Ways for Benches to Improve Their Upholstery

When a player on a sports team is not playing, they are referred to as the “bench”. But if you have a bench on your design team, you’ll never want to stop rotating it. Benches are truly versatile pieces that solve many decorative problems and are suitable for almost any room of the house. Here are nine of my favorite uses for benches.

1. At the foot of the bed. There is a stylish bench at the foot of the bed, allowing you to support your legs while tying your shoes or wearing tights. It also acts as a beautiful visual anchor.

Ideally, the top of the bench should be a few inches lower than the top of the finished bedding (once the sheets and duvets are taken into account) for a pleasing height. Decorate it with a few books and gadgets, leave stale wood unadorned, or decorate it with just one interesting material, like this delicate faux snakeskin.

2. As a coffee table. A simple bench without a backrest or side is versatile enough to transform from a seat to a table and backrest. Use a bench as a coffee table in a small seating group, and you can move it to the side at any time as an extra seat for several guests in a large gathering. Use a tray or some cheap books to create a perfectly flat surface for holding a coffee cup or cocktail, or a decorative box to store the remote.

3. At the dining table. A two-seater bench (with or without a backrest) can be used flexibly and stylishly as a substitute for several dining chairs. Couples or parents with children can sit together, and individuals can spread out alone or share benches with friends. For more formal matters, move the bench to the side, use only the dining chairs scattered around the table, and when the guests are packed, pull up the bench to add two seats (you can even squeeze in a third person if people are willing to share). With a convenient bench, you can adapt to any situation or mood.

4. As a separator. In an open floor plan, creating small areas can give a room a more orderly feel and make more efficient use of space. Bordering a seating group or TV corner with a bench helps define the area without creating a visual wall that could shrink the space. In addition, the backless bench can be used in any direction, making it possible to connect different seating areas (or become an extra table for snacks or festive items).

5. As a sofa table. The bench can be used to add seating or host a party, and during the day it also doubles as a slim sofa table for books, decorative planters and small storage boxes. It provides a visual anchor for seating for the open floor plan, as well as a practical and beautiful “shelf” space.

6. In the foyer. Even in a large house, the foyer or entrance tends to be a relatively small area, but we often need a quick seat to take off our boots, wait for a slow-moving loved one or drop off a package. The slim bench can easily rest against the wall, leaving room to put shoes underneath and a jacket or belt to hang on top, so it doesn’t take up too much space.

Make sure to use sturdy materials, such as rough leather or imitation suede, so that an occasional wet umbrella doesn’t ruin the look.

7. Outdoors. Why invest in pure outdoor seating when a multi-purpose bench can serve you year-round? For example, in warm weather, a foyer bench or sofa table can slide outside as an additional outdoor seating and be sized to fit anything from a large balcony to a compact apartment balcony. Choose a light wooden bench to work anywhere, or try a fun plastic pop for a year-round summer look.

8. In the bathroom. When it comes to indoor and outdoor benches, waterproof benches can also be used well in the bathroom. Tuck a small box into the shower to serve as a seat or place towels and bath products, or pull a small box over the tub and place a good book, a glass of wine, or a glass of wine while you relax and soak. When you want to free up space again, pull the bench back to the patio.

9. Use as a small sofa or bench in a small space. Add a few pillows and the bench can almost be turned into a sofa. Stack pillows (of different colors and patterns) to make a low-back bench comfortable, or simply push the bench against the wall to secure the pillows, and voila, you’ve got a luxury seating solution. Create a breakfast corner bench, a lounge area outside the bedroom, a fantastic window seat. In your décor library, with a bench, you have a lot of options, and you may just have to sit down and think about them all.