Plans to Build a Wooden Garden Bench

Supplies and Materials

• Regardless of the style you choose for your wooden garden bench, you should select a material that can hold up to weather. Cedar is an excellent choice; however, you could also opt for teak or pressure-treated lumber. Avoid using pine, oak and other untreated woods in the garden unless you are prepared to carefully weatherproof them and replace them after just a few years. You should also choose rustproof galvanized hardware. While a circular saw, jigsaw and router can all be helpful for this project, you can opt to have your lumber cut at the home improvement center and build your bench with nothing but a drill.

The Basic Bench

• Work with a simple garden bench plan if you are a beginner. Building a basic garden bench involves creating a frame on each side, then adding supports for the seat. Where possible, use screws to construct your bench. If screws are not an option, glue and clamp joints. Once you have the base structure, you will screw seat slats into place. You can opt for flat seat slats or use a router to round the edges of the slats. Construct a back frame for your seat with upright slats to provide comfortable support. Finally, build and attach armrests to the bench. Sand it well and apply a sealer to the wood to preserve the finish.

Plans for the Experienced Woodworker

• If you have a full workshop and are looking for a more challenging project, consider creating either a classically designed or more modern and sculptured garden bench. Work with narrow slats to form a curvy bench, or shape the back of your bench into a gentle arch. Keep scale and style in mind when you choose a wooden garden bench plan. A smaller, simpler bench is suitable for a country garden, but a modern and sleek one might be more fitting in a geometric garden.