Way Basics Bench Review

After moving into a larger house a year ago, I am still lacking seating and storage areas for all of the boys’ toys.  I recently came across a company called Way Basics which allows for endless possibilities.  First a little about Way Basics:

Since you’re here, you’re probably a lot like us: inventive, practical, and ready to build something that helps make the world a better place.

We believe we’ve invented the simplest, most ingenious furniture ever. Ultra-easy to put together, sustainably made and completely recyclable, it’s made from environmentally sound building blocks we call zBoards® that’ll inspire your creativity with playful possibilities.

And when you buy Way Basics furniture, you’re helping improve the world in other ways, too. We work with furniture banks around the country to help those families in desperate need — victims of natural disasters who’ve lost everything they owned, women and children escaping from domestic violence, working families below the poverty line, and others requiring a hand up — not a handout.

We’re founding members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, a coalition united to promote environmentally healthy practices in the industry, and to help consumers identify good furniture choices. We are also proud to announce that for 2008, Way Basics went zero via the Conservation Fund’s “Go Zero Program.” This means that we offset our company carbon emissions by planting trees at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge! To learn more visit the Conservation Fund.

We invite you to find out more about our products, our company, and our goals. Because we’re pretty sure they’re right in line with yours.

So what is Way Basics?

Way Basics Recycled Furniture

If you need simple, basic furniture that’s practical and versatile, Way Basics is for you. Our zBoards are easy to put together, sustainably made and completely recyclable. Buy them in pre-designed kits. Or go your own way, and use zBoards as inspiration to invent custom designs and build something new into your life. What does that all mean? Read on.

No Waste

It took us 10 years to perfect the ingenious building-block zBoards at the heart of our business. Our patented, environmentally sound manufacturing process turns post-consumer recycled paper into superbly strong boards that weigh 62% less than particle board. zBoards are just as solid and structurally sound as any engineered wood furniture, yet they’re made from one of the simplest materials ever – paper.

We designed these marvelous building boards to be versatile and easy to assemble, and came up with a new way to put the pieces together. Strategically placed super-strong adhesive tape is the answer – all you do is peel off the protective covering, stick the blocks together, and you’re done. If you’re creating your own design with zBoards, you can also use screws or hardware if you like. zBoards are water-resistant and easy to clean. They come in different colors and both light and dark wood-grain designs, so you have options to fit your decor. They’re also available in white, which makes a perfect canvas for your own imagination.

No Tools

In our packages, you won’t find mysterious collections of screws and nails, or complicated diagrams and instructions. That’s because you can put our unique zBoards together without tools or hardware. Super-strong 3M brand adhesive strips let you fit the pieces neatly together. Just peel, stick and you’re done. Honest.

No Rules

You can buy our thoughtfully designed step-by-step furniture kits. And because they’re so easy to assemble and so versatile, you can also mix and match zBoards to fulfill your furniture fantasies. Since Way Basics products are modular, it’s easy to add on to your creation if you need more storage or want to use it for a different purpose. Then paint, wallpaper, or embellish them any way you like as well. (Kids love to decorate their own Way Basics stuff.)   That’s something you definitely don’t get with most assembly-required furniture.

I was fortunate  to review the Way Basics Basic Bench.  I had my choice of orange or blue and with 2 boys I quickly chose their favorite color blue.

The Basic Bench is a functional necessity for every home or apartment. With the many various configurations and colors to choose from, the Basic Bench is a solution for your entryway, bedroom, living room or child’s playroom.

Included are 2 Divider Boards which allow you to customize the Basic Bench to your liking. Use the Divider Boards to add another element of intrigue to your Basic Bench by aligning them straight, sideways, or mix things up with one facing straight and one sideways.

My Take:  I was very skeptical of this bench…I mean super-strong adhesive tape is going to withstand 2 energetic little boys?  Assembly was a breeze though I did watch the little assembly video on you-tube which gave some handy tips for assembly.   It is recommended to let the furniture sit for 24 hours before any weight is placed on it so I made sure to assemble once the boys were in bed and then hid it in the garage.  It has been a little over a week and the bench is used for toy and book storage.  It has been sat on by all of us (not at the same time LOL) and still looks brand new.  We have white trim throughout our house and I love how the white border around the bench fits in perfectly at our house.

The Basic Bench retails for $39.50 and comes in 5 different colors.

Way Basics on can be found on Facebook and they are having some great promotions right now such as free shipping on any item (become a fan and you can find the code on their updates).  Considering that shipping furniture can be quite expensive that is a great promotion!  Also they have giveaways every Friday for Facebook followers!