Oh, that’s one of my favorite questions—because the answer is such a happy “yes!” I remember the first time a customer asked me this in person, they were practically squinting at me like, “Be honest, I’m gonna have to buy a whole new bench, aren’t I?” When I told them we actually designed the basic bench to be upgradeable from day one, their whole face lit up. So if you’re sitting on one of our entry-level outdoor benches right now and thinking, “This is great, but my elbows and spine would really love a little more love,” you are in exactly the right place.
Here’s the deal: our basic outdoor bench model—whether you grabbed the teak version, the powder-coated aluminum, or the thermally modified ash—shares the exact same frame architecture as our premium loungers. That wasn’t an accident. We intentionally kept the side rails pre-drilled with recessed stainless steel inserts so you can bolt on a full accessory kit later, no drill required. The kit comes with everything you need: a pair of curved armrests, a gently angled backrest slat-pack, marine-grade bolts with nylon lock nuts, and a tube of Tef-Gel to prevent any galling between stainless and aluminum (if that’s your frame material). The only tool you’ll need is a 5mm hex key, which we tuck right into the box.
Installation? Genuinely fun. You start by removing two plastic caps on either side of the bench frame—those are just placeholders to keep water out before you add the armrests. Then you slot the armrest brackets into the pre-cut grooves, push the bolts through, and hand-tighten before giving them a final quarter turn with the key. The backrest attaches via the same mount points that normally hold the rear stretcher; you just swap out the shorter brackets. The whole thing takes about fifteen minutes if you’re taking your time and sipping a coffee, probably half that if you’re just excited. The backrest angle isn’t adjustable on the basic upgrade, but we set it at a 105-degree recline—plenty supportive without making you feel like you’re tipping backwards. And the armrests are just wide enough to balance a mug or a glasses case, with that lovely hand-routed bullnose edge so your forearms don’t ever catch a sharp corner.
Now, a couple of things to keep in mind so you’re 100% in the know. First, the upgrade kits are finish-matched to your bench model, but if your bench has already spent a season in the sun, there might be a subtle difference in tone until everything weathers in together. That’s just the nature of oiled timber and UV exposure. If you want a perfectly uniform look right away, you can give the whole bench a light sanding and re-oil it post-install—or just let nature do its thing; within a month or two they’ll be indistinguishable. Second, the backrest kit adds about eight kilograms to the bench, so if you’re someone who likes to constantly drag your seating around the garden to chase the sun, you might want to enlist a second pair of hands after the upgrade. It’s not unmanageable, but it’s no longer featherlight.
Price-wise, the armrest kit and backrest kit are sold separately because we know some people just want the elbow support, while others are all about lumbar comfort. Buying them together as a “Comfort Bundle” saves you about 15% compared to getting them individually, and we often run that bundle during the early spring launch. If you’re not sure which route to go, here’s my honest take: if you spend more than thirty minutes at a time on your bench—maybe you’re a sunset-sitter or you use it as your outdoor dining spot—get both. The armrests take the pressure off your shoulders in a way you don’t realize you’ve been missing, and the backrest transforms a perch into a proper seat. If it’s mainly a quick shoe-removal station in the mudroom, maybe just the backrest.
One last thing that makes me smile: because these components are retrofittable, I’ve seen so many of you start with the basic bench and then, years later, gift the upgrade kit to a partner as an anniversary present. It’s oddly romantic—“Hey, I upgraded our bench so we can sit together more comfortably after gardening”—and it genuinely keeps these pieces out of the landfill. That modular design philosophy runs deep here; we’d rather you have one bench that grows with you than three that end up on the curb.
So yes, armrests and a backrest are absolutely an option. In fact, they’re two options. And if you have the basic bench already, you’re just a quick installation away from feeling like you’ve bought a whole new piece of furniture without spending anything near that.