In sports, no player wants to get sent to the bench to sit out the game.
But when it comes to decorating, “getting benched” is definitely a good thing!
Benches are among the most versatile pieces of furniture you can buy for your apartment because they can be used in so many different ways — for seating, storage, tabletops and more.
Benches are also great space savers. If space is tight in your kitchen, consider trading chairs for a bench or banquette.
They’re also affordable. You’ll find benches at yard sales and thrift shops, just waiting for you to repurpose. Or if you’re handy, you can easily build your own bench from reclaimed wood or lumber you buy at the hardware store.
I’ve been visiting thrift stores, antique fairs, friends’ homes and designer showhouses, all the while snapping photos of clever ways to use benches.
Go Ahead, Have a Seat
Benches are made for sitting, of course.
A vintage metal bench is a perfect choice for your patio because it gives you seating for multiple people without taking up as much space as chairs.
Inside, consider reupholstering a vintage settee as a cozy alternative to a sofa or loveseat.
Benches Make Great Tables
A rustic, narrow wooden bench is perfect in front of a sofa.
It serves the same function as a coffee table, but it takes up less space.
As a bonus, it’s a great place to prop your feet up onto after a hard day at work.
Give an old piano bench a new life as a side table. Get one where the seat lifts and you’ll have a place to store takeout menus, magazines, television remotes or anything else you want out of sight.
Benches Provide Extra Storage
A bench with a shelf provides seating and storage for books, CDs, DVDs, decorative items or whatever you need to stow away.
Put an upholstered storage bench (or two) at the end of your bed for a handy place to stash extra linens, out-of-season clothes, sports equipment and other items you need but don’t use often.
Benches Make Great Drop Zones
Put a bench by your apartment door and it becomes a great drop zone for coats, purses, backpacks, keys and all those other things you need on your way out the door in the morning.
I also think benches by the door are quite welcoming for guests.
Every Bedroom Needs a Bench
The end of the bed is a great place to put a bench. And an end-of-the-bed bench can be both pretty and functional.
Sit on it in the morning to put your shoes on, or stack decorative pillows on it at night instead of throwing them on the floor.
Set out your next day’s outfit on a bench to make mornings less hectic.
Benches Do Double Duty
An upholstered bench is a great alternative to a traditional coffee table in your living room.
Put a tray on it and you can use it just like you would a coffee table.
When you’re throwing a party and you have more people than you have chairs, an upholstered bench or cocktail ottoman provides comfortable, extra seating.
Benches Are a Kitchen Staple
Ditch the kitchen chairs and opt for a bench instead.
Banquette-style benches look like built-ins, and the seats often lift for extra storage.
Benches tuck neatly out of the way under the kitchen table when not in use, saving valuable square footage.
Are you ready to get off the bench and join the decorating big leagues by adding this versatile piece of furniture to your apartment decor? These five tips for how to make old furniture look new from ForRent.com will help you with your bench makeover.