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Outdoor Wall Seats

Outdoor entertaining is only becoming more and more popular in Australia, especially as summer approaches.  But what to do if you find that there are too many people and not enough chairs?  There is no need to rush out and spend money on additional seating – consider using wall seats.  They are economical and also look great.

Locating the Wall Seats

Obviously, the wall seating will have to be located against a wall of some kind.  This wall can be a fence, providing that it is strong enough, a retaining wall, or the wall of your house.  Ensure that the spot that you choose to locate your seats has ample room.  You will need to accommodate the size of the seat itself, as well as ensuring that there is enough room for people to sit and maneuvers comfortably.  There is nothing worse than constantly bumping your shins on a seat because there is not enough of a gap to walk past.

Designing and Building the Wall Seats

There are two main options when it comes to wall seats – a box style design or a seat that is held up by brackets.  You can choose to build these yourself or have them made for you.  No matter which design you choose, there are two things that need to be considered – the height and the width of the seat.  You want to be able to sit on the seat comfortably, without feeling like you’re going to fall off, or like you are too high or low.  The easiest way to determine the height and width of your seats is to measure an existing chair that you find comfortable.  A seat that is 600mm wide by 900mm high should be reasonable.   Remember, however, to account for the straightness of the wall behind you.  An extra 100mm on the width of the seat should suffice.  If you are using wall brackets to hold your seat up, ensure that you use enough brackets for strength.

Making the Wall Seats Comfortable

Now the seats are built and installed, it is time to make them comfortable to sit or lie on.  This can be done by using colourful cushions in a durable, weatherproof fabric.  Line the cushions up along the back of the wall or use them for softer seats.  If using as seating, use some sort of tie to hold the cushion to the seat, to prevent slippage.