15 Potting Bench Ideas That Are Practical and Beautiful

potting shed in a greenhouse with a sink — Credit:
Caroline Sharpnack / Well x Design

Potting benches are more than a whimsical piece of garden furniture. They’re a backyard workhouse, serving as a keepsake station for all your gardening supplies and containers while providing a surface to tend to your plants. Despite being utilitarian, giving your potting bench extra TLC ensures it looks great in your backyard and allows you to maximize its usage year-round. If you’re looking for potting bench ideas, take inspiration from these beautiful setups.

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Go for a Sleek and Simple Design

Simple Potting Bench — Credit:
Kristi Dawkins

Potting benches often take on a weathered or rustic aesthetic, but this sleek and streamlined version by Kristi Dawkins of Farm at Berry Lane deviates from the expected. You can keep it minimalistic or add some country-chic touches, as seen here.

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Give Yourself a Seat

Gardening tools on table and spring flower on the terrace in garden — Credit:
Getty Images

Who says you have to hover over your potting bench? If you have a few hours of potting, transplanting, or working planned, give yourself a breather by having a nearby seat. This one matches the bench, but any weather-resistant option will work. Add a soft cushion to make the setup even more enjoyable.

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Add Lots of Cubbies

potting bench with lots of slots — Credit:
Amy Manning

This charming potting bench is a dream for gardeners who love an organized station. Upcycled by Amy Manning, The top half features three rows of small cubbies perfect for housing seeds, tools, small pots, germinating plants, fertilizer, and decorative accents, keeping everything within easy reach. The soft sage green finish and rustic wood details blend beautifully into a farmhouse or cottage-style space, though this style works in any hue.

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Keep it Tiny

The set of different tools and equipment for gardening at wooden wall of shed with birch firewood. — Credit:
Getty Images

A compact gardening workstation like this one is perfect for those who do not have a lot of yard space to work with. Mounted against a wooden fence, the petite table offers just enough room for a few essential tools, a plant, and a spray bottle. Clever hooks and wall-mounted storage maximize vertical space, making this potting bench idea great for small gardens, patios, or balconies.

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Channel Old World Europeon Charm

potting bench indoors with curtain — Credit:
Alison Gelling

This rustic potting bench by Scotland-based Alison Gelling exudes European countryside charm via its rugged stone walls and linen curtain skirting on the lower half (which conveniently hides any clutter). If your gardening workspace is indoors, consider placing it in front of the window for a more seamless transition from inside to outdoors, and take advantage of nearby walls for additional storage needs.

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Upcycle a Ladder

old staircase with flower pots in the garden — Credit:
Getty Images

Whether you're working with a smaller space or want to turn an old find into a new treasure, a ladder serves as the perfect makeshift potting bench. Attach hooks on the side to hang your gardening tools, or leave it as-is and store items as needed.

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Place It in a Greenhouse

Floweing orchid on greenhouse workbench — Credit:
Getty Images

Placing your potting bench in a greenhouse keeps you (and your workstation) out of the elements. A protected potting bench allows wood and metal to last much longer, and it also allows you to get work done even if it's raining. And of course, greenhouses are ideal places for plants to thrive.

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Lean Into Cottage Vibes

potting bench — Credit:
Read McKendree / Joshua Smith Inc.

This distressed, pale blue potting table ushers in a sense of cottage charm on this front porch. It functions as both a decorative focal point and a working station thanks to the addition of fresh-cut flowers and a mirror with a rustic lattice.

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Add a Rustic Sink

potting bench with rustic sink — Credit:
Caroline Sharpnack / Well x Design

This rustic potting bench adds a nice contrast to the modern glass greenhouse it's housed within. The extra-long working bench provides plenty of space to do a day's work, and a custom stone sink with gilded hardware adds a high-end, personalized touch.

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Leverage a Simple Table

watering can on gardener table with trowel and clay flower pots. Hydrangea paniculata on background — Credit:
Getty Images

This gardening setup proves you do not need a dedicated potting bench to create a functional workspace. In this case, a simple folding table provides everything you need to house your essential tools, pots, watering can, and work table. It's also compact enough to fit into small spaces, including tiny yards, balconies, small front porches, and beyond.

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Stack Old Crates

Crates and plants on balcony — Credit:
Getty Images

Wood pallets and crates are abundant, meaning they're cheap and easy to come by. They're also great for all sorts of DIY projects, including creating a potting bench for your garden. Here, a trio of stacked crates come together to create a workstation for potting and décor. Just make sure to secure the crates together and against the wall to prevent them from tipping.

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Add Hanging Storage

potting bench with extra storage — Credit:
Alison Gelling

Make the most of vertical space by adding hanging storage closeby your potting bench for rakes, trowels, shovels, and hoes. The open shelving and hooks maximize functionality without cluttering your primary workspace, allowing for a tidy and inviting environment. If your potting bench is outside, consider adding hanging storage to the side of a shed, against a lattice wall, or on a fence.

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Build a Gardening Shed

A pretty wooden greenhouse with a half door sits handsomely on a paving stones in a back garden. Low, winter light shines through the windows, falling around the outhouse, creating long shadows. — Credit:
Getty Images

Why stop at a potting bench when you could build yourself a beautiful garden shed? This wood-and-glass shed tucks neatly into your backyard and serves as a working center for potting, transplanting, germinating, and storing your garden essentials.

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Think Beyond the Expected

upcycled garden bench — Credit:
Amy Manning

When upcycling items for your potting bench, think beyond the expected. Here, Manning transformed an antique woodworking bench—originally designed for carpentry with a built-in vise and wooden peg joinery—into a functional gardening space for potted plants, trays, and tools.

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Use Rolling Carts

Plants on shelves — Credit:
Getty Images

Rolling carts are another easy-to-find piece that works brilliantly for all kinds of storage solutions. In this modern potting bench setup, two crates team up to store watering cans, plants, pots, and more. A nearby table gives you a flat surface to work on.