Benches get a big no vote from me, since I'm very uncomfortable sitting in a seat without a back. Think about that if you're having parents over for Thanksgiving, for instance.

I think it looks good, and I have lived in a home with a long rectangular table, where one side had a bench and the other three sides had chairs. We always accommodated plenty of people and no one complained!

I really dislike the lack of back support. Make sure you find them comfortable. The solution someone else mentioned, with chairs on one side and a bench on the other, might be a good one. Benches down both long sides may be uncomfortable, especially for older guests.

The dining set I bought has both. Bench on one side, chairs on the other.

It's hard to hit the mid-century vibe with these, but I've seen tables with dining benches that have backs.

... Maybe a sketch and a carpenter would be the key, here?

when I was a kid my parents had a bench for the two youngest of us in the dining room and I remember it annoying us!! It did have a back though, so it wasn't that bad

Benches are a no-go for me, too. The three people on the bench have to all decide how far to push the bench in, which leaves shorter people too far away from the table and taller people too close. Also, if you have conversations around the table after dinner, the lack of back support can be fatiguing if you're sitting on a bench for long periods. Do consider chairs instead. There are plenty of classic ones with an MCM vibe.

Benches are for picnic tables outside. I want a chair with a good back that I can enjoy the time after the meal. Do you want people to sit and enjoy their time together after they have eaten or are you an eat and run family. Also think of older guests and yes, you all will get older eventually!

I sat on a bench until I was fourteen. I hated it. I think it's a terrible idea for children to be seated on a bench

I have benches that go with an old farmhouse table. I love the table, hate the benches; they are not comfortable.

We had a deacon's bench on one side of my family's kitchen table where we ate dinners most nights. As the youngest, I was stuck sitting on the bench with my Mom and let me tell you - I hated it. I couldn't move it closer to the table w/o my Mom's help and never felt comfortable.

Thankfully it had back support (probably best to keep me falling off as a kid), but the experience would have been even worse if I had to sit there with one or more of my sisters. Pandemonium!

I think you have to consider how long you sit, as a family, at the table at each meal. If you din't soend a lot of time eating and chatting then benches can work. Adults will have more issues, i would, with long periods of sitting. With a bench cushion for some comfort I do like them for squirmy kids who don't want to sit there much after they're done eating. They offer some flexibility for squeezing in another child, when there is a friend over.

Maybe for adult parties use stored folding chairs and move the bench or benches to another room temporarily. Kids,like adults generally like to be in or near any action going on in the kitchen, so if your table is near there/your only eating area they will most likely end up doing projects or homework on it too. Benches are good for hopping on and off. We have had one, but replaced the bench when the kids got older and needs changed. Nothing has to be forever.

As an alternative there are the seats that look more like porch benches and have backs and cushions that might be used instead.

On the plus side: they will look fantastic, they may be cheaper than the equivalent in individual chairs, and can usually accommodate more people per side than individual chairs as well since people can scoot closer.

On the down side: those people will hate you for making them sit on a bench.

Hyperbole aside, the lack of support can be very uncomfortable as many have mentioned, and I don't think that's remedied by having a bench on one side and chair son the other. So how do you decide who at a dinner part gets stuck on the bench? Diners are forced to all sit at the same distance from the table regardless of their height or how they prefer to sit. It's harder to get in or out if anyone else is sitting on the bench as you can't simply slide back your own chair - moving usually means making your seat-mates move as well. I can't imagine liking the look of something so much that I'd be willing to make my guests or my kids that uncomfortable.

There are plenty of sleek, mid-century groovy chairs out there so you really don't need to compromise on style, either.

benches are also very awkward for dinner parties as all three or four people have to "scoot" at the same time. ours were actually comfortable and had been purchased from friends that had a large family, but we eventually gave them back.

I think its too awkward for the people sitting in the middle of the bench if they want to get up and leave mid-dinner. Especially if they're wearing a dress or skirt

I am glad I asked this question! You are providing insight I didn't think about. Like the awkwardness for guests wearing skirts/dresses to get up. Thank you!

Perhaps a bench for one side with 4 chairs? This is what my parents did, and it was great when we were kids because all three of us could be put on the bench if we had company, while usually it was just the two youngest.

I have a 'great room' with no divider from living room to dining.
I also have a farm table, I have 4 armless chairs for the end and against the wall, but I have decided to use a bench on the side between the rooms. This way I can enjoy my table scape.
Just an idea.

Also I have seen an upholstered banquet for farmers tables in some design magazines too.

Wow, I didn't realize everyone hates benches! I grew up on them and loved them and my mom has since replaced that table with a new one that also has benches. To be fair though that table is in the kitchen and she also has a more formal set-up in the dining room. I think benches are perfect for kids.

Consider getting inexpensive adjustable-height stools for your children until they are tall enough for chairs. A shared bench is miserable for both the shortest and the tallest child. Stools can be re-used for plant stands, kitchen chats, or bed-tables later.

We have dining table almost identical to the one in the picture and use 4 chairs and one bench. It's a good compromise IMO. Most children will prefer to sit on the chairs and you can use high chairs as well if need be.

I didn't grow up with benches, but even looking at the picture above it seems inhospitable. It looks like it would provide all the comfort of a bus stop, and it makes my back hurt just thinking about it.

Benches are terrible for kids and adults alike. Kids slouch and a chair with a back is better. Adults would rather have back support and chairs are more flexible for casual and more formal get togethers.

Love benches in the shelter mags. Not a fan of them in practice. I used to work in an office where the main conference room table had a bench and I constantly was knocking my knees on it/running into the table. And wearing a skirt when I had to step over it... yea, that was not fun.

That being said, if you absolutely positively have to have a bench for some reason, then go for it. I can't think of too many situations where you'd need a bench instead of chairs. Possibly you'd need one if you had a gigantic table and didn't want to get the chairs to accommodate it? Otherwise, skip the bench and get chairs.

Well, I'm certainly in the minority here, but I grew up with benches and loved them -- and then I looked long and hard to find a table with benches for my own kids. Benches are not so great for the wee littlies [1yo or so] as they tend to fall over backwards, but we just shoved the table close to the wall to catch them. The great thing about benches is that we were easily able to accommodate 10 kids for an afternoon snack or an impromptu art project and still have a spot to sit ourselves. Like everything, I think it depends on your lifestyle - we are very close to 4 other families in our compound and the kids are in and out of each others' flats like ants in an ant farm, so it is fairly common for us to feed 4-5 extra kids at any meal. For the more nuclear families of the USA I can see how chairs may be more comfortable. That being said, I have really fantastic posture, partly from sitting at a bench 3x365x15...

I think they can be a necessary evil. We have a bench at our bar, and 6 chairs around our table. If more than 6 people come to dinner, the bench gets moved to the dining table for additional seating. The bench at the bar is ok for my husband and me for weeknight dinners, but we would prefer bar stools. Too bad there isn't enough space for 2 bar stools and the bench is more compact. I think, as uncomfortable as they can be, people understand that no one keeps banquet seating available in their homes, so you need to be understanding about the seating arrangements when a lot of people are eating,