Your patio has become your little piece of heaven. Maybe you enjoy the morning’s first cup of coffee while sitting on your patio. Maybe your patio is where you gather all your friends and family to eat, drink, and celebrate. Maybe your patio is where you read your favorite book while your kids run through the backyard. No matter the reason, your patio has become your favorite place in the house.
There’s just one problem.
Your cushions are soaked from last night’s rain because you forgot to bring them in the day before.
You constantly have to bring the cushions inside, so they don’t mildew from the rain or get covered in pollen during the spring. It is a constant back-and-forth of bringing cushions in and taking them back outside.
There are also additional items you take outside with you to help you enjoy your time on the patio, such as a citronella candle, bug spray, and sunscreen. It seems that you spend just as much time gathering items from inside to take outside than you do sitting on your patio.
To save time and create additional seating for guests, you need a storage bench for your patio.
A patio storage bench will hold all the items you need for your patio: furniture cushions, bug spray, sunscreen, candles, garden tools, toys, etc. If you need it for your patio, a patio storage bench can hold it.
The Material of the Patio Storage Bench
The size of your patio storage bench won’t matter if the material is unable to keep the contents inside protected from the elements. What good is a patio storage bench if the inside gets wet every time it rains?
This is the first consideration you need to look at when choosing the best patio storage bench for your outdoor needs.
If you plan on keeping items stored inside that require them to stay dry, you will want to look at a waterproof material. Your storage bench will be waterproof if it is made out of resin or plastic.
While some wooden storage boxes claim to be waterproof, it’s not a risk you should be willing to take if you plan on storing items that need to stay away from water. Wood is porous and a finishing coat of sealant may not be enough to withstand all of the outdoor elements. This makes a plastic or resin-based patio storage bench the best option for storing items that need to stay dry.
If you will be storing tools, equipment, and pool supplies, you will want to choose a more sturdy wooden patio storage bench. A wooden storage bench will be able to hold rugged tools and equipment without taking a beating the way a plastic or resin bench would.
The Size of the Patio Storage Bench
Once you have decided on the use of your patio storage bench, you need to decide on the size.
Will you be storing large or numerous heavy equipment and tools? If so, you may want to look at storage benches that will accommodate those items.
Is the only goal of your patio storage bench to store your furniture cushions and other small outdoor items like candles, bug spray, and sunscreen? If so, you will be able to get by with a smaller-sized patio storage bench. Small patio storage will save you money and space but you need to decide if losing space is worth saving a few bucks.
The Weight Capacity of the Patio Storage Bench
The last feature you need to consider is the weight capacity that the patio storage bench will hold while it is closed. If you want the patio storage bench to double as additional seating (which is the whole idea behind the patio storage bench), then you will need to make sure the patio storage bench you choose will hold the weight of one or two people who sit on top of it.
Some patio storage benches are made of a weak material that only holds approximately 50lbs on top. This is not enough of a weight capacity to hold one adult. Therefore, you would not benefit from adding additional seating to your patio with a patio storage bench with a lightweight capacity.
Make sure you check the weight capacity before purchasing a patio storage bench so that you can store items and add seating from your new patio storage bench. A weight capacity of about 250 pounds will be much more equipped to hold an adult than a storage bench with a weight capacity of only 50 pounds.
Decorate It!
The best feature of the patio storage bench is that it doesn’t have to look like a storage bench! By adding a bench cushion and a couple of throw pillows, you can turn a seemingly bland piece of outdoor furniture into a customized piece that fits the theme of your patio.
The best part is when a guest asks for an item, such as a blanket or bug spray, and you open up this piece of furniture to get out exactly what they are looking for. They will be so surprised that the furniture they are sitting on is actually an outdoor patio storage bench instead of a custom-made piece of furniture.
The Bottom Line
You must first decide if you need the patio storage bench to be waterproof. If so, you need to look at plastic or resin-based patio storage benches. If not, you can add wooden storage benches to your options.
Once you have decided on the need for waterproofing, if any, you need to decide on the size. You need to consider what you will be storing in the patio storage bench to determine how big you need the bench to be.
The last consideration for your patio storage bench is the weight capacity of the lid when it is closed. A patio storage bench gets the most useful if it doubles as additional seating. Therefore, you should make sure the weight capacity of the bench you choose is enough to hold a guest or two as they sit on top.