Stylish and Practical Outdoor Furniture Bench Ideas

The exterior of a home can be enhanced with decorator touches, just like the interior. Carefully chosen outdoor furniture is practical, beautiful, and can complement any decorating or landscaping theme. One of the most popular and versatile pieces of outdoor furniture is the bench. Benches are available with or without backs, in various sizes, and in a choice of materials and styles.

When you add outdoor furniture to your pool or patio, you provide a comfortable place to sit as well as a chic, original touch. Your bench is also practical because its uses are only limited by your creativity. If you are entertaining and find yourself short of seating, it is simple to pull up a bench. Since wooden benches are easy enough to move, they can be used to expand seating around a patio table or provide stand-alone seating. Backless benches might also be placed strategically to make gardening easier. This can save save strain on your knees and back and provide a built-in workspace. Of course, you may also choose to add wooden benches to your home just because they are so beautiful and create a touch of elegance.

Typically all outdoor benches are made from a weather-resistant, sturdy wood. Popular choices include Brazilian cherry, alder, cedar, teak, cypress, and mahogany. Cedar and teak are two of the best choices because they are particularly pest and decay resistant. Both woods are sturdy and will remain beautiful for many years. Outdoor accent pieces made in the same woods are also available. These include wood arbors, planter boxes, and pergolas. They can be used to create a theme or just add beauty and interest.

Outdoor wooden benches are manufactured in many styles. You may choose them with or without backs, cushions, and metal accents. There are also various sizes. Whether you want to add the occasional small outdoor bench or provide seating for several people, you will find it easy to locate the size you need. Benches are manufactured to match decorating themes, from the simplest natural tastes to the most elaborate English gardens. The one thing they all have in common is that they offer elegant, practical outdoor decorating and seating solutions.

Outdoor Decorating: Professional Landscaping Advice

Landscaping is a great way to do some home improvement that will have a big impact. Your landscaping really improves your home's curb appeal and it's one of the first things people notice about your home. One thing to ensure is that you also take care regarding the look of your lawn as a whole. Amazing landscaping won't really help you if your lawn is patchy, brown, or unkempt. A beautiful lawn with tasteful landscaping can really catch the eye of a potential buyer. It could mean the difference between making a sale and continuing to set on the market.

Even if you're planning to contract out the entire job to a professional, you can still save yourself some money. Spend a few hours clearing out the dead plants, weeds, and any debris or trash from all of your beds and lawn will save you paying a professional hundreds to do the same work. Clearing out beds is not something you need experience to do, so why not save your cash for the work you really can't do?

A professional landscaper may provide lawn design or you may need to hire a landscape designer to draw up some plans for you. That doesn't mean you can't contribute to the conversation. Bring your magazine ads and photos to share with the designer so that they have a clear idea of what you envision in your yard. The designer can calculate plans with different options so you can see if your vision and your budget match.

Be sure to get references and referrals to find your designer. Talk with each of them and look over their ideas. Get estimates from each one, but don't let that be the deciding factor. Carefully consider what each one has to offer and weigh in their reputation and reliability.