The garden bench, that quintessential piece of outdoor furniture, comes in every style and size imaginable. But today I’m specifically looking at compact, contemporary garden benches for small outdoor spaces. As you know from our regular “Small Space” features, living in a small space never means having to go short on style. And that includes the garden too.
So I’ve rounded up some absolutely cracking, compact garden benches which, despite their bijou size, will still add bags of character and style to your small garden. (Or terrace, balcony or patio).
Garden benches are informal, yet comfortable. The ideal place from which to survey the results of your green-fingered labours, or have a well-earned drink and a read, or just to sit and daydream. Chosen well, they work in every kind of outdoor space from formal gardens to bohemian backyards, contemporary courtyards to naturalistic meadow gardens.
But that’s not all. Some of the small garden benches I’ve chosen would be equally at home indoors during the winter months and will look stunning in a garden room or conservatory or even a kitchen, hallway or porch.
So here’s my roundup of six of the best contemporary garden benches for small outdoor spaces. I think there’s one here for just about every garden style – see what you think:
6 of the best: garden benches for small outdoor spaces
1. Simple scandi style – the Hampstead Rattan Outdoor Bench from Cuckooland.
2. Meticulously crafted from weather resistant Grade A Teak, the Tanso Teak Bench is by David Irwin for Heal’s. This super-stylish small garden bench is equally at home outdoors or inside.
3. The Loop Outdoor Sofa in Black is part of the stunning Vincent Sheppard outdoor range, also from Heal’s. I’d buy one of everything if I could, as these classic pieces are super-versatile and can easily work indoors too.
4. A garden bench doesn’t have to have a back. This grey wooden Outdoor Bench with Planter from Amara is crafted from recycled acacia wood, has a chic, grey sandstone top and room for storage in the bottom. There’s also a plastic planter insert – which could double as a handy wine cooler for the less green-fingered perhaps?
5. The slatted metal Indu Garden Bench from Habitat comes in three contemporary colours – choose from Red, above, Black, or Cobalt Blue, below.
6. The neat and elegant Catania Garden Bench, in pale or dark colourways, has an easy-care, weather-resistant polywood finish and comes complete with cushion pad. Available online from MADE.
Images: brands and retailers as credited above
