How to Design a Deck With Bench Seating

Simple benches built along this deck will create a nice gathering place.

Building a deck with bench seating leaves more floor space for other types of furniture. A deck with sitting room around its perimeter will accommodate more people, too. Creating bench seating as part of the overall design is relatively simple, since the railing space functions as the backrest area. This type of deck design makes it possible to use benches as storage space, if desired. Many options are available, and many plans do not require a lot of additional lumber to create bench seating. Make sure the design works well with the overall house design, however.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tools
• Sketch pad
• Graph paper

Instructions

1. Measure yard space for the deck. Sketch the overall dimensions for deck flooring. Decide how to access the deck from inside the house, such as installing sliding glass doors from the kitchen. Envision how family and visitors may exit the deck into yard space, too. Create benches around the main deck design once it's in place.

2. Draw the house exterior. Figure out the deck flooring and side rails in relation to the house. Sketch the height of the deck from flooring down to ground-level on all sides, along with support posts or pilings you plan to install underneath. Transfer these dimensions to graph paper to make sure the deck looks appropriate with the architecture of the house.

3. Sketch railings around the deck. Draw sides slanting outward to create a more spacious feeling on the actual deck. Keep in mind that slanted rails must offer protection to keep a seated person from tipping into the yard. But each person seated along benches will not use railings as a backrest. Design railings perpendicular to deck flooring if you want deck railing to serve as actual backrests for those seated.

4. Draw sitting benches around one or more sides that are constructed of 2-by-4-inch boards. Incorporate hinged plywood seats if benches will double as storage boxes. Plan to add padded vinyl cushions to the bench tops, if you desire. Buy umbrellas in the same color for one or two eating tables to create a coordinated look with the sitting benches.

5. Construct sitting benches approximately 24 inches wide and 24 inches high from deck flooring. Use stainless steel wood brackets to secure bench seating to the deck. Plan to stain the benches to match all component parts of the deck flooring for a unified look. Make sure the benches don't stand out too much on their own. Create them to blend with the overall look of the deck.

References

• Ideas for Deck Designs: Building Benches for Your Deck
• Learn About Deck Design: Building a Deck Bench the Easy Way
• Remodeling Center: Built-In Seating Solutions for Your Deck or Patio

Resources

• Build Easy: How to Build a Bench Seat
• Move: Bench with Back Attached to a Finished Deck