It’s hard to imagine a well-kept home without nice benches and benches. But sometimes, when people sit down on a stylish seat, they discover that the designer's invention is not as comfortable as it looks. Let's figure out what sizes of outdoor benches are preferable for comfortable relaxation and what types of garden furniture are suitable for different parts of a summer cottage or urban area.
Classification of garden benches
Street benches are classified according to several criteria:
- Mobility.
- Material of manufacture.
- Functionality.
- Installation location.
Most garden benches are made permanent, installed in a predetermined place, for example, in a recreation area or on a barbecue area. The legs are concreted or dug into the ground for stability.
Mobile options are smaller and lighter in weight. These include country benches, which are removed into the house in winter, or lightweight portable and folding models used in a small area where there is little space for a stationary bench.
The choice of material for manufacturing is quite wide, the benches are:
- wooden;
- metal;
- stone or concrete;
- plastic;
- from the vine;
- combined.
Wood is environmentally friendly, looks beautiful, is tactilely pleasant at any time of the year, is easy to process, and can be combined with other materials without problems, which is why it is most often chosen for the manufacture of garden and park benches.
Fans of non-standard solutions make their own benches from wooden pallets, polypropylene water pipes, broken chairs and old tires.
Functional features and types
The purpose and installation location of garden furniture is determined by its design features:
- The front bench is located at the entrance to the house next to a beautiful flower bed. The design and material of the bench should be combined with the style of the building and yard, for example, a bench with a metal frame and a wooden seat will be in harmony with a fence, canopy, balcony, the decoration of which contains metal elements.
- Dining benches and benches are made in the same style as the table and are made of wood and plastic. Thanks to their compact size and light weight, they are easy to move from place to place. Such outdoor furniture is placed on open terraces, under awnings and simply in the open air, where it is convenient for the whole family to gather for an outdoor dinner.
- Cozy view benches are located anywhere on the site where contemplation of beautiful views of the landscape helps to escape from everyday worries: in a shady garden, in a gazebo, near a fountain or a home pond. Hidden from prying eyes and external irritants by hedge bushes or a trellis woven with climbing plants, long wide benches with soft cushions on which to lie comfortably are perfect for relaxation.
- Hanging swing benches are one of the types of garden benches. They can be installed on playgrounds and in the garden, where the original design will become one of the striking elements of landscape design.
- Garden benches and small benches of simple design are located next to the slides and flower beds for relaxation from dacha labor. On such a bench you can not only relax, but also work out your muscles and abs without going to the gym for those who love a healthy lifestyle.
- Mobile folding structures are suitable for small areas. Inverted benches, made from profile boards and corrugated pipes, can easily be transformed into a dining table with two benches, which can be placed anywhere in the yard.
Materials
A wide variety of materials can be used to make a bench. Some citizens choose accessibility, then you can consider plastic; this material is very cheap. It’s really hard to say that the finished products from it will turn out interesting and beautiful. They are more likely to look uncomfortable.
Artistic forging will harmonize perfectly in any interior. These benches will fit perfectly into any garden. You can find benches for your summer house freely available on the Internet; there are a lot of photos of them. The owners will be able to choose any option to their liking, and then the product will truly become a landmark of the garden.
Benches for a summer cottage made of wood
When a project for a future building and its external design is being carried out, most often the owners focus their attention on wood products. These benches are, first of all, very comfortable. Also, many find a special comfort in them, and among other things, they are beautiful. This is due to the fact that such material as wood is natural.
Any design brought to life by the skillful hands of a craftsman will be decorated with a wooden bench. Do-it-yourself wooden benches for a summer residence can become the highlight of even the most ordinary garden. Making them doesn't take much time.
Wooden benches are made from larch or oak. Other tree species can also be used. The original design of the benches also plays an important role. The benches in the form of logs look interesting. An excellent option for country design.
Benches for summer cottages made of metal
A bench made of metal is considered the most practical, since the duration of its use increases significantly. True, lightweight designs are most often chosen. The bench itself will be hard, so it would be a good idea to attach a mattress to the bench seat using special ropes.
Plastic bench
The cheapest option would be a bench that is made of plastic material. Its convenience lies only in the fact that it is convenient to transport them from one place to another. But the appearance of such a product is unpresentable.
Standard design dimensions
Reference. State standards for garden furniture have not been developed, but there are generally accepted sizes of benches, calculated taking into account the anthropometric data of the average person.
The standard sizes of a bench for adults, which street furniture manufacturers and home craftsmen focus on, should not go far beyond the standard parameters:
- bench height from the ground 45 cm;
- length one and a half meters;
- width of one seat 60 cm;
- seat width 45 cm.
Reference. For people with dimensions that are far beyond the average statistical norm, a bench whose dimensions are selected individually will be convenient. The optimal height of a garden bench is considered to be one at which the foot of a sitting person is completely on the ground, the knees are bent at a right angle. For children, the standard bench height is set at thirty to forty centimeters.
The design of a bench differs from a bench in the presence of a back and armrests:
- standard bench height is 90–100 cm;
- seat distance from the ground 45–55 cm;
- length one and a half meters;
- back height 45 cm;
- backrest angle 95–110°;
- the height of the armrests from the seat is 20 cm.
What can be the number of seats?
The standard number of seats for adults of average build is determined by the length of the bench:
- one place – 0.6 m;
- two – 1.2 meters;
- three - 1.8 m;
- four - 2.5 meters;
- five to three meters.
Attention! The number of seats affects the design features of street furniture: a bench designed for three or more seats is equipped with additional supports in the middle of the structure so that the seating area does not deform under the weight of people resting.
Seat width
A narrow bench is only suitable for a short break, so the width of the seats of outdoor furniture intended for relaxation is made larger than the standard one. For garden benches, the seat is made 50–55 cm wide with a slight slope towards the back for convenience.
Attention! Comfortable height and width of the bench are dimensions that depend on each other: the lower the bench, the wider the seat should be.
How long should the bench be?
The length of a garden bench depends on the number of people who will sit on it at the same time; the standard height of the bench does not change:
- seat length for one person 60 cm;
- a 1.2 m long bench will be comfortable for two people;
- two adults and a child will sit comfortably on a one and a half meter bench;
- The size of the two-meter bench is designed for three to four people of average build.
Important! Benches longer than 2.5 meters, designed for a large number of seats, are usually not used for private households; they are installed in parks, squares and crowded street areas.
Where is the best place to locate shops?
The location of the shops, first of all, will imply the arrangement of a comfort zone for residents, with the most convenient placement. Only in this way can you create an ideal place to relax. First of all, you need to make sure that the bench is as comfortable as possible. Its entire appearance should make a person want to relax on it, that is, it should attract with its appearance.
It is better if you choose a quiet place to relax, which will be located as much as possible in the shade in the garden for most of the day. This option when placing a shop can be called the most successful. When the garden has large areas, the best option would be to place benches along the paths, as well as at their base. Many owners of country estates have not deviated from the option of having the bench located at the door to the house. Many people choose this option because of its convenience.
Methods for connecting parts
The main requirement for benches is not a beautiful design, but the reliability and durability of the structure. For durable outdoor furniture, the method of joining the parts is important, depending on the material the bench is made from.
Most garden benches are made from wood or a combination of wood, metal and stone. To connect them use:
- Self-tapping screws.
- Nails.
- Bolts, nuts and washers.
- Carpentry end connection “half-wood”, “strapping”.
- Galvanized overlays: flat and angular, installed in places hidden from view.
- Galvanized studs, which are threaded through the through holes of the parts and tightened using nuts with wide washers.
- Dowels are wooden pins that are glued into holes drilled to their size.
Types of shops - which options are best to use: mobile, stationary?
When the bench will not be used on an ongoing basis, but only for a while, then it is better to choose the mobile option, that is, portable. The bench can be made from various materials, such as plastic, wood, metal.
Such benches are characterized by the presence of such a feature as a folding mechanism. With its help, the size can be kept to a minimum, and then the bench becomes compact and convenient to store. Folding benches are very convenient in cases where you need to quickly organize a place to relax. There is no need to worry about the strength of such interior elements; the design of the benches meets all requirements and standards. They are based on a metal frame. The seats are usually made of wood, and the backs have a complex shape and are coated with special paint.
The main feature of such furniture is mobility. Many owners choose this type of bench because of the ability to quickly remove them if necessary. The bench is very convenient to use, and this advantage has been appreciated by many users. The market offers a wide range of such furniture, so choosing the right one for yourself will not be difficult.
A bench that is stationary is considered the most practical. First of all, users highlight their reliability, and the most significant quality is durability. To make such a bench - a bench for a summer house made of metal, steel is usually chosen. When processing, wood and stone are used.
Choosing a bench style and design
The combination of different shapes and materials allows you to create spectacular designs that will decorate the site. A circular bench around a tree with a spreading crown, a bright plastic structure made of a slide, a swing and a bench on a children's playground, a curved wooden bench on stone supports near an artificial waterfall on the site are examples of the design of the local area.
Outdoor furniture that matches the style of your home and garden emphasizes the beauty of your landscape design:
- It’s hard to imagine a classic English garden without traditional wrought-iron benches with wooden seats or solid stone benches.
- The sophistication of the French garden is emphasized by openwork metal benches.
- The Japanese rock garden will be complemented by elegant bamboo benches on a stone base.
- Russian style is impossible without wooden benches, complemented by sculptures of characters from Russian folklore.
- The unpretentious country style is emphasized by the deliberately rough shapes of benches and benches made from thick logs and boards sawn in half.
- Wicker outdoor furniture is indispensable for an American-style garden.
- The color of the serene Provencal style will be enhanced by metal benches with pillows with bright floral prints.
- Benches made of chromed metal and transparent plastic accentuate the simplicity of the forms of the house in the high-tech style.
Garden furniture that does not interfere with the style of the site will decorate the local area; correctly calculated bench sizes and a nice design will allow you to relax comfortably on your own or in the company of loved ones.
Garden arch with bench
To decorate the design of your dacha, you can use an arch with a bench. It is better if the arch is made of metal. All surfaces are treated with special protection. The back of such a bench is usually made in an original style and has a beautiful and unusual pattern.
You can make an unusual arch for your dacha yourself. To do this, you will need to make a drawing of a dacha bench. Based on the finished drawing, you can also order the finished product from professionals. Many home owners choose compositions with flowers to decorate the finished product.
