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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.
‘Puffy’ bench, HK Living
Giving us major 90s nostalgia, this bench has thick, padded upholstery that gives it its name (and makes it extra comfortable). Its inflated shape brings a playful flair to any room but we think it’d look best at the end of a bed. £375, hkliving.com
‘64’ bench, Frama
Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, the ‘64’ bench sees marble and steel come together to form a sculptural piece. Every bench is made locally in Frama’s hometown of Copenhagen, with slight variations in the vein of the stone and the patina of the metal. £4,065, framacph.com
‘Lentana’ bench, Levantin
With its asymmetrical shape and boldly patterned fabric, this bench is for those looking to make a statement in their hallway. Its name is a fusion of the Spanish phrase una mañana lenta, which translates to ‘slow morning’ in English – a reminder that the bench should be used as a place of rest as much as a functional object. From approx £1,195, unevenobjects.com
‘H’ bench, Laurids Gallée
Exclusively available at collectible design platform Delvis Unlimited, the ‘H’ bench by past EDIDA winner Laurids Gallée is a solid resin seat that feels at once ethereal and remarkably robust. Approx £16,915, delvisunlimited.it
‘Special Rive’ bench, Draga & Aurel
Fellow resin connoisseur Draga & Aurel has added its trademark material to black salt-eroded concrete, creating an eye-catching bench that celebrates contrast. It’s composed of two interconnected volumes, with one half transforming into a seat. Approx £16,575, draga-aurel.com
‘One’ bench, Frank Penders
Dutch designer Frank Penders used a single sheet of stainless to craft ‘One’, this slimline bench. Soften its angular edges with padded seat cushions or a patterned throw. £5,926, formedtions.com
‘Lego’ bench, Yet Studio
Think of Istanbul- and London-based practice Yet Studio’s bench as Lego for adults, as its name suggests. Comprised of four blocky legs and a chunky silhouette, it features a nifty storage chamber on one end where you can store your books and copies of ELLE Decoration. £2,900, yetdesignstudio.com
‘Quiet Lines’ bench, B&B Italia
Based between Singapore and Porto, designer Gabriel Tan is known for his distinctly clean yet warm style. His ‘Quiet Lines’ bench for B&B Italia is no exception: an aluminium and steel frame is complimented by a curved seat wrapped in neutral leather. £4,815, bebitalia.com
‘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, schoenbuch.com
‘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
‘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, axelchay.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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