If you were to talk to a craftsman and say you wanted to order a tree bench, you may be surprised at what you actually got, if you were not more specific.
There are actually two pieces of furniture that bear the tree bench name.
The first difference between the two is their location.
One is an inside piece of furniture, usually in an entryway wall.
The other is an outside piece of furniture that often finds itself wrapped around a tree.
The inside tree bench variety is a fabulous piece to have if you live in an area where there is a lot of weather related clothing.
It is a bench with a top that often has a number of hooks and possibly a shelf on which to hang things.
Some have what looks to be like a coat stand coming out of the bench portion, which is likely where it picked up the 'tree bench' name.
Once you walk in the door you have all the tools you need to free yourself of the weather beaten outer items you have on.
You can take a seat on the bench while you remove your boots or other footwear, then you can hang that coat or scarf on the 'branches' and finally put your hat on the shelf up top.
It is an ingenious way to be able to keep all these things together, yet also organized and able to dry out if they are wet.
The other bonus to many of this style of tree bench is not only is the sitting area a bench, but also a storage chest.
Once the winter or wet season is over, you can pack away that outerwear and make the area look neat and clean.
The other kind of tree bench is likely curled around someone's favorite old oak tree.
This is a bench that is, just as the name says, for a tree.
Often these are 4 or 6-sided benches that are built with the tree growing through the center, almost like a frame for the trunk.
Many choose a tree that they are fond of in their yard to build these benches around, so they always have a welcome place, in the shade, to sit and take in the beautiful hand that nature has dealt them.
When looking to buy a tree bench, the process is going to be very different for each style.
The indoor tree bench will be able to be found at a number of furniture stores.
The big problem you will have to deal with is which one to choose since they are created in a number of styles with many additional features and designs to go with any décor.
For an outdoor tree bench, it's going to be a little harder to buy one.
Since all trees are different, so is the tree bench that goes around them.
A tree bench that fits well around one trunk may not work for another, so these pieces usually have to be specially made.