If you are in the market for a new bench for your yard on which you and your family can enjoy a nice picnic lunch or your kids can spend the afternoon playing on, then you have many more options than the traditional wooden style bench you may remember from when you were a kid at the local park.  Nowadays, picnic benches come in a wide variety of different materials and styles so you can find a bench that is made in just the material you would like and comes in the style you were hoping for.

The most popular materials for these types of benches are still wood, since that is the traditional look that most people are going for.  The only thing about wood, however, is that it takes quite a bit of maintenance to keep it looking its best, so unless you want to just let it get weathered looking and worn, you will need to periodically stain it or paint and then put a sealer over it to keep it protected.  Even with regular maintenance, you may find that your wooden bench can be prone to insect damage as well as water damage, so there is some work involved in maintaining this type of bench if you are looking for something you plan on keeping long term.

Another popular type of bench is one that is made of plastic or recycled plastic.  These are easy to care for and easy to keep clean, which is one reason why they are such a popular choice for families with young children.  A simple spray of the hose or a wipe down with a cloth or some paper towels and the bench looks as good as new.  While this type of bench doesn’t have the same old world authentic look as wood does, it certainly makes it nice and easy to maintain.

You can also find benches in other materials as well, but wood and plastic are by far the most popular types and will give you the most design options to choose from.