It’s a Bench. It’s a Planter. It’s My New Favorite Patio Find

Is it just me, or does it seem like everyone is on a gardening kick right now? This spring, I’ve been seeing gardening gems and tricks popping up on my social media feed more than last year: Some people are trying out “chaos gardening,” while others are showing off their cottagecore-style gardens (which I’m so jealous of). Plenty of cute planters pop up here and there, too.

Maybe my algorithm just figured out that I’m determined to start a tiny garden of my own, now that I have a balcony. The reality is, I can’t do much because my patio furniture takes up so much space. But then, I got to thinking: Is there such a thing as a planter that doubles as furniture? Lo and behold, once I got to searching, I found this ingenious (and gorgeous) bench with planter boxes on either side. And it’s more affordable than I would’ve ever guessed!

Part of Furinno Tioman’s Outdoor Series — which includes chairs, coffee tables, and more if you want to create a matching set — this piece is crafted from Malaysian dark red Meranti wood. Treated with teak oil, it could easily be mistaken for a $100-plus item. It has the sturdiness of something more expensive, too, if its high rating is any indication. The brand recommends applying wood oil once a year to keep up its appearance, but that’s a small price to pay for an item as smart as this one.

The boxes on either side of the bench — which is removable and seats one person comfortably — measure about 16x16x18 inches. That means you can put a pretty substantial plant in each one. Just keep in mind you can’t plant directly in them. The boxes are bottomless, but they’re roomy enough to conceal large inserts. Since they’ll be hidden, you can buy some cheap plastic planters and call it a day.

You can also find this planter box at Amazon, but it’s almost out of stock at the moment. (Over 1,000 shoppers bought it in the past month alone!) If you’re short on space or want to save even more cash, Amazon also has a mini version for half the price. It’s 39.5 inches wide in total, compared to the full size’s 68.5-inch width. The planter sections are also roughly 9x9x12 inches.

Average Rating: 4.9/5

“We absolutely love this! It was so easy to put together. We also used their recommendation and used teak oil to weather it and preserve it.” —Shoba G.

“Easy to put together and looks nice! Might need sanded but otherwise great! The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I’ll need to purchase or craft inserts to make the flower boxes functional. They are hollow. Overall would buy again!” —Michelle M.

“Went together easily. Looks great.” —Rita K.

It’s no wonder this two-in-one find is so popular. The price is right, and it creates extra seating while adding some eye candy to your patio or porch. Since it’s almost gone at Amazon, it’s probably a good idea to snag it at Ashley ASAP! And the sooner it arrives, the sooner you can enjoy it and bask in the spring weather!

Buy: Furinno Tioman Outdoor Planter Box, $84.99 (normally $111.99)