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Take a seat with our pick of the best contemporary benches
Add a note of comfort to your entrance hall or update your dining room seating with one of these designs
By their very nature designed to be streamlined and relatively unobtrusive, benches nevertheless present an opportunity to introduce colour, structure and even drama into a space. The best examples bring something extra to the proceedings while also providing a handy spot to tie your shoelaces, or squeeze some extra guests around the dining table. We’ve rounded up some hardworking yet stylish designs that will be just as at home in a hallway, bedroom or kitchen.
‘Freja’ bench, Stellar Works
Perfectly expressing the ‘Japandi’ aesthetic that fuses the best of Japanese style with Scandinavian furniture making traditions, this elegant bench is part of Space Copenhagen’s ‘Freja’ series. The gently curved seat – in leather or woven paper – appears to float lightly over subtly angled legs, creating an understated sculptural form. £1,640, stellarworks.com
‘Tani’ bench, Schonbuch
In this fire-engine-red lacquered finish, the Japanese inspiration behind this design by E-ggs is even more prominent. The design can function as a seat or as a shelf, with its surface dipping gently towards the centre to support the cushions or objects being displayed. From £1,208, chaplins.co.uk
‘Princeton’ bench, BoConcept
With its sophisticated curves and supple leather upholstery, Morten Georgsen’s ‘Princeton’ bench looks incredibly comfortable – so much so that it could easily provide streamlined extra seating for guests at a dining table or in a living room nook. From £849, boconcept.com
‘Storage’ bench, Edward Collinson
Everything about this bench by Edward Collinson says ‘future heirloom’. It’s crafted from solid oak with beautiful details, such as dovetail joints, and has a hinged seat that’s upholstered in wool, leather or suede. Inside there’s plenty of storage for all manner of household clutter, making this piece as useful as it is beautiful. From £2,130, edwardcollinson.co.uk
‘Dharma’ bench, Baxter
The playful shape and glossy finish of Studiopepe’s ‘Dharma’ bench for Baxter is a nod to the disco spirit of the 1970s. It can be made in a rainbow of high-shine lacquers and, while its designers reference pop art, pool parties and outdoor fun, it would be equally happy in a living room or lobby. From approx £5,895, baxter.it
‘Modern Farmhouse’ settle, Another Country
Designed by Fred Rigby for Another Country, this classic oak settle is a contemporary take on a piece of vernacular furniture design with its origins in 10th-century Europe. This version has storage under the seat and looks to the architecture and landscape of Dorset for its uncomplicated lines and robust form. Use it in a boot room, hallway or dining room. £2,355, anothercountry.com
‘Willis’ bench, Soho Home
This plush velvet-upholstered bench takes its design cues from the mid-century style of Holloway House in West Hollywood. Place at the end of a bed to recreate the relaxed luxe style of Soho House or use to add some vintage-style glamour to an entryway. £995, sohohome.com
‘Core’ bench, The Conran Shop
Frank Winter’s New Designers-winning collection launches at The Conran Shop with the beautifully pared-back ‘Core’ bench, which boasts a simple oak seat resting on lipstick-red aluminium legs. Part of a series that also includes a desk, tables and bed, each piece pays tribute through its design to the humble but essential mitre clamp. £745, conranshop.co.uk
‘Bunker’ bench, SCP
Dutch designer Floris Wubben found inspiration in the bunkers that are hidden in the dunes and forests of Zeeland for this ceramic bench. Robust and functional, it has a reassuring solidity, while the distinctive extrusion process that defines every piece made in Studio Floris Wubben’s Amsterdam workshop gives it a unique character all of its own. £9,570, scp.co.uk
‘Septem’ bench, Monologue
Available in both super-shiny raw aluminium and bubblegum pink, Axel Chay’s tubular ‘Septem’ bench offers a playful, post-modern take on industrial style. As much a work of art as a practical piece of furniture, it’ll be a guaranteed conversation point in any space it stands in. £1,920, monologuelondon.com
‘Berlin’ bench, Heal’s
The clever thing about this bench is it’s completely customisable – you can choose the size and finish of the wooden seat to create something that’s perfectly tailored to your space. The clean lines of the design means it’s perfectly suited to slide neatly under a dining table or tuck into an alcove. From £1,169, heals.com
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