15 Dining Benches That Will Make You Want to Be a Bench Warmer

Whether you have a formal dining room or a small eat-in kitchen, adding a bench instead of individual chairs can be a great choice for many reasons. Not only can it be more economical (depending on how large your table is, the cost of your chairs can really add up!), but it can also make for a more versatile seating arrangement. Plus, you can often tuck the bench under the table and out of the way if you need more floor space.

Here are 15 of our favorite takes on dining tables with benches. Consider them proof that this solution really can work for every style.

• Modern Lines – Austin Patterson Disston Architects: If you want to go simple, this is the way to do it. Clean white lines echo the rest of the space, and it can tuck under the table pushed against the wall when not in use.
• Log Bench – Hsu McCullough Architects: We love the juxtaposition of the natural log bench with the rest of this modern home. We’re guessing it’s a great conversation piece, too.
• Padded Benches – Lonny: Not only do the cushions on these benches make them more comfortable, but they also add a pop of color to the space.
• Victorian Schoolhouse – CS Photography: It makes sense that this redesigned schoolhouse would have benches at the large dining table. The fact that they are reclaimed wood makes it even better.
• Dining Sofa – Jessica Lagrange Interiors: This looks like the most comfortable way to dine. It’s really more of a sofa than a bench.

• Simple Wooden Bench – Lonny: This bench and table set will fit with almost any contemporary decor. Plus, the roughly finished wood brings a little rustic to the modern lines.
• Built-in Bench – Bulthaup Kitchen Architecture: This mod bench is perfectly suited to the space since it’s affixed to the wall. It’s like the updated version of using an old church pew in the kitchen.
• Multiple Benches – VSP Interiors: The shorter benches here are used more like chairs since they are single seats, but it helps keep the view of the floor-to-ceiling window from being obstructed.
• Classic Cape Cod – Kelly McGuill Home: We can’t think of a dining area more suited to a bench than this classic New England-style home. The black Windsor chairs are an especially nice touch to modernize the space.
• Narrow Bench – KitchenLab: We’re generally used to seeing the bench on the side that is closest to a wall, but this arrangement allows for an unimpeded view of the rest of the living space, which is a nice detail.

• Yellow Settee – Minha Casa: We love this bold settee for the dining table. It might not fit everyone’s decor, but it creates a lively and welcoming space.
• Upholstered Bench – Studio William Hefner: This simple upholstered bench looks great in front of the wall of windows. It adds a cozier element to the clean lines of the space.
• High Contrast – Nicole Hollis Interior Design: The spare wooden bench, paired with the two upholstered wingback chairs and the large wall mirror, makes for a striking dining arrangement.
• Square Table – Wanda Lozada Interior Design: We generally see benches used with long tables, but this square arrangement works as well. It’s a good way to provide contrast.
• Hideaway Seating – Kelly Donovan: The bench is perfect in this eat-in kitchen because tucking it under the table allows for the dining space to become another counter or prep space when necessary.