Garden Bench Design: Enjoying Your Garden
Isn't it strange that the very first thing we consider when we think about garden design is how it is going to look and what plants to grow. You may be asking yourself what planet am I from what else should we consider but this merely highlights the point I am trying to make here. We as gardeners have been conditioned to always think of the garden first and to always place ourselves last in importance. Think about it for a minute and I think you will agree, in most cases how we will enjoy our garden is often last on the list and sometimes something of an afterthought. Yes some of use can afford the luxury of a gazebo but for most of us such garden features are simply beyond our reach. Ask yourself, how many books have been written about garden bench design? I can't even think of one but it struck me that this is an incredibly important part of the garden both in the way our garden looks but mainly on how we will enjoy our garden.
Garden bench design seems to follow a few basic principles, two ends, a back and a seat. How the bench is constructed usually depends more upon aesthetics rather than actual practicality. My wife recently purchased me a lovely garden bench in the typical style of wrought iron work with wooden slats at the back and across the seating area. It certainly looks lovely but when I sit there it is not too long before I begin to feel a little uncomfortable. Maybe it is just me but surely there must be a better garden bench design somewhere?
My garden bench was a surprise gift so I was not given the opportunity to try it out first. Furthermore our budget is rather limited at the moment so our purchasing power was not exactly how we would like it so the number of garden bench designs available to us were rather limited. I strongly advise that you give the humble garden bench the attention it deserves. Whenever you make a purchase you tend to investigate things a little first and, at the very least, you will try it out before parting with your cash. Nowadays most garden furniture comes as a flat pack to be assembled at home but I strongly advise that you try your bench out for comfort first and most quality stores will have an example already constructed for display purposes. Simply request that you be allowed to test it, you may be a little embarrassed in asking but why not test it out first after all it has to be fit for the purpose and is it a garden ornament or something which will be used?
You will find that whatever your tastes there will be a perfect garden bench design available somewhere for you. However, sometimes, it is the simple things in life which give the most pleasure and my all time favorite garden bench was one my father made from some large logs. These logs looked lovely sat amongst the garden plants but upon placing a cushion on them they were instantly transformed into wonderful garden benches. So when you are thinking about buying a garden bench try to think different and look at your garden, decide which designs would be best and then try them out for comfort. If you are unable to find anything consider making your own, it isn't that difficult and this method has the distinct advantage that you can just keep on adjusting the design until it is perfectly comfortable for you to sit and enjoy the delights of your garden for as many hours as you wish.
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