ornate legs and pair them with a well-sanded and varnished dark wood plank. For a garden, such a bench is also suitable, but it is better to put it on a concrete platform.

unusual bench design
Modern designs are made using original and intricate patterns.

Where can I put it

A beautiful homemade bench will look beautiful on the site and in the house. It can be placed in the garden, next to fruit trees or fragrant flowers, or a cozy resting place. Ideally, make a small canopy and complement it with a table. You will get a comfortable summer playground for tea drinking and spending time in nature.

Another option is to place it on a covered or open veranda. If the space is protected from moisture, you can even put a bench that has not been varnished. It will exude a pleasant wood scent.

place for a bench
A stylish compact bench will decorate any corner of the summer cottage.

There is also a place for a home-made shop in the house. It will fit especially well in country style: rustic, Provence, country itself, as well as in interiors made in an eclectic, ethnic spirit (approx. Scandinavian style) or eco-theme.

In a classic interior, a laconic bench made of thin boards and elegant metal legs will look beautiful. Such furniture is suitable for a hallway, a balcony and even a kitchen.

Video: how to make a garden bench

Photo gallery: do-it-yourself garden benches

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