The dining table has long been a vital part of every household, with 72% of Americans growing up eating at the dining room table, and this has long been a place of commune and rejuvenation. To this day, around half of Americans take the time to eat at the table for their meals, despite having options to dine in other parts of the house. It doesn’t hurt that doing this has been scientifically proven to moderate your eating and manage your hunger better.
Changing times come with new traditions and styles, so this has inevitably impacted the relationship people have with the dining table. New York interior designer Artem Kopovinsky has found that there has been a marked demand for formal dining spaces now that people seek communal spaces, interior cohesion, and connection. There are many types of dining table setups, but a growing choice is using a dining set with a bench.
Bench dining tables and when to use them
You can generally expect benches built for dining to come with the table and other chairs as a set or integrated as one singular piece. The latter is commonly associated with outdoor spaces, though modern designers have also built them in ways that can perfectly fit into a home. These indoor variants tend to use more soft materials and integrate polished finishes.
Some dining table setups also use banquettes to maximize wall space and offer a comfortable cushioned space for lounging. Banquettes are more limited in their placement but also come with added privacy. Regardless of the type of bench and dining table layout you go for, there are a few benefits to picking this over the traditional four or six-seater.
Benefits of a dining table with a bench
Offers more seating
Around 50% of Americans have guests in their homes monthly, with the United States having one of the most frequent hosting homeowners in the world. On top of that, a recent survey from Gallup finds that American preference for larger families has hit its highest peak since 1971. Naturally, there is a demand for more space to accommodate these activities.
The dining tables with benches showcased on Living Spaces can seat up to eight people, with plenty of room to squeeze more in. Even the smaller Ashford II variant offers flexible seating management because of its tufted design. This means a few people can sit snugly beside each other on the bench without immediate discomfort in their lower back. For those with banquettes, the padding and backing can make seating groups even easier for both formal and informal dining areas.
Versatile design
Benches are more versatile in that they can be repurposed for other uses when no one is seated. You can use it as temporary added storage or desk space when using the main table for group activities. It can also work as seating on its own for bigger gatherings that require you to rearrange the layout of your space. On top of that, the versatility of benches means you can easily slide them up to the wall and immediately have a backrest.
Cost-effective
About 60% of homeowners don’t want to spend on home repairs because of rising costs. If you look at the common house repairs on Today’s Homeowner, most people are already preoccupied with interior painting, roof repairs, plumbing, and issues with flooring and windows. As such, it’s worth investing in furniture built to last in structure and style.
Money spent on dining sets with benches tends to go a longer way than it does for regular chairs. The sturdy make, effective utilization of space, and flexible functionality net you more use out of your dollars spent. Maintenance is also considerably simple since you can easily wipe down a bench, brush off debris, and add varnish as necessary (if your seating has wood panels). High-quality tables and seating don’t require much repair, especially if set up in a well-kept environment.
Tips for buying a dining table-bench combo
Go for muted tones
Interior designers look to the style choices made in Nancy Meyers‘ movies for modern inspiration on furniture and design. When picking a dining table and bench set, use muted tones that create an inviting feeling. Pink and beige hues pair well with natural light and don’t run the risk of feeling dated. This color palette will also be easier to match across various interior styles. From there, you can choose small accent pieces that provide pops of color and visual interest.
Find a tough finish
No matter what aesthetic you go for, you need to make sure your table uses a finish that can take a beating. You will potentially spend much time using this table and exposing it to external forces like spills. Even if you and your guests or family aren’t rough, the movement of dishes, cutlery, elbows, and miscellaneous materials will still cause damage on an untreated table. Polyurethane, lacquer, and epoxy are popular choices that you can go for. Check to see that they are food-safe even if you don’t plan for food to make direct contact.
Measure out the seating size
The right dining set offers ample room for sitting. When you measure out the space needed for your set, you need to go beyond the actual dimensions of the table alone. Determine how much room is required with the bench and other chairs pulled out for use. This is especially important for bench dining sets because they can’t be maneuvered quite as easily as single chairs. For the most comfortable seating arrangement, you’ll want to allow around 25 to 30 cm of distance from the seat to the tabletop.
Final thoughts
It’s an excellent time for homeowners seeking out variety with their dining room furnishings, as designers and manufacturers keep coming out with versatile designs at affordable prices. A dining table with a bench is an exciting and practical move for your eating space, and it’s a stylistic choice that will still look good years down the line. As long as you take the time to pick the proper set for your needs and space, it can easily make a kitchen or dining area feel complete.
