topic Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay? in Home

Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

Snowpuppy — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 18:40:15 GMT

I'm thing of replacing my current dining table but possibly keeping my Arrow Back Windsor chairs and adding two upholstered chairs for each end.

While browsing with DS we saw a rustic set with a dining bench. He loved the idea and while it is a spacesaver I always thought of dining benches as more for little ones at the table. I included two examples, one padded/upholstered and one not.

Any thoughts ? Comfort? Yea or Nay?

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

esmerelda — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 18:43:37 GMT

If actually used for mealtime seating I think it would be very uncomfortable.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

Bri369 — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 18:48:19 GMT

My niece has one at her dining table. It's very uncomfortable.

She has a beautiful long table with chairs at the ends and on one side, but a bench the other side. Nobody wants to sit on the bench. LOL

Plus, it looks off balance. When you look at the table, you see chairs on one side and nothing on the other side because the bench is hidden by the table.

I think she's going to wind up buying chairs to replace the bench.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

chrystaltree — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 18:52:22 GMT

They were popular for a while. I think they work great for kids and young people with strong backs. Bench seating would be very uncomfortable for those of us bad backs, it would put too much strain on a person's back.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

sunshine45 — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:00:44 GMT

no, while they look good, they are not practical at all. would not like to sit on a bench to eat in a dining room. to me, a bench is reserved for a picnic table.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

traveler — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:09:32 GMT

As someone with back issues I avoid benches with no support.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

aroc3435 — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:10:33 GMT

@Snowpuppy Just my opinion: I find them to be very uncomfortable. Also I'm of the opinion they are not meant for formal dining. And I feel like I've drawn the "short straw" when I've sat on one at someone's formal dinner party. They really aren't comfortable, even the padded ones.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

Drythe — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:24:16 GMT

To me they are uncomfortable, no back support, sliding in and out is a hassle, and look a bit unfinished. I think your existing chairs with two new additions sounds good. Windsor chairs! 👍

*** Edited for clarity

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

Tissyanne — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:10:56 GMT

This reminds me of the Waltons.

They had bench seating, with chairs at each end for the Dad, and Grandad.

It would be nice for large families, in my opinion.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

Lake4 — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:17:42 GMT

I think chairs would be better. I especially do not like the second one, imho looks like a picnic table bench...

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

Carmie — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:24:04 GMT

I like the look of them, but hate to sit at a bench. I have bad knees and have difficulty lifting my leg over the bench if I have to sit in the middle.

They also create a problem because I am short. If my bench mates are tall, I am too far away from the table to eat comfortably.

My vote is nay.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

queendiva — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:33:48 GMT

Do not go trendy with DR table & chairs. They need to transcend fads and fashions.

Comfort is key, as well as appropriate size & shape.

Go all trendy if you like with place settings and wall color, but not the furniture.

Bench seating at the DR table? H3ll to the no for all the reasons previously stated, and more.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

Snowpuppy — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:34:04 GMT

Thanks for all of your thoughts!

I like to have everyone comfortable at a dining table. If it's just morning coffee or having guests for a holiday dinner I enjoy having time to linger at the table.

Cracking up at The Waltons! 😊

I also saw an exteded bench you can extend like a dining bench with leaves.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

GenXmuse — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:40:50 GMT

We had a bench for our dining room and got rid of it within a year. Too uncomfortable without a back. It’s like eating at a picnic table every day.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

BklynKinsey — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:42:04 GMT

A number of years ago, Martha Stewart did a collection of fine furniture. I loved the dining room collection called Katonah. It had a bench as well as the chairs. The bench, comes with a back! The bench and chairs are padded in beautiful leather and, with the back, would, I think, be comfortable. I actually bought two of the side chairs as accent pieces for my home, but still wish I could have purchased the entire dining room set. I love the delicate scale of this set.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:52:14 GMT

My daughter has a 'bench' in her area right off of the kitchen.

She has a dining room with individual chairs. When I go over for dinner, lunch, etc. I've eaten at both places.

I will say though, I don't usually sit on the bench. She puts me at the end of the table in a chair.

It's not like I know squat about decoating, etc, but a bench just seems very informal to me.

I have a huge dining room table and chairs. No one ever comes to dinner but they are table and chairs.

I am a strong believer that everyone should make their house according to what THEY want.

The owner has to look at it and use it all of the time. A guest is there and gone.

Do what you like and don't think about what anyone else wants.

I'm sure you have excellent taste. Go with your ideas.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

Bri369 — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 20:02:59 GMT

If you have a bench with a back and you're sitting in the middle, everyone has to get up to let you out. It's just awkward.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

spiderw — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 21:12:23 GMT

While I like the benches, it is nay on the comfort ! When I am having a meal I prefer being on a comfortable chair. Benches have a place but I wouldn't put them around a kitchen or dining room table.

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

stevieb — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 21:27:15 GMT

No, no a thousand times NO! Most people want something upon which to rest their backs... Benches might work well for younger diners but most adult I know avoid them... I think I'd stick with your original idea...

Re: Dining Table Bench - Yea or Nay?

Alison Wonderland — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 21:31:37 GMT

I am not a fan. If one person wants to scoot closer to the table, everyone else has to. If someone is larger and needs to scoot back from the table, everyone has to.