The garden bench offers a great storage solution for those who don’t have a garage or shed
Gardening is a lot of fun. There’s nothing better than spending hours carefully curating your borders and then spending the following days sitting in the sunshine, watching the fruits of your labour grow.
However, a common barrier some face is finding a place to store all the equipment. I’m fortunate to have a garage, but the only way in is via the door to the front of the house, which can become a bit of a cumbersome trek for tools when tending to the back garden.
It was all a bit laborious until I discovered a nifty 2-in-1 Eden garden bench and storage box from Keter that has proven a superb place to store all manner of garden tools – and a perfect spot to perch for a morning cuppa. With a 265L capacity, it’s capable of holding lots, from spades to outdoor cushions and toys.
Read more: Gardener delighted with ‘very effective’ product that banishes ‘hours of weeding’
Read more: Debenhams shoppers rave about garden storage box that’s ‘really good quality’
It’s currently available on Amazon with a small discount taking the price down from £129.99 to £125. It can also be picked up from Argos for the same price.
The bench comfortably seats two adults and has a lockable option for added security. Overall, I can hardly fault it, the bench was a fantastic purchase and the best thing I’ve bought for my garden.
I’ve had it for around two years now and have had no problems with any water leaking into it. While it looks as good as new – the plastic material is so easy to wipe if you get any bird poo, dog paw prints or general outdoor dirt on it.
The only thing I had an issue with was putting it up. It’s a bit of a fiddly task that involves a lot of lining up plastic and clicking together. If you’re someone (like me) who gets frustrated with that kind of thing, then be prepared to be annoyed while putting it together.
But, after cursing a few times, I managed it – it’s nothing impossible, just certainly not the most fun ever. Other than that I’ve been very pleased with mine. If you’re on the hunt for a storage option that’s a bit cheaper, Debenhams sells the Living and Home 290L Outdoor Garden Storage Box for £48.99, down from £218. However, it’s worth pointing out this particular product doesn’t double up as a bench. Elsewhere, Dunelm stocks the Hudson 2 Seater Storage Bench that is said to be “beautifully made”, though it is a bit more expensive at £189.
My view on the Keter bench seems to be shared by the overwhelming majority of people who’ve bought it to date. It averages a high rating of 4.5 stars from more than 12,000 ratings. One said: “Great bench with storage. I initially wanted wood but after nothing that suited I went for this and I’m really happy with it. The colour is nice and with the faux wood design the style fits well.”
Another continued: “I was able to assemble this on my own, though packaging and blurb states two people needed. Light enough to move out of the house into the garden on my own, too. Comfortable to sit on, though will purchase a cushion in future.”
A third went on: “Great bench, easy assembly, sturdy and strong and maintenance free.” But, a bit like my experience, some buyers have flagged a bit of trouble with assembly.
One said: “Not easy to fit together because the instructions are rubbish and if you make a mistake you can’t unclick it to start again.” Another shared it was “a little tricky snapping into place at some parts”.
