Benches aren’t always top of mind when developing a decorating scheme but they are a great piece of furniture that plays multiple roles in a home.  Place a bench at the front door or in a mud room to help consolidate coats, bags, shoes and items your family needs as they come and go.  Set one at the foot of a bed for holding a bedspread or tossing your robe on at night as you crawl into bed.  A lidded bench in a child’s room provides a place to sit and storage for toys.  Put a bench to work instead of a coffee table when space is tight but you need someplace to set a cup and put your feet up. 

Cindy’s Top 5 Benches

Our family takes shoes off when we enter the house (did you know your shoes track dirt and germs into your home 20 feet beyond the front door?) so this wooden shoe bench attracted my attention.  It’s a workhorse, providing a place to sit while you put on or take off shoes as well as keeping the entry area tidy too.  I found this bench at our affiliate, Amazon.com for only $53.00 and it measures  35.5′ x 13″ x 18″H.

The bright, glossy red color and the interesting back drew me to this bench.  Although our affiliate, World Market,  sells it as their Lattice-Back Garden Bench, I’d bring it inside for a splash of color and visual interest.  Made of mixed hardwood and painted, the bench measures 75″Wx23″Dx33.75″H and is available only online for $129.99.

 This small tasseled bench would slide neatly under the counter of my built-in vanity in the master bathroom.  It would also dress up a small, other wise unused corner in a guest room, bedroom or dressing area.  Available on Amazon.com, this Garden District Vanity Bench by Powell features tone-on-tone damask tapestry upholstery, steel construction with a black Epoxy Finish  and measures 21″H x 23″W x 16.25″D.  It sells for $89.00. 

 Perfect in the entry hall, foot of the bed, library, den, or as a coffee table replacement, this versatile Sienna Leather Bench fits right in wherever you need it.  Covered in durable leather and sold at World Market for $299.99, the bench  measures 53.5″Wx18.25″Dx21.5″H.

 This Sunday Funnies Bench holds up to 4.75 cubic feet of games, toys, books, or sports equipment behind its two charming doors. The comfortable padded seat is made of 50 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester. Large-scale knobs and a curving bombe shape make kids and adults smile.  Our affiliate, Benches.com, sells this 38L x 18.125W x 18H inches bench for $249.99.

 

Terries Top 5 Benches

Like Cindy I love the versatility of a stylish bench.  I love that they can provide extra storage, comfort, style and whimsy in a room.  As I wandered the web, these benches caught my eye.

This classic bench designed by George Nelson never goes out of style and suits many design looks.  Herman Miller (best known for classics and office furniture) is the authorized source for ‘real’ Nelson benches though knock-offs abound.  This one by Herman Miller through Room and Board is $729 and measures 48″l X 18 d X 14″ h.

This great transitional bench could find a home in even the smallest entry, mudroom or guest room.  The extra storage is an attractive option and I like that it has a back.  Made of all wood, it has a black finish, measures 36″l X 14″d X 28.5″ h.  It sells for $139.

From affiliate The Great Indoors, this bench with gentle Asian stylings is made of plantation grown hardwoods and polished to a beautiful shine.  It measures 40″l X 15″d X 20″h and is priced at $379.99. 

This bench would work well in a country or more rustic setting and Pottery Barn has illustrated Cindy’s idea of using a bench for a coffee table where you’re short on space.  Made of durable rush and hardwoods, it measures 63″l X 21″d X 18.5″h and is priced at $399.

What a sleek, sophisticated bench.  A totally simple silhouette but classic and suitable for any room and compatible with any style.   This bench is my idea of a piece that will last forever….move it around, recover it in a few years….it’s timeless.  Upholstered in a beautiful gray silk and with a solid black wood frame, it’s byCarolina Accents available from affiliate Burke Decor.  It measures 46″l X 16″d X 18.5″ h and is priced at only $250. Burke Decor Sale! 7% OFF SITE WIDE. Use coupon code “HEARTS” at checkout!

There you have it – a wide range of benches in a wide range of styles and price points.  If one catches your eye and we’ve mentioned that it’s available through an affiliate, we’d appreciate you clicking through from this site to read more about it.

P.S. – I’m going to sneak in one extra bench (shhh don’t tell Cindy).  While this may be out of range for most of us (priced at a mere $5295!), it’s so unusual and artistic, I had to share.

Hand constructed of 5 layers of wood: walnut, mahogany, cherry, oak and ash then shaped to form the ripples and show off the layers of wood.  Perfect for a show piece in an entry or how about in place of a couple dining chairs as a dining bench (it’s extra long)?  79″l X 20″d X 16″h.