Boulder Garden Bench Ideas

Single Boulders

• When you want a bench that'll blend into the natural setting of your garden, choose large, single boulders. Choose a couple of boulders to allow more than one person to sit on the bench, and select rocks with flat tops. Depending on the size of your garden, you might choose an enormous boulder or find two or three smaller boulders. If you cannot find rocks with flat surfaces, use a chisel and a sander to level the top and remove rough edges.

Boulder Pedestals

• Make a low, flat bench using boulders as pedestals. Start with two small boulders and level out the tops so that they rest at an equal height from the ground. Buy a slice of a large boulder to act as the seat of the bench; leave the edges rough, and smooth out the top for a comfortable sitting space. Take advantage of the natural, asymmetrical shape of boulders to make a bench top with a unique shape.

Carved Boulders

• A carved boulder can make a striking, dramatic bench. Start with a large boulder that has a relatively level top, and leave the top in its natural shape. On the bottom of the rock, carve out the shape of legs so that the bench is still one piece but has the appearance of legs. You can use traditional bench leg shapes, or simply carve out interesting shapes in the bottom of the rock.

Rough-Cut Stones

• For a boulder bench that blends into the natural setting of your garden, use rough-cut stones. The seating area of the bench can be formed out of a section of a huge boulder, though you'll need to hire a stone cutter who has the necessary tools. Flatten the top edge of the sliver of rock and leave the bottom edge rounded and rough. Make the base of the bench out of chunks of boulder that have been flattened on the bottom and chipped away on the top to form edges that angle in to the center to fit the curve of the top piece. Place the top section of boulder onto the base pieces so that it rests securely in place; you may need to secure it with cement to ensure that it doesn't slip off the base.