While a matching set of four or six dining chairs might be most people's go-to when decking out their dining room, the humble dining bench should not be overlooked. In a small dining room or shared dining and living area, they can be an excellent means of saving space, sitting flush against the wall with a slim profile. Or perhaps space is not an issue - in that case, a dining bench can be a way of bringing more of a communal feel to the dining table, by nature of having to gather and share the seat with others. Think about how cosy it feels to gather with a group of friends on a banquette in a pub, and you get the idea.
Are benches a good idea for a dining table?
There are all sorts of ways that dining benches can be placed, depending on the size and shape of the room and preference. You could invest in a matching set of two for either side of the dining table, with a matching or clashing dining chair at each end. Or for a more pared back approach, do away with the chairs completely, as seen with the pair of antique benches in Will Fisher and Charlotte Freemantle's house. Another way of having both chairs and a bench can be seen in the Veere Grenney house above, where a bench sits against the wall, and the chairs face it. For smaller spaces, this also has the effect of rooting the dining area in place, as the bench ties together the collection of furniture and avoids it feeling like it's floating near the wall.
The best dining benches in 2025
How to choose a dining bench?
As shown by the selection of our favourite dining benches above, there are so many styles to choose from. For ultimate comfort, if you like lengthy lunches or tend to spend a lot of time around the dining table, you can't beat an upholstered bench with a back. Or for the monastic, stripped back look, opt for a simple wooden bench (you could even find an antique pew from a church to really go down this road). Spindle dining benches are a classic that work well in a range of interiors, we love the Ercol Heritage Loveseat - to make it your own or to match with existing furnishings, have a seat cushion upholstered in a fabric of your choice.
