build your own Modern planter bench

The hardest part of building a wood bench is ensuring that its legs are sturdy and well attached. So to make it easy to build this 10-foot-long bench, we designed a bench top that rests on a pair of oversize ceramic pots. Add plants or trees to enrich the look; we used New Zealand flax.

The bench frame and top are made of 2-by-6 decking. (We used redwood, but you could substitute cedar or pressure-treated lumber.) For a comfortable seating height, choose pots that are about 18 inches tall and wide (no wider than 19 inches for this bench). Look for thick-walled, wide-lipped pots that have been glazed (that is, hardened); avoid unfired terra-cotta. For safety, lift bench top periodically and check pots for cracks.

The cost of the project is about $300, depending on the type of wood and pots.