Rustic look, easy to assemble, useful to store midsize loose items

We are using this wooden storage bench inside the house by the front door to store bags, outdoor clothing, and kids’ shoes. We are quite happy with it so far as it hides the loose items usually heaped by the door, making the area look cleaner without losing the functionality and quick access to these items. We can easily open the lid on our way out and grab what we need (e.g., bags and kids’ stuff). You can also sit on it while putting on your shoes! It is actually comfortable with the angle of the back giving good back support. The biggest drawback is that the lid opens only 12 inches (about 45 degrees), but still gives me enough room to grab what I need. What I absolutely love is that it stays up so I don’t need to hold it with one hand while I am looking for something with the other. While closing you should be careful as it gets a stronger pull toward the end, so make sure to align your fingers with the openings not to pinch a finger there. It was relatively easy to assemble and took me about an hour by myself. There were some awkward moments when someone could have helped to hold the lid while the other was fastening the hinges. I went around that issue by taking the hinges off from the lid and fastening them on the bench first. A second difficulty was that it was difficult to fasten the screw to the hinges while the lid didn't open all the way. I used an angled screwdriver to address that. In terms of its looks, it blends nicely with the room and would work with a rustic or farmhouse look. Overall, we are happy with its storage capacity and capability as well as the functionality to provide seating.

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Solid Garden Bench with Storage

A lot of outdoor funiture just isn't meant to last, but pieces like this bench are solid and should be long-lasting as a result of the materials used. I'm a woodworker, so I know what will and won't survive long-term outdoors, and there are few natural woods that can - acacia being one of them. One of the things I like about this bench is that you don't have to finish it to protect it from the elements. It will weather nicely while remaining solid and stable regardless of what Mother Nature throws at it.

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