If you have basic DIY skills, a few home woodworking tools, and some old pallets lying around the shed, you can build your own homemade bench and add a bit of rustic charm to the backyard in the ...

This acacia, veneer and metal dining bench has an au courant worn look and sturdy construction at a budget-friendly price. Ridge bench, 84.9-inch, $229.99, most Cost Plus World Market Stores ...

Consider the setting for your bench. A rustic bench is a natural addition to a woodland or cottage garden. It would look good overlooking a pond, or next to a meadow sown with wildflower seeds.

Furniture maker Maus Rijnhart says pallets make up a lot of the pieces he sells, which have included coffee tables, closets, bed bases and kitchen island benches. An unfinished pallet wood closet.