It’s always nice to meander through your garden, but sometimes you want to stop and smell the roses. That’s when a bench comes in handy; beyond a practical seat, they’re also available in a myriad of styles and materials. So whether you’re looking for a rugged stone slab or a Victorian-style iron bench, there are many beautiful options to choose from for your backyard.
Opt for Iron
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Appfind / Getty Images
Wrought-iron benches are a great way to bring a sense of craftsmanship and romance into the garden.
“Their intricate curves cast beautiful shadows,” says landscape designer Christian Douglas, author of The Food Forward Garden. “Painted in forest green, antique white, or left to age naturally, they can feel timeless and formal.”
Plus, iron develops a soft patina over time that can help it meld into the surroundings. Douglas especially enjoys tucking iron benches among tall meadow grasses, or into courtyards.
Let Nature Inspire
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Reed Brown / Father Nature Landscapes
Since your bench will be surrounded by foliage, it only makes sense to take cues from nature.
“I [love] benches that aren’t really benches—like large rocks with a flattened space in the middle [or] long planks of wood,” says Brittney Udenberg, landscape designer at Mom’s Design Build. “It allows you to really optimize the location, and creates a space that doesn’t feel so formal.”
Tuck It Into Foliage
Credit:
Sasha Gulish / Christian Douglas Design
When a bench is surrounded by greenery, it can make it feel like a portal into another world.
“Place one along a garden path framed by lavender, rosemary, or blueberries so visitors brush past fragrant foliage, or casually forage for berries as they sit down,” says Douglas. “Or nestle it into a leafy corner where dappled shade from small trees falls over a bed of architectural ferns.”
Douglas also enjoys nestling benches under vine-covered arbors: “Table grapes, kiwi, scented roses, or wisteria all make complementary companions.”
Create Durability with Concrete
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Reed Brown / Father Nature Landscapes
Concrete is a great material for garden benches, as it can withstand most weather conditions. Plus, there’s plenty of room to play with style.
“Most of the concrete benches we use come in different finishes, which work great when you’re designing with existing stone and brick,” says Susan McCurry, director of outdoor furnishings and decorator at Father Nature Landscapes. “It creates a timeless look and patinas slightly, which gives it a great antique finish.”
Play With Planting Heights
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Mom’s Design Build
When selecting a bench location, it’s important to consider the overall pathway and choose plantings accordingly.
“[If] it’s in a busy area where you want easy access, I would plant some lower perennials,” Udenberg says. “But if it’s tucked away in the middle of the garden, I would instead layer in plantings with different textures and heights.”
Keep it Classic With Slatted Wood
Credit:
Yardzen
Sometimes, a simple silhouette is all you need to charm up your garden.
“A classic slatted teak bench has an easy elegance—it’s warm, durable, and ages into a silvery patina,” says Kevin Lenhart, design director of Yardzen.
Douglas adds that you can paint these benches to match with the home’s exterior, or add accent cushions to soften the seat.
Disguise the Bench
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Reed Brown / Father Nature Landscapes
Prefer your bench to blend in rather than stand out? You can always keep the design more discreet.
“A stone bench that matches the color and texture of nearby retaining walls can vanish into the landscape, while a painted metal bench in a deep green or charcoal blends into foliage,” Lenhart says.
Bring in Character With Carved Stone
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popovaphoto / Getty Images
Rather than the flat texture of some benches, antique stone or faux-bois concrete—a type of sculpted concrete that looks like wood—offers more dimension.
“These benches feel like they’ve always belonged, and they’re especially lovely when nestled among plantings or under a canopy of trees,” says Douglas. “Faux bois concrete is a particular favorite for its unique, natural form—a playful nod to wood grain that adds both artistry and surprise.”
Add Color With Powder-Coated Metal
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Yardzen
Metals like powder-coated steel or aluminum weather beautifully outside.
“They also add a nice element of color and texture that shifts with the seasons,” says Lenhart. “For modern gardens, look for low, streamlined metal benches. It’s a nice, sharp contrast to the foliage.”
To create a bold focal point, Lenhart suggests going a step further with a bright, colorful bench.
Mirror the Surrounding Palette
Credit:
Yardzen
“Painted benches that tie into an existing floral or architectural palette are always a safe bet—bright pops of color suit a midcentury home, while a rich azul blue can pick up the tone of a pool’s waterline tile,” says Douglas.
For more flexibility, he suggests choosing a neutral color that you can add cushions and throws to as your color scheme evolves.
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