Garden benches

Grab a garden bench at fantastic sale prices and create the perfect spot to relax and enjoy your garden.Garden benches are the ideal addition to any garden, whether it is an area of park-like dimensions, a few square yards of lawn or a small balcony or patio.

Great Garden Bench Clearance Bargains

Whatever the shape and size of your outdoor area you need to be able to sit out and enjoy the fresh air; have a few friends round in the afternoon, organize a barbeque, enjoy a quiet drink after a long day at work – whatever way you choose to relax in your garden you will need somewhere to sit. There are some great bargains around at the moment like this  Lister Evesham garden bench which is currently reduced by almost 30%.

Our first thoughts may be to buy a patio set with all the options of reclining seats, tables to seat a dozen people, sunshades and cushions, but there are simpler options: garden benches.

Because garden benches are suitable for many purposes, you should choose the size of your bench according to the place you want to put it in your garden. Also bear in mind that you may want to move it around to take advantage of the sun as it moves throughout the day. You may also want to think about the weight of the garden bench if it is to be moved frequently, for instance when mowing the lawn.

Versatile options are available

Measure the spaces available in your garden before choosing the garden bench to fit it. If space is limited in your garden, consider folding versions of the furniture you need such as this foldaway garden bench. The perfect solution for small gardens or unsheltered patios this smart Elstree bench has a well-hidden secret: it ingeniously folds flat to just 7" deep, so it can be stored away in the winter months and brought out to provide extra seating in the summer. It even has free cushions and only costs £129!

Garden benches can be multi-purpose; they fit into a wide variety of outdoor spaces; they come in many shapes, styles and sizes and can be made from a variety of materials from wood to plastic and to metal, or combinations of all three.

Standard garden or “park” benches have a long flat seat and a wooden frame and legs with no extra “frills”; there is usually a gap between the bench seat and the bench seat back but they are actually very comfortable. They are most commonly six feet long, but they are also available as short as four feet.

Variants of the “park” type of garden bench are the deluxe park and garden benches. These have the same benefits as the standard garden bench, being easily available and relatively cheap, but they often have graceful contours and may have architectural forms and fit all body styles comfortably. The more comfortable the garden bench, the more use you will get from it and you will spend more time relaxing in your garden.

Some garden benches are made from sustainable recycled plastic construction with the advantage of being virtually maintenance free.

Garden benches can even combine seating and storage

Garden benches can even combine seating and storage to give you a beautiful way to organise your garden - just think of being able to clear away all those garden toys when you want a little quiet time at the end of the day!  Another example of the versatility of  garden benches.

Another option is a wooden garden bench which provides not just a seat, but also an element of beauty to your garden. Wooden garden benches add to the natural feel of the garden and have the advantage that they maintain a good temperature – never cold like concrete or metal and never hot enough to fry an egg like wrought iron!

Of course if you choose a wooden garden bench, make sure it has been pre-treated to avoid it developing cracks and splits. Without treatment the natural minerals and oils in the wood evaporate and the appearance changes to grey. If you paint your wooden garden bench use a micro-porous paint which allows the wood to breathe, otherwise moisture could become trapped beneath the surface.

Remember that wooden garden benches remain damp after rain and this may encourage growth of algae – this can be avoided by covering them with a purpose-made cover when not in use.

Garden benches are also made from durable hardwoods such as teak or iroko; these are more expensive that softwood garden benches but they need very little maintenance and will last a lifetime. But, beware that they are made from wood sourced from sustainable forests. You still need to treat these hardwoods with teal oil to maintain their natural colour or they will turn silvery grey.

But if your budget doesn’t stretch to a durable hardwood garden bench, think about softwood like pine, or a non-durable hardwood garden bench, like elm. These garden benches may not last a lifetime, but if treated with a solvent or oil-based preservative, they should still be looking good in 20 years.

Yet another option for a garden bench is one made from cast iron or aluminium.

Metal garden benches can be teamed with coffee tables

This elegant bench and low table are crafted from wrought iron with a 'distressed' cream paint finish. The ornate style is unmistakably Gallic, exactly as one would expect to see outside bistros and cafés anywhere in France. Like the matching table and chairs, both bench and coffee table fold flat for easy storage. Very strong and weather-proof, ideal for patio or conservatory. Yet another garden bench idea that is very affordable at less than £180.

So, look at the beautiful garden benches on this page, order one now and enjoy your garden!