Scheme of a wooden bench. Bench - an alternative to a garden bench

A light and comfortable garden bench can be placed on a cozy veranda or placed in the shade of trees so that you can hide from the heat and enjoy reading a book or a pleasant conversation. So, let's describe the main stages of its manufacture.

Whatever material you decide to make a bench from, to make it as comfortable as possible, certain proportions should be observed when constructing it:

  • height: the seat is always located at a level of 0.5 m from the ground;
  • width: at least half a meter;
  • back height: 0.45 m;
  • its tilt angle: ideal 45°;
  • Armrest height: calculated from the seat level and should be 20 cm.

If the bench is dug into the ground, the length of the legs increases by at least 70 cm. In this case, its legs are lowered into the prepared holes, covered with stones and filled with concrete. Do not forget to pre-treat the wood with a solution that protects against rot and mold.


DIY bench step by step

Back and seat garden bench It’s better not to do it with a solid sheet, but to make a small distance between the boards. In this case rainwater the boards will drain completely, the boards will be better ventilated, and the product will be less susceptible to rotting:


You can replace the stain with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. Wood treated with a similar composition acquires a dark and rich color. Depending on the amount of manganese, you can get a walnut shade or a rich mahogany color.

Bench made of wide boards


Bench made of flexible vine or willow twigs

Eco-friendly garden furniture, and not only a bench, but also chairs and even a table can be made from pre-soaked willow or vine twigs. You can also use branches of hazel, willow, aspen or even birch, but in the latter cases the product will last much less and will look rougher.

To collect raw materials, it will be necessary to wait until the shoots “ripen”. The optimal season for harvesting branches is from September to March. It is at this time that the rods acquire the required flexibility:


Types of benches

We have described only the simplest options for making a garden bench. It can be made from practically any materials:











If you are planning to make a wooden outdoor bench, it is better to use conifers or larch, which is difficult to rot. Left by inheritance old furniture oak or hickory can also be used as a material to create a durable and very original garden product.

Should I buy a bench or make it myself?

Buying a bench for the garden is, of course, much easier. Moreover, the simplest of them are quite cheap.

But still, work done with your own hands will bring more satisfaction. And with a certain patience and dexterity, even made from improvised materials, it can become an exclusive work that you won’t be ashamed to show off to your friends and neighbors. For example, in the next photo the bench is made of ordinary pallets, painted with bright paint and decorated with decorative pillows.

A garden bench is an indispensable attribute of relaxation, necessary in any summer cottage. It can be very simple (consist of one board with supports) or have an unusual shape and design, becoming part landscape design and yard decoration.

Since the construction does not require special skills, many owners prefer to do them themselves. If you also like to make crafts for your home and are planning to set up a recreation area in your garden or yard, we suggest you familiarize yourself with how to make a bench with your own hands using available materials.

Types of benches

Rest bench

The first criterion by which they differ is the ability to move them from place to place, that is, they are portable or stationary. There are also differences in the design of the benches; on this basis, the following types are distinguished:

  1. Bench without back. This option is easy to implement, although not the most convenient to use.
  2. Bench with a back (folding or regular). This design is classic and is used more often than others. It is especially convenient to have a bench with a folding backrest that can be lowered onto the seat when it rains, thereby keeping it dry.
  3. Circular bench. It is usually arranged in the garden under shady trees. Due to the considerable seat area, circular benches are perfect for big family or a group of friends.
  4. Decorative bench (with flower beds, made of non-standard materials or unusual shape). The best decision to decorate the area - an unusually decorated bench. Another advantage is the ability to use the most various materials(stumps, logs, wheels from an old cart, etc.).

When deciding on the type of bench, you need to take it into account functional purpose and, in accordance with this, select the structure and its location. For example, it is better to equip a bench for relaxation and privacy with a comfortable backrest and place it inside the garden or in another place from which it opens beautiful view. And near the entrance to the courtyard you can limit yourself to a simple bench without a back; it is ideal for taking a short break from the road or putting the bags you brought on it.

Bench made of pine timber

Pine timber – excellent material for a bench

Pine is an inexpensive type of wood that is easy to process, which explains its popularity. Let's look at how to make a bench from pine timber, using the example of a design with a back. Our bench will be spacious and will allow several adults to sit on it at the same time. To make it you will need a set of tools, which includes:

  • electric plane;
  • axe;
  • drill;
  • hacksaw;
  • screwdriver;
  • saw;
  • roulette.

The bench will rest on two connected pieces of timber, which in turn are attached to paw-shaped legs. The beams are filled with ribs that serve as the basis for the seat and back, and the top of this frame is sheathed with sanded boards.

The first step is to saw off two 1.7 m long pieces from the timber for the beams and two more 60 cm pieces for the legs. Next, the beams are placed in the center of the legs and secured with nails and special staples (they can be made independently from wire with a cross-section of 6 mm).

When the support is ready, you should cut off blanks for the ribs, 3-4 pieces for the seat and the same amount for the back will be enough. They need to be given an ergonomic shape using a hacksaw and an ax, then sanded. The ribs of the seat and backrest are connected to each other with 120 mm nails, tightened with staples and nailed to the supports. To extend the life of the wood, it is recommended to coat the frame with acrylic paint.


Finished design

While the frame of the bench dries, we cut bars 2 m long, 10-15 cm wide and 2 cm thick for the seat and back. The blanks will need to be processed with a plane and laid on the frame, secured with self-tapping screws. It is advisable to varnish the surface of the wood or treat it with a water-repellent compound. The resulting bench, despite its considerable weight, can be moved to any comfortable spot plot.

Bench made of oddly shaped driftwood

After uprooting old trees, the question arises - how to dispose of the remaining stumps and snags? It turns out that it is very easy to make a bench with your own hands from such waste. Thus, you will solve several problems at once - clear the yard of debris and get original garden furniture, without spending practically anything except free time.


Bench made of driftwood

Driftwood is ideal for creating benches with a backrest. All you need to do is pick up the curved branches the right size and diameter (at least 15 cm), clean them of bark and excess knots, and then sand them. The resulting blanks are connected into a single whole using nails or self-tapping screws. Then the structure needs to be treated with an antiseptic, varnished, and the unusual bench is ready.

Carved bench with armrests

Carved garden furniture highlights good taste owners and creates a special atmosphere of comfort. Such benches are classic and will always look appropriate, both on the veranda and in the garden. Below we will tell you how to make a carved bench with your own hands.

The bench model in question is a portable structure, the peculiarity of which is comfortable backrest and armrests. Its sides will be decorated with figured slots, the back and seat can also be covered with carved patterns.

Drawing of a shop with dimensions

To make a bench you will need to prepare the following materials and tools:

  • boards;
  • PVA glue;
  • paint or yacht varnish;
  • screws;
  • milling machine;
  • drill and jigsaw;
  • screwdriver;
  • lathe.

All the details of the bench are first made of cardboard, and then, based on the templates, they are cut out of wood. Let's start with the sides. For them, you need to make 2 identical parts, designed to fasten the seat and backrest, in which holes are drilled in the center using the cutting thread method, forming a trefoil. The sides of the parts are decorated with semicircular recesses, and their bottom is decorated with a pattern that partially repeats the trefoil. All patterns are cut out with a jigsaw.

The supports that give the structure stability are made of timber at least 4 cm thick. The material should be processed with a milling machine and then sanded, moving precisely in the direction of the wood grain. The edges of the supports and sidewalls should also be milled.

For the seat and back, a thinner board is suitable (allowable thickness - from 2.5 cm, width - 18-20 cm). The optimal length of the bench for this design is approximately 1.2 m; accordingly, the boards should be the same length.


Design option for a carved bench

To assemble the bench you will need a leg, as well as armrests and stands for them. Fastening of the listed parts of the bench is carried out using bosses located at the ends of the parts (protrusions with a diameter of 2.5 cm), by aligning them with recesses on opposite fragments.

Now all that remains is to connect all the parts, gluing them with PVA and securing them with screws. Having assembled the bench, the surface is polished sandpaper and open with two layers of varnish or paint.

Stationary bench made of gabions

A gabion bench is a reservoir made of metal mesh, filled with stones and equipped with a seat. You rarely see such structures in our area, but in Europe they are already quite popular and decorate the landscapes of many areas and squares. Unusual appearance Not the only advantage of gabions, they are also easy to implement and very inexpensive. We invite you to familiarize yourself with information on how to make a bench from gabions.


Gabions as a base for a garden bench

The filling for the gabion is usually stone - sandstone, diabase, limestone and other similar types. You need to choose a specific filler depending on the desired decorative properties, for example, limestone will make a light bench, diabase will add dark gray shades, and sandstone will make it brighter (red, green, yellow). If there is no need to save money, then it is better to choose stones that have already been hewn, since they are easier to lay than unprocessed ones.

The lattice box that will hold the stones should be purchased ready-made. Typically, for such benches, a mesh made of durable galvanized steel is used, and its individual fragments are connected to each other with special spirals (included in the kit).

The assembly sequence is as follows:

  1. The parts of the box are laid out on the ground in the selected location.
  2. The sides are connected to the bottom with spirals. This process is simple and does not require the use of additional tools.
  3. The side parts are fastened together. For convenience, they can first be lightly screwed with wire.
  4. Stones or other decorative material are placed inside the resulting box.
  5. The lid is secured to the structure with spirals.

Box assembly

To prevent the bench from sagging, it is advisable to strengthen the sidewalls with additional jumpers attached to hooks or install a diaphragm inside. You can screw boards to the finished box or simply put a soft seat on top.

A simple bench made of unplaned boards

If the designs described above seem too complicated or such materials are not available, then you may be interested in how to make a bench with your own hands from an unplaned board. The model is very simple, but at the same time comfortable - a portable bench with a backrest.

The boards should be processed with a plane

The main material is unplaned boards, which should be pre-treated with an electric planer. Bench sizes may vary, but optimal height for her - 90 cm. Manufacturing begins with cutting out the rear legs. To do this, on the workpiece suitable size We draw a figured leg of the bench and cut it out with a jigsaw. Then we trace the first leg on the next piece of board and cut out the second part.

The back and front legs are connected by a rectangular piece of board, the length of which is equal to the width of the bench seat. To securely fasten them, you will need to cut grooves in the parts of the legs. We proceed as follows - we cut through several parallel, closely spaced grooves, remove all excess with a chisel, so that grooves are formed. We place a rectangular fragment of the board in them and fix it with self-tapping screws.

We have two sidewalls that need to be connected by transverse strips (front and back), also mounted on self-tapping screws. Now all that remains is to mount the seats and backrests onto the frame. The structure is almost ready, but before use it is recommended to varnish it, otherwise after 1-2 seasons the bench may begin to deteriorate.


Even a simple homemade bench can brighten up your yard.

Of course, novice craftsmen will hardly be able to do all the work perfectly at once. But don’t be upset if your bench doesn’t turn out as beautiful as in the picture. The main thing is that the design is reliable, and small flaws can always be hidden original design. Don’t be afraid to experiment and create something new, because making a bench with your own hands means adding a special flavor and comfort to your yard that the same type of factory products cannot provide.

Benches and benches in the garden at the dacha are a popular place to relax. Sometimes putting up an ordinary bench is not interesting and banal.

After all, it is possible to build a whole corner for relaxation and comfort, so that you can not just sit on a bench, but already enjoy nature, your garden, and the fruits you planted with your own hands. There are many different ideas here.

The construction of benches is usually lightweight and does not require special skills. Anyone can create a relaxation corner with a bench, if they wish.

Options for ideas

Everyone has seen the photo of an ordinary bench. But the most a simple bench I don’t want it for my garden, I want something more original and beautiful.

If everything in your garden is already decorated and the whole area is in order, then a bench will never become superfluous. And, if you are just starting to equip your site, then it’s time to start with equipping a bench.

Wooden bench

A DIY wooden bench will harmonize well in the garden with all sorts of flower beds of beautiful flowers.

The simplest option for building a garden bench is two wooden boxes in which inflorescences grow, and between them a couple of sanded boards. If necessary, this bench can be placed near the wall, if possible.

Many people don’t like material like wood, because it gets wet quickly and is very difficult to care for. Instead of wooden material stone and concrete come to the rescue.

In order to make a bench with a back, you need to try a little. For the backrest, they most often buy already treated wood. The easiest way to secure the seat is with metal corners.

TO concrete material they can be attached using dowels, and to wooden material using self-tapping screws from the bottom or through bolts.

Many summer residents are wondering how to make a bench on their own for their home and garden. And every year this question is gaining popularity.

Many people give preference to shop benches that are already ready, but by doing the work yourself, you can completely surrender to the process and use your imagination completely.

Metal bench

Metal benches are installed by a minority, since they, of course, are aesthetic and original products, but in summer time– this is a material that heats up to crazy temperatures, and if it gets even a little colder, the material becomes icy, and it is impossible to sit on it.

If you really want to use metal in the process of creating a bench, then you should combine two materials in the work: metal and wood. At the same time, the seats and backrests are made of wooden material, and the designs of the legs and additional elements are created on the basis of metal.

There are many different original options benches in this style.

Note!

Pipe benches have become very popular recently. From profile pipe using boiling, rectangles are made, and jumpers are attached to the side walls, on which the bench seats will rest. This is a very reliable and safe option for creating a bench with your own hands.

If this option is slightly improved, then armrests are used for greater convenience and comfort. A bench in the garden with a wide seat, like a sofa, will also look elegant and original. This is comfort, convenience and luxury!

For complete comfort You can put decorated pillows on such benches so that you can not only sit, but also take a nap in nature.

Benches made of boards

A simple bench made of boards will also look aesthetically pleasing, the main thing is to know how to make it. There are the most simple designs, like ordinary benches, but there are more complicated ones in the form of a sofa or an elongated chair.

IN modern style It’s easy to assemble such a bench; you just need to connect rectangles with partitions made of thin boards together.

The main thing is to turn on your imagination. Not even the most hard work could be the source of a masterpiece.

Note!

On the basis of thin boards it is possible to make various shapes benches. For example, in the shape of the letter P. The main thing here is to fix the seats and legs well and securely. This bench is easy to make, but will last a long time.

DIY bench photo

Note!

According to the classic, everything in a person should be beautiful. This also applies to everything that surrounds us. Creating comfort in your country house, don't forget about personal plot. Smooth lawn or flower beds serve as decoration for your garden is not at all important, the main thing is that there is a place where to sit and relax from the bustle of the city and household chores. A DIY garden bench is a great opportunity to add individuality to your country cottage area. Let's look at a few interesting options handmade benches and figure out how to make some of them.

The simplicity of the design and the availability of materials allows even a novice craftsman to decide to create such an interior element. The best material Wood or stone will be used to create a garden bench. They will fit perfectly into the design of a personal plot and create a feeling of unity with nature. It is possible to create a bench from scrap materials. Surely a zealous owner will have a couple of obsolete wooden chairs, which can be put into action.

Whatever you decide to make a bench from, the first thing you will need in any case is a design project, and the necessary drawings and assembly diagram for it. Drawings of garden benches for every taste can be found on the Internet, but if you wish, you can develop them yourself; after all, we all received the initial skills of creating them in school, and the design of a bench is not so complicated.

  1. height - about 40-50 cm;
  2. seat width - on average 55 cm;
  3. back height - 30-50 cm;
  4. the height of the armrests from the seat is 15-20 cm.

These are the dimensions that will allow you to sit comfortably on the bench.

DIY wooden bench

Let's first consider the option of a simple wooden bench.

garden bench- This is not just ordinary furniture designed for relaxation. With the help of this furniture you can decorate your garden plot, create entire compositions that will fit perfectly into the surrounding space of your garden or yard. It’s not difficult to make a garden bench with your own hands; the main thing is to choose the design of the furniture, its location and the material from which it will be made.

Plastic

Light plastic furniture has many advantages: it is easy to move from place to place, it is easy to care for, it has affordable price category. You can choose any color option, which fits perfectly into the landscape design. Minuses plastic furniture: quickly becomes scratched, fades in the sun, looks cheap.

Or even a chair. By the way, the chair cushions are foam chips in plastic bags. Warm, cozy, extravagant

Tree

This material is ideal for creating furniture: it absorbs heat, looks noble, and is easy to process. Any type of wood is suitable for making a bench, the main thing is that the material is sufficiently well dried and has no external defects.

Stone

This one is natural and beautiful material fits perfectly into any stylistic direction landscape design. Stone compositions look solid, noble and unusual. But, despite many advantages, a natural stone has several disadvantages. Sitting on a stone bench is not very comfortable, and it is also unsafe for health. Therefore, it is imperative to make warm covers or pads along with the bench. Stone compositions are installed permanently; they cannot be moved from place to place.

Metal

Garden benches made by hot or cold forging- This is a real decoration for a garden or a place to relax. The designs look beautiful and stylish, especially if additional decorative elements. Metal is most often combined with wood, glass or other material.

Requirements that a garden bench must meet

Convenience

First of all, you need to think about the ergonomic design of relaxation furniture. It should be convenient and comfortable. It is best to make furniture with a backrest on which you can lean back and relax.

Safety

A garden bench must be strong, carefully assembled and withstand heavy loads. For these purposes it is best to use quality materials and accessories.

Resistance to changes in humidity and temperature

Since the furniture is made for the garden or yard, the material must withstand all climatic changes without defects or damage.

Bench design

The length of the seat and backrest will be 1500 mm. This furniture can comfortably accommodate three people at once. Seat height - 450 mm, back height - 900 mm. It is advisable to place the back at an angle of 18-20 degrees. The seat width is 400 mm.

Material and tools for making a garden bench from wood

  1. Wooden boards 1500 by 150 mm, thickness 35-40 mm. Three blanks for the seat and two for the back.
  2. Blanks that serve as legs and holders for the back - 900 by 150 mm, 35-40 mm thick.
  3. Blanks for the front legs of the bench - 360 by 150 mm, 35-40 mm thick.
  4. Beams 40 by 40 mm will be used to strengthen the structure of the bench.
  5. Self-tapping screws.
  6. Electric jigsaw for cutting boards.
  7. Electric planer for grinding the surface of boards and processing chamfers.
  8. Screwdriver.
  9. Sandpaper.
  10. Varnish and primer.

Making a wooden structure

Step 1. Boards for making a bench can be purchased immediately to size; if they are not available for sale, the wood will have to be cut into blanks using a jigsaw or miter saw.

After the wood is cut to the desired length, it needs to be carefully processed. The blanks for the back and seat need to be sanded. All ends of the boards also need to be processed with an electric planer, it is advisable to give them a rounded shape.

Step 2. The long rear legs of the bench, which additionally serve as a frame for the backrest, need to be given correct angle tilt To do this, you need to apply markings to two wooden blanks having a length of 900 mm.

The first to be noted is the height of the bench - 400 mm. This section of the board does not need processing. Starting from the segment, you need to make a 20-degree cut along the entire remaining length of the board, which forms the angle of inclination of the back of the bench. The cuts on the two rear legs should be the same in both height and angle. Otherwise, the bench will be skewed.

Step 3. The legs are assembled first in the bench design. The distance between the front and rear legs is 280 mm. The legs are connected by a beam, which is cut to cover the entire width of the bench - 500 mm. It is advisable to do a double strapping - top and bottom.

Step 4. After the two sides of the bench are assembled, you can connect them together with boards intended for sitting. The boards are screwed using self-tapping screws to the upper beams of the frame. It is advisable that between wooden blanks gaps of equal size remained - 1-2 cm. These gaps promote air circulation and moisture removal.

Step 5. Strengthening the bench structure. In order for garden furniture to be stable and durable, it is advisable to strengthen its structure. For these purposes you need to do bottom trim along the legs using beams. Two pieces, 1500 mm long, are screwed to the front and rear legs of the bench. If there is not enough lumber, you can use one cross member, which is attached to the lower beams of the frame.

Step 6. Installation of the bench back. The bench is almost ready, the final touch remains - attaching two boards that serve as a backrest. It is recommended to attach the first board at a distance of 200 mm from the seat. The second is at a distance of 380 mm from the seat.

Step 7 Finish coating garden furniture. To protect wood from damage environment, it is advisable to use deep impregnation and varnish. Impregnation will protect the bench from moisture, mold, and pests.

The varnish will give the furniture a beautiful and elegant look. To give the wood shine, you need to thoroughly polish the material and varnish the workpieces several times.

Video - Detailed instructions for making a garden bench

Video - Shop in 6 minutes

DIY metal garden bench

You can decorate your garden plot not only wooden furniture. Metal benches are another way to create a cozy and comfortable place to relax. To make a metal frame, it is not necessary to master hot forging techniques.

An example of a bench made of metal and wood

You can use cold forging technology, in which a frame of metal blanks is welded into a single structure. During manufacturing, you can refine garden furniture various elements decor, unusual inserts and additions.

Tools and materials for making a garden bench using cold forging

  1. Angle grinder with discs for cutting and polishing metal.
  2. Welding machine with a set of electrodes.
  3. Pipe bending device. This could be a mini-machine “Snail” or a metalworking vice, with which you can bend the metal according to a template. This device is needed if you plan complex shape backs with rounded edges.
  4. Square metal pipes (30 mm by 30 mm).
  5. Decorative elements of hot forging to decorate the structure.
  6. Material for seat and back (wood, MDF, plywood).
  7. Roulette.
  8. Level.
  9. Primer for metal.
  10. Protective coating for wood.

Step-by-step instruction

It is quite difficult to make a complex and elaborate bench design without experience. But you can make a simple and durable structure without difficulty.

Step 1. Develop the dimensions and dimensions of the bench. Standard in size garden bench has a length of 1500 mm, width - 400-500 mm, back height - 800-900 mm. Corner furniture shapes are the easiest to make, so for the first time it is better to try to make a simpler model with your own hands.

Step 2. Making a frame for the seat. The metal pipe needs to be cut into 4 fragments: 2 x 1500 mm and 2 x 400 mm. All parts are welded into a rectangle. To make the seat more durable, you can weld 2 additional stiffeners into the rectangular frame.

Step 3. Making legs. The metal pipe needs to be cut into 4 identical sections of 460 mm each. These blanks need to be welded to the corners of the bench. It is recommended to weld additional stiffeners between the front and rear legs.

Step 4. Making the back. Two workpieces 440 mm long and one workpiece 1500 mm long need to be welded together. This structure is then welded to the finished part of the bench. The back should be mounted at an angle of 15-20 degrees. In this case, sitting on the bench will be comfortable.

Step 5. To make the back of the bench stronger, you can additionally strengthen its frame with stiffeners, transverse or longitudinal.

Step 6. The metal frame of the garden bench is ready. The final work is cleaning all welding seams, polishing the metal and coating the frame with a primer.

Step 7 Making a back and seat from wood. Wooden boards or beams are the most suitable material for finishing a metal bench. The wood for the back and seat must be carefully planed and polished, and the chamfers must be processed. The wood needs to be cut into blanks that can be fastened both along and across the back and seat. It all depends on the length of the material.

Step 8 Using an electric drill, you need to drill holes for installation in the metal frame of the bench wood finishing benches. To connect metal and wood, it is recommended to use bolts with rounded heads and nuts.

Step 9 After the back and seat are screwed to metal frame, the wood needs to be covered with stain or varnish. This will protect the material from environmental influences.

The garden bench is ready. Thanks to metal pipe The inside is hollow, the furniture is not very heavy and can be moved from place to place. Well-processed metal and wood are easily tolerated high humidity and temperature changes, thanks to which a bench made with your own hands will serve for many years.

Wooden seat or backrest attachment, vertical hole and metal plate with hole

Relaxing on a garden bench is a pleasure

Video - Making a garden bench from a metal corner



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