Space-Saving Patio Storage Bench Seats

Space is often limited in a modern back yard or patio area, so it's great to find furniture like an outdoor storage bench, which combines a bench style of patio furniture with a deck storage box.

Stash your extra barbecue gear, swimming pool toys, garden tools, garden hose - or whatever other essential gear you like to keep close at hand for outdoor use - in a patio storage bench seat, with the bonus of extra seating when friends drop by.

Natural wood or all-weather resin, traditional bench style or sleek deck boxes with seating on top - take a look at the selection of seats! There's sure to be a storage bench to suit your patio.

Photo: Achla Designs Storage Bench

Acacia is a wood that stands up to weather quite well naturally, and this garden bench has been treated with oil to help preserve the color of the stained wood, but you'll want to use it in a covered patio or porch (not out in full force of the sun and rain) to keep it looking its best.

Hardwood storage bench boxes are traditional and beautiful - my first choice, for sure - but they do require some maintenance and may not be suitable for all climates or lifestyles.

Much as we love the look of wood, there's a lot to be said for a tough stay-dry storage box that doubles as extra patio seating, that you can just leave outside on the patio or deck in all weathers.

If easy-care is your summertime mode, check out the sleek modern patio storage bench seats now available in low-care materials, from wood-look composites to the trendy wicker-look resin garden furniture. Hose 'em off or wipe 'em down every once in a while, using an all-purpose household cleaner or soapy water, if necessary, and your patio storage bench should look good and serve you well for years of enjoyable outdoor living.

The large 150-gallon deck box featured here is as useful for sitting as it is for storage, and it has one rather nice feature you'll want to look for in a long bench style of storage box - the lid has a hydraulic hinge to prevent it from slamming shut on your fingers. This model is lockable, too.

Large and extra-large deck boxes can be very convenient, but even more so when they are beautifully disguised as a piece of garden furniture. Put an all-weather loveseat under a shady tree where you do the most gardening work, for taking a break, or near the kids' play area so you can keep watch in comfort.

The inside measurements of the storage area are 15" x 15" x 20" on this popular wicker-look patio storage bench. It's a comfortable single bench, large enough to seat an adult comfortably but compact enough to tuck away in a corner of a small deck or patio when you don't need the extra seating. Great for use indoors or outdoors, I like the versatility of a contemporary design carried out in popular resin wicker.