I’m always telling people to take a few minutes to sit down in their garden with a mug of tea and enjoy the moment. And what could be better than doing it on a new seat you’ve built with your own fair hands? This bench doubles up as a storage box, making it perfect for a small garden.
But whether your garden is large or small, extra storage is always welcome, though it can sometimes be hard to accommodate without making your space look cluttered. I have a couple of these benches around my garden and not only are they handy for storing all sorts of bits and bobs – everything from compost to plant pots – they make great focal points too.
Yes, but why bother, I hear you ask, when I can just pop out and buy one? Well, of course you can, but I promise that if you spend a weekend making your own storage bench, you’ll not only have something you’re proud of, you’ll also have a useful feature that will last for years. The best thing is that you can customise your bench to suit your look and space. There is something wonderfully cathartic about using your hands to create and personalise your own garden. Every time you relax on it, I’m sure it will make you smile. I hope you have fun with this project.
1 Saw all the timber to the lengths listed (left) – measure and double check carefully before cutting. Doing this at the start gives you the chance to lay all the pieces out and see how they will come together.
8 Fit the two remaining lengths of roof lath onto the inside of the lid, evenly spaced between first two. They will all sit snugly inside the box and stop the lid moving around. Put the lid on, to check it fits well.
4 Insert the shelf support – position the 1,300mm roofing lath so its top edge aligns with the top of the lower plank in the panel, then fix in place with four evenly spaced 50mm screws. Repeat on the other panel.
7 Place the scaffold boards side by side to form the lid. Take one 300mm roof lath, position it parallel to the end, 65mm in and centred between the long edges. Fix in place using 50mm screws. Repeat at the other end.
2 Lay two 1,500mm planks side by side to form the front panel. To get the exact position for the corner post, stand one 320mm end plank in place, aligned using a set square, and but the post up against it.
9 Use sandpaper or a belt sander to even out any rough surfaces and sharp corners, to give the bench a smooth finish. I used mediumgrade paper to start with, then finished off with fine grade.
5 Add the four 320mm end pieces – stand the front and back panels upright. Insert each end piece in turn, up against the corner posts. Fix the lower ones using 70mm screws, to stabilise the box, then the top ones.
3 Mark the corner post’s exact position with a pencil, remove the end piece, then fix the post in place, top and bottom, with 70mm screws. Repeat this process at the other end, then do the same for the back panel.
10 Apply exterior garden paint or wood stain, in a colour of your choice, to protect the timber. I love linseed paint – I like the final look it provides. I applied three coats, to ensure a long-lasting finish.
6 Put the shelf in next. The six 320mm shelf pieces sit on the long supports. They are not fixed, so are movable and adjustable. You can increase the length of the shelf by adding more pieces if you wish.