Yahoo News 9 best benches for kitchen and dining space
A bench is a humble furniture piece that’s all too often overlooked. But with a growing trend for canteen-style eating – both in our kitchens and dining spaces – we’re gradually moving away from formal dining chairs and sliding up into casual long-seaters at either side of the table.
We love the informality of a dining bench. By its very nature, it’s a barrier-breaker, forcing us to be a bit more sociable than usual, especially when we’re happily wedged in for a large family get-together.
If you’re looking to team your table with a bench or two, you’d be wise to think carefully about space.
Do you want to maximise floor space with a seat that you can easily tuck under, or do you have enough room to have both benches fully on show and ready to jump onto?
Consider mixing and matching and plump for a single bench on one side (preferably loaded up with scatter cushions) and dining chairs on the other – it’s a look that’s full of mismatched country kitchen charm.
An unfussy wooden bench can bring an edgy, industrial feel to our homes. Think locker room or school hall-style pieces that put functionality at the fore.
These look great in a hallway, and can offer a practical solution when we’re scrambling to get our shoes and coats on each morning.
Equally, a bench can offer a relaxing place to perch in a bedroom or dressing room: choose a long-seater with a plush upholstered cushion and suddenly this functional piece becomes a luxury. There’s a wealth of products that cross over between benches, ottomans and daybeds that are more akin to comfort than a hard wooden bench.
We put our best benches to the test, looking for both the practical and the pretty – excellent craftsmanship (a simple bench is unforgiving in its exposure of any shoddy woodwork), as well as affordability. Grab a pew!
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Noa & Nani Nordic bench in white and dark pine: £89, Noa & Nani
Dimensions: W164cm x H45cm x D40cm
The beauty of this bench is its simplicity: its clean lines and solid craftsmanship make it a boxy number that’s contemporary, but also, timeless. What we loved most about Noa & Nani’s offering though, was the crisp contrast between the white and dark wood. The bench is made from solid pine, and where you can clearly see the patina of the wood on the top, its pure white painted base offers Scandinavian charm. Rustic, Scandi, Modern... this stylish piece ticks a lot of boxes.
Garden Trading woven bench, ash: £220, Garden Trading
Dimensions: W 102cm x H 44cm x D41cm
A Scandi style piece that isn’t all about the pale natural wood, we loved this one for its contemporary black woven webbing, which has just enough give in it to cushion the sitter with comfort, while staying reliably strong. This is a lovely, lightweight bench that’ll look chic in any space with its smooth tapered legs that celebrate the natural grain of the ash. But don’t let its delicate frame fool you. This is a sturdy and functional furniture piece – perfect for a busy hallway.
Tim Fenby Jenson bench, oak and mineral blue: £199, Made
Dimensions: W 158cm x H 44cm x D35cm
This contemporary long-seater gives a knowing nod to classic mid-century Danish design with its sharp-angled frame and tapered legs. Crafted to complement the dining table and chairs in the same range, the solid oak bench makes for a classy addition to an eat-in kitchen, yet awards a formal dining space a laid-back aesthetic – casual dining with style. We loved its removable cushion for easy washing, which comes in the distinctly mid-century muted shades of mineral blue and revival orange.
Loaf bumpkin kitchen bench: £445, Loaf
Dimensions: W 150cm x H 35cm x D50cm
If this piece reminds you of your old PE class, there’s good reason. The bench takes its design cue from the leather gym horses we all had to fling ourselves from gracelessly, and for that, we’re fond of its form – who doesn’t love a touch of old school nostalgia in their kitchen furniture? The long pale leather seat (which promises to age beautifully), is supported by an obviously sturdy and solid wood frame with a natural timber finish. Utilitarian style meets contemporary luxe.
Raft standard bench: From £346, Raft
Dimensions: From W100cm x H47cm x D30cm
Another unfussy design that allows both the craftsmanship and natural material to shine is this rustic bench from Raft. It’s made from 100 per cent reclaimed teak, awarding it extra points for sustainability. Really impressive is that it’s available in a choice of seven lengths, from 100cm up to 160cm, meaning you can rest assured it’ll fit your space with the perfect dimensions – why not choose a shorter style you can tuck under the kitchen table to save on precious square footage?
Atkin & Thyme Berkeley bench: £299, Atkin & Thyme
Dimensions: W 148cm x H 48cm x D40cm
With its unusual oblong shaping, slender iron frame and plush upholstered seat pad, this is a luxury version of the humble bench. It’s designed to complement the brand’s Berkeley marble dining table but, of course, this one would look as much at home furnishing an opulent dressing room or walk-in wardrobe. We loved the subtle gold accents on the legs, awarding it a refined and understated glamour. If you like the idea of a dining bench, but want to keep the look on the formal side, this is the furniture piece for you.
B&Q Denia wooden backless dining bench: £55, B&Q
Dimensions: W 160cm x H 45cm x D35.5cm
If it’s well made and looks the part, a simple wooden bench doesn’t have to cost the earth – by its very nature this humble furniture piece is all about streamlined functionality. B&Q’s offering is made from FSC-certified acacia wood – a reliable hardwood that’s as much suited to the outdoors as our kitchen or dining spaces. We were impressed with the satin-like finish on this slatted bench – a product that looks much more expensive than it is, and who could argue with that?
Ikea norraker bench, birch: £40, Ikea
Dimensions: W 103cm x H 45cm x D29cm
Another purse-friendly option comes in the shape of this solid birch bench from Ikea. A snip at just £40, our most affordable long-seater on the list boasts gently curved corners – ideal for those with accident-prone toddlers; natural Scandinavian charm, with its super light wood that shows off the natural grain beautifully; and, impressively, the fact that it’s been tested for public use. We’re pretty sure it’ll withstand more than a few lively family dinners. Pale and practical.
Maisons du Monde Colorado anthracite grey faux suede two-seater day bed: £285, Maisons du Monde
Dimensions: W 101.5cm x H 47cm x D40.5cm
Inspired by the Japanese lifestyle trend of wabi-sabi – a philosophy that celebrates the naturally imperfect – this sturdy two-seater is crafted from warming mango wood with a faux suede upholstered seat pad (also not unlike a traditional gym horse), and it’s a heady mix of materials. Comfy and robust in equal measure, the handsome bench doubles as a handy shoe rack with a nifty storage shelf, making it an ideal furniture piece for the hallway. Top marks for first impressions.
The verdict: benches
Noa & Nani’s Nordic bench in white and dark pine is a versatile number that marries Scandi chic with just a touch of the industrial and a smart finish with an attractive visual contrast. It works beautifully as a dining bench but equally offers standalone appeal. And priced at a modest £89, it sits pretty on the more affordable side of our roundup. We loved Raft’s standard bench, too. Raw and rustic in look, its triumph is its simplicity. Add to that its impressive choice of lengths, along with its conscious eco-credentials, and it makes for an investment furniture piece to cherish.
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