This 2-in-1 Nancy Meyers–Inspired Garden Storage Bench Is the Chic but Practical Upgrade Your Small Patio Really Needs
A surprisingly spacious inner compartment keeps backyard chaos out of sight – and your 'Nancy Meyers summer' fantasy fully intact
Even small backyards accumulate surprisingly big secrets. 'Secrets' meaning all the practical things we technically need but don’t love to look at, such as garden tools, tangled extension cords, and stacks of outdoor cushions that somehow seem to outnumber people living in the house. Square footage usually forces an ultimatum: seating or storage. But I found one chic lift-top seat that executes both.
Between the charming curved arms and the characterfully slatted acacia wood, this outdoor storage bench carries a timeless ease that could exist in the Nancy Meyers universe – a backyard accessory for a hostess-with-the-mostess-type armored with dozens of garden-party-ready tablecloths and nowhere to put them. Hidden beneath the seat, however, your outdoor storage needs can be as unsightly or random as you like.
Note that this two-in-one outdoor seating is intended for covered spaces. Think under a gazebo or porch. It also comes in distressed white and gray and has earned a robust 4.3 stars across nearly 900 reviews. Currently on major Memorial Day sale, though that’s almost beside the point.
Frankly, the Banks family in Father of the Bride (1991) could’ve used one of these. Given the escalating wedding chaos, it’s not difficult to imagine the hidden compartment serving as temporary storage for Bryan’s infamous blender.
Just top it off with a favorite outdoor cushion (Nancy absolutely would’ve chosen gingham or pinstripes) and suddenly you’ve got a fully fledged outdoor seat for long afternoons in the sun. Guests will remain none the wiser of whatever alfresco antics are unfolding beneath them.
This easygoing bench looks excellent with your outdoor decor. But even if it didn’t, just under 50 gallons of storage space means everything you see could be stashed inside anyway.
If you need inspo for what exactly to sneak inside, I’m thinking outdoor-only acrylic glassware, portable lamps not currently in rotation indoors, and an assortment of sun-bleached backyard miscellany nobody seems to know what to do with.
Reviewers, meanwhile, have gotten surprisingly creative: beyond cushions, pool toys appear to be one of the bench’s most common hiding spots. One reviewer in Florida even admitted, ‘I love it! It looks so good I couldn’t put it outside. It looks great in my entryway!' – demonstrating promise of a second life indoors once summer ends.
One storage bench probably won’t solve all family drama, but, if it prevents even one argument about where the faded pool noodles and fallen bird feeders should go five minutes before company arrives, that feels like a fairly fabulous place to start.
Additional Storage Benches
There’s more than one way to stash a towel. These three on-sale styles bring order (and outsized charm) to your small backyard.
What this woven, water-resistant wicker box lacks in a backrest, it compensates for with a comfortable built-in cushion and a generous 40-gallon capacity that can easily handle the lion’s share of tools, grill supplies, sports equipment, and whatever else is currently stressing out your patio.
Handwoven from weather-resistant rattan and finished with an ergonomic high back for all-afternoon lounging, this 75-gallon style is roomy enough to handle both outdoor clutter and occasional indoor storage overflow. While it might sound too substantial for the average balcony, at 50 inches long, it’s still surprisingly feasible for most smaller outdoor spaces.
Add a splash of color to your patio or porch with this spacious 43-gallon deck box, which could easily be cousins with the bench above. It also comes with built-in cup holders on either side, so there’s no need for additional side tables hogging precious floor space.
Speaking of sleek outdoor storage, meet the clever cobalt IKEA counterpart that fans of the brand (our editorial team very much included) cannot stop evangelizing about. Conveniently, it’s also small-balcony-friendly.
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