Decorating
7 Handy Spots for Hardworking Bench Seats
The seating solution with no arms and no back can add charm and versatility to rooms inside and out
The humble bench seat is one of my favourite pieces of furniture. As a built-in or freestanding piece it can play many roles in the home – a bench seat can also serve as an ottoman, or even a daybed. Whether it’s made of simple timber, upholstered with squab seats or recycled from other furniture, the bench seat is extremely versatile. Use it for storage, for displays of collectables or books, or as a way to add another decorative layer to a room. Here are seven places you could press a bench into service with ease.
Did I say handy? You always need somewhere for your keys, bags, and shopping as well as pot plants and books – so why not utilise any spare space in your entryway by adding a bench seat? It’s practical and easy, and adding upholstery and art you love lifts the style to front-door ready.
2. In living areas
Who said a coffee table needed to be hard and solid? An ottoman creates an interesting focal point when it’s upholstered in a striking feature fabric. Look for a fairly large piece that can be used to hold coffee trays, beautiful books and arrangements. And it’s still perfect for putting your feet up on at the end of the day, or being called in to serve as casual seating.
How to use ottomans to your advantage
Who said a coffee table needed to be hard and solid? An ottoman creates an interesting focal point when it’s upholstered in a striking feature fabric. Look for a fairly large piece that can be used to hold coffee trays, beautiful books and arrangements. And it’s still perfect for putting your feet up on at the end of the day, or being called in to serve as casual seating.
How to use ottomans to your advantage
In an open-plan living room, a bench seat is a great way to split up the zones and provide seating on either side of the room. Here, the seat has been given extra presence with upholstered ends and a cosy collection of pillows and throws, and stylishly takes the place of a sofa.
If you have a large space, scale up the bench, as London interior designers Godrich Interiors have done in this stunning Ibiza beach house. In the reversal of its usual helper role, the bench seat becomes the focal point, inviting hours of lounging, and the individual armchairs become the minor players.
Pull a bench up to a window with a view to create additional seating, an out of the way spot to enjoy the view, or a place for a nap.
3. In children’s sleep and play areas
Few features make a child’s bedroom more inviting than a seat designed for reading. Add some comfy squabs and cushions, and you’ve created the perfect zone for your little ones to read and play – with or without their friends and siblings.
Few features make a child’s bedroom more inviting than a seat designed for reading. Add some comfy squabs and cushions, and you’ve created the perfect zone for your little ones to read and play – with or without their friends and siblings.
Older kids needn’t miss out. This sophisticated bedroom has a bench seat long enough for a growing teen to stretch out, and incorporates storage for their growing collection of favourite things too.
Or make a mobile bench do double duty with bins for toys and a smooth surface for construction, drawing and more. Again, add wheels and team it up with seating cubes for a versatile playroom that will grow with the kids.
Browse more great kids’ rooms
Browse more great kids’ rooms
4. In grown-up bedrooms
Finish off your bed setting with a comfortable bed-end bench. It’s the perfect dumping spot for the extra cushions when you get ready for bed, and does duty during the day as seating while putting on your shoes, laying out your clothes for the next day, or for books. A lift-up top can store out-of-season clothes or bedding away from the dust.
Finish off your bed setting with a comfortable bed-end bench. It’s the perfect dumping spot for the extra cushions when you get ready for bed, and does duty during the day as seating while putting on your shoes, laying out your clothes for the next day, or for books. A lift-up top can store out-of-season clothes or bedding away from the dust.
Or use a bench to mix up the look: here a vintage piece adds just the right amount of rugged and rough to sleek upholstery and finishes.
Bedrooms often just don’t have enough storage, so make use of odd spaces and angles to build in a bench seat. The practical solution is perfect for storing stuff you don’t need to access every day, and provides a surface for a pretty display of your favourite collectables.
12 ways to combine storage with seating
12 ways to combine storage with seating
5. In dining zones
Guests coming for dinner? Don’t despair if you don’t have room for a full dining room. Bench seats (and, as here, a cantilevered table) can help to create a dining room in a tiny corner. It’s an intimate booth for dinner for two (or maybe four, if you’re close) but the lack of clutter of chair legs and fine joinery make this a soothing corner in a tight space.
Guests coming for dinner? Don’t despair if you don’t have room for a full dining room. Bench seats (and, as here, a cantilevered table) can help to create a dining room in a tiny corner. It’s an intimate booth for dinner for two (or maybe four, if you’re close) but the lack of clutter of chair legs and fine joinery make this a soothing corner in a tight space.
If you’re not a fan of hard surfaces, you can still bring your decor into the dining area with brightly coloured or patterned squabs and cushions. If the table is in daily use, be sure to use fabrics that are durable and can be removed for cleaning easily.
Slide the bench against the wall, add an upholstered back and you have that favourite of cool cafes, a banquette. Be sure your table has out-of-the-way legs so diners can get in and out without banging their knees.
Banquettes take the place of dining chairs
Banquettes take the place of dining chairs
6. In the bathroom
A built-in seat in the shower is handy spot for shampoo and other products and useful to sit or lean on to shave legs. And for people not so steady on their feet, a bench is also ideal for safe showering.
A built-in seat in the shower is handy spot for shampoo and other products and useful to sit or lean on to shave legs. And for people not so steady on their feet, a bench is also ideal for safe showering.
Adding a bleacher-style bench along one side of your bathroom allows you to sit and monitor the children in the bath in comfort – no more awkward leaning over. Towels, plants and candles can all be put on display with this style of seat. Be sure to use outdoor-quality timber in this wet area.
7. Outdoors
If you’re not a fan of masses of outdoor furniture on the deck, a single built-in seat is a clean solution. Use the contours of the land to nestle the bench down into the garden to really define the zone, and add squabs in outdoor fabric so they can weather the elements.
If you’re not a fan of masses of outdoor furniture on the deck, a single built-in seat is a clean solution. Use the contours of the land to nestle the bench down into the garden to really define the zone, and add squabs in outdoor fabric so they can weather the elements.
A pair of bench seats can give you a dining area on the tiniest patio. Look for designs that can slide completely under the table to free up space when you’re not using it.
TELL US
Do you have a bench seat you love at your house? Tell us about it in the Comments section.
TELL US
Do you have a bench seat you love at your house? Tell us about it in the Comments section.
Grab attention and add welcoming colour and interest to your entrance by painting a timber seat in a bright colour. Here, an old church pew has been upcycled as a great spot to drop bags, pull off shoes and stash outdoor gear. A fun statement in a small space.