If you have a lovely outdoor area but you’re lacking outdoor seating it can be a mission to find suitable outdoor furniture that not only fits the space but also doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
While you can rush out and try and track down furniture that suits you can also create the perfect outdoor setting from materials you have lying around the house.
In this article, we share how you can create a customised outdoor setting to suit your outdoor space using concrete besser blocks, wood and a little styling.
Materials needed to create your outdoor bench seating include:
- Concrete besser blocks 6 to 8 for each side
- 4 pieces of 4 inch x 4 inch x 10ft timber
- Concrete adhesive
- Cushions and material to create a bench seat cover
- Wheelbarrow
Tools needed to build the outdoor bench seat:
- Paint brush
- Adhesive for besser blocks
- Paint for bricks
- Material for cushions
- Oil for wood
Step 1: Make sure the ground is level before you start putting everything into place
Before you start putting your outdoor seating together, it’s important that the area you are going to set up the bench on is level and flat. Ideally, a spot with gravel or rocks is ideal rather than a space over tree roots, as you will need to lay the besser block base onto a sturdy pad to ensure it is safe.
Take some time to find the right space as one you have glued the bricks together it will be quite a task to move the outdoor chair so be sure you’re happy with the location.
Step 2: Set up the concrete besser blocks
Once you’re ready to start you will need to work on one side of the outdoor bench seat and set up the besser bricks to that they go on top of each other vertically. Stack them on top of each other and create a formation for the wood to slide through at the end.
Make sure you allow about 8 to 9 feet of space in the middle where the bench will be created – if you want a longer seat, get longer pieces of wood. Once you have set up one side with besser bricks, work on the other side and ensure it matches exactly.
Step 3: Feed the wood from one side to the other
Once you have both sides set up and they are nice and sturdy, it’s time to feed the pieces of wood through the holes in the concrete besser bricks and leave about six inches sticking out on both sides.
Once you have fed the wood through and are happy with how it is looking, you can pull it out again and then add some concrete adhesive in to set the besser bricks in place.
Step 4: Fix the concrete blocks with adhesive
Leave the adhesive to set the besser bricks together and once it is all dry then weave the wood back in through the holes for the cushions to lay on top of. If you do want to treat the wood before you feed it through it could be a good idea if your bench seat is exposed to the elements. A little bit of oil or varnish will do the trick, the choice of stain is completely up to you.
Step 5: Paint the bricks to add a bit of colour
Before you add on the customers, you can paint the besser bricks a colour of your choice to give them a little bit of colour and protect them from the element. The choice is yours, so go all out or paint them to suit the outside of your house.
Step 6: Create some cushions to suit the outdoor setting
Now it’s time to get a little creative and create a cushion that offers a comfortable space for you to relax and chill. You can use a leftover foam mattress and cut the cushions to suit the space or purchase deep seating cushions from a homewares store.
If you are handy, trace around the cushion space and grab some fabric to create some outdoor cushions for the bench. If you can find some curtain material or material that is suitable for the outdoors that’s ideal, as usually your outdoor seat will be exposed to the environment, otherwise using material is perfectly fine you will just need to bring the cushions inside when you are not using it.
Once you have created the seat cushions, use any left over material for back cushions which can either be made in one long piece or broken up into smaller cushions based on the left over material you have.
Whether you follow the instructions to a tee or you create a simple garden bench without the cushions, there are plenty of great ideas for using concrete besser bricks and wood to create a functional and versatile bench for your outdoor area.
Some alternative options for this DIY project include simply adding the wood only and making a simple garden bench without the cushions or if you add some extra besser bricks to each side you can add small garden beds to add a little something special, there are plenty of great ways to enhance your outdoor area with outdoor bench seating.
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