Outdoor Storage Benches

Many homeowners know how hard it is to keep the garden or the porch clutter free. Aside from the conventional gardening tools (like the omnipresent water hose,) there are also old or seasonal décor you might want to stash away for the time being. Using an outdoor storage bench or a outdoor patio storage bench can make your garden/patio clean and safe. If you have kids about, you surely know that toys, books and even pieces of clothing can become the perfect eyesore for your landscape. And we are not even starting on some of the playthings or training apparatuses your pet(s) may have as well. For some homeowners, stashing everything in the garage may be a likely option. Or is it? Who wants a garage littered with junk anyway? Besides, keeping toys in the garage is always a no-no. That could quickly become an accident prone area, and the last thing you would want is for your kids to be there constantly.

Building a small shed where everything “unwanted” can be hidden away may be another option. But then again, not everyone is blessed with an expansive outdoor area where sheds can be easily erected. Also, these sheds can become eyesores themselves – and that can become a bigger and more expensive problem to solve. Fortunately, there is a less painful and more efficient alternative to homeowners’ outdoor clutter problem. That would be having an outdoor storage bench or two.

If chosen appropriately, an outdoor storage bench can combine both form and functionality. You can get a nice seating piece and at the same time, have enough storage area for your “unwanted” items underneath. Fortunately, with all the outdoor bench with storage designs coming out every season, it is fairly easy to find the exact furniture that will match whatever outdoor decor you have. The first thing you have to consider though is the material that the furniture should be made from. Plastic or fiberglass materials may serve its purpose. In fact, these are the best waterproof storage among outdoor benches. However, when exposed to the elements (prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, rain, snow, sudden changes in temperature, etc.) the colors of the plastic and fiberglass furniture easily fade away. At most, you can retain such seating pieces for 3 seasons before the pieces start looking bedraggled. The good thing about buying furniture with these materials is that these are relatively cheap. Replacing the pieces every so often will not burn a big hole in your pocket. A step 2 outdoor storage bench is an example of such a sturdy plastic storage bench that fits almost any environment. Only white outdoor storage benches stay the color through the years.

Metal works or any furniture made from any type of metal / metal alloys (steel, chrome, wrought iron, etc.) can withstand the elements better. These are probably the most resilient of all furniture types and usually great looking enough to withstand changing fashion trends. The one thing you do have to remember when buying such pieces is to make sure that the metal is treated with rust-proofing agents. This will help prolong its service. Maintenance is easier as well. At most, you have to deal with creaky joints for the storage lid, but that can be solved with the application of a little oil in the problem area. However, the one major disadvantage to having metal work furniture is that: some pieces do not have water proof storage areas. Storing the garden hose under the bench might not be a big issue, but you might want to choose a different storage area for your kid’s toys and whatnot's.

However, the most common type of outdoor storage bench is made from wood. Wooden furniture is also quite resilient and can usually be placed in almost any outdoor setting, no matter what the exterior décor is. When buying such pieces, you need to first determine exactly where you are placing the furniture. If you are thinking about placing one under a covered porch, then a lightly treated wood piece would suffices. A lightly treated outdoor wood storage bench means that the wood has been dipped in natural oil and given a wood sealer as a waterproofing agent. In some cases, a clear varnish is also added to bring out the beauty of the wood grains as well. Since you are placing the furniture under a sheltered space, you do not have to worry about keeping the wood dry. But if you are thinking about placing a storage bench right out in the open, where it is constantly exposed to the sun and wind, while being subjected to occasional rain or snow, you might want to avail of furniture that has more weatherproofing treatments. Aside from natural oils, moisture sealers and varnish, your seating piece will also need anti-wood rot treatment, anti-termite treatment, etc.

If you are a little bit of a Bob the builder yourself you can think about the option to built an outdoor storage bench yourself. It is cheaper then buying one and it does not takes that long. The outdoor teak storage bench and outdoor cedar storage bench are the most popular to rebuild because of their natural look.