How to choose a bench in the kitchen?

The bench is a popular piece of kitchen furniture and is a great alternative to chairs and stools. The high popularity of benches is due to their versatility, a wide range of models on the market and the optimal combination of appearance, practicality and comfort.

A kitchen bench is a piece of furniture with a long seat designed to accommodate several people at the kitchen table. According to its location, the bench can be on one side of the dining table or wrap around it on both sides.

The design of the kitchen benches is quite simple and generally includes a back, seat and legs. However, furniture designers often turn these simple designs into masterpieces of home furnishings. So, instead of traditional legs, benches are installed on graceful forged frames or equipped with curved carved legs made in the luxurious Empire style. Or, on the contrary, they give the models strict ascetic forms that fit perfectly into techno, minimalism or hi-tech.

Kitchen benches can also be of any size. Along with straight compact models designed to accommodate 2-3 people at the same time, there are oversized modules consisting of 3-4 parts and wrap around the table from both sides. Such furniture will be an ideal option for large kitchens and will be able to fit all members of a large family at home dinner.

As with any other kitchen furniture, special requirements are imposed on benches, due to the specific conditions of the kitchen. Such models must be resistant to abrasion, have a strong frame, do not burn or sustain combustion, be made of environmentally friendly material, do not absorb odors, grease and moisture, and also be well cleaned and, if necessary, disinfected.

Before proceeding with the choice of a kitchen bench, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with both the advantages and disadvantages of this piece of furniture, and only after that make a decision on the expediency of the purchase. So, the advantages of benches include:

• economical use of space and the ability to seat more people;
• the presence of a comfortable and often soft back;
• multifunctionality of structures due to the presence of folding seats, lower compartments and drawers;
• the possibility of organizing an extra bed;
• compatibility with new kitchen furniture and compatibility of most models with almost any interior;
• small, in comparison with the kitchen sofa, weight.

However, along with the obvious advantages, kitchen benches still have disadvantages. These include the impossibility of being located in small kitchens and causing inconvenience to a neighbor when leaving the table.In addition, models with drawers weigh a lot, which does not allow you to quickly move them to the side and wash the floors.

The modern kitchen furniture market offers a huge number of benches with different levels of comfort, purpose and significance in the interior. The most popular design options are discussed below.

• Straight wooden bench with hard seat and back is the most budgetary, but at the same time practical and elegant product. This model will perfectly fit into rustic and Scandinavian styles, as well as country and shabby chic.

• Wooden bench with upholstered in appearance it resembles a kitchen mini-sofa and thanks to the variety of color palette it can be easily matched to the color of the kitchen interior. Such furniture will be an ideal option for long kitchen gatherings and leisurely teas.

• Bench with drawer great for storing cereals, vegetables, cleaning accessories and small household appliances. The drawer can slide forward or have a reclining seat and open like a chest. Such models are often installed in small kitchens and studio apartments, in which the kitchen and sleeping areas are combined.

• Corner benches allow you to compactly place all family members at the table and save kitchen space. Such models often consist of several modules, which can be arranged in different versions. So, removing the corner module, you can get two separate linear benches and place them along opposite sides of the table, or make one long bench from them. If the table is round or square, then both sides of the bench extending from the corner module should have the same length, while for rectangular or oval tabletops, the modules are installed in accordance with their lengths.

• Semicircular models outwardly they resemble corner ones with the only difference that the corner samples have a composite structure, and the semicircular ones are made in a monolithic design. These benches often have height-adjustable legs, upholstered and decorated with chrome elements. The products are more suitable for modern interiors and are intended for installation in spacious, uncluttered kitchens.

• Folding convertible bench designed to organize a berth for guests. The model has a folding structure and can be easily transformed from a kitchen mini-sofa into a full-fledged bed.

Kitchen benches belong to the category of frame (cabinet) furniture and are often equipped with upholstered furniture. For the manufacture of the frame, wood, chipboards, MDF, metal and plastic are used. A wide range of materials greatly simplifies the choice and allows you to purchase a bench for an interior of any style. In terms of their performance characteristics, wood and metal are in the lead among all the materials presented above.

• Wooden models are distinguished by their absolute environmental friendliness and natural appearance. The disadvantages of wooden specimens are that they are too heavy, expensive and require regular maintenance.

• Hardware often produced in chrome finish, they are distinguished by a long service life, reasonable cost and modern appearance.The disadvantages include the large weight and cold surface of steel models, as well as the not very high strength of aluminum samples.

• The most budgetary option are benches made of MDF and chipboard. The advantages of such products, in addition to their low cost, include a huge assortment with a wide variety of shapes and designs, and low weight. Among the shortcomings are the rapid loosening of the bolts that fasten the structure, the high probability of chips and chipping of sawdust.

• Plastic is also used to make benches. and endows products with low weight, low cost and the ability to be dyed in different colors. The disadvantages include the somewhat rustic appearance of plastic models and the risk of cracking.

As for the upholstery, textiles, leatherette, natural leather and various fabrics are used for its production.

• Textile upholstery is a beautiful but not very practical material. The exception is fabrics impregnated with a water-repellent composition, which lend themselves well to wet cleaning, are highly wear-resistant, do not absorb grease and moisture and do not retain kitchen odors.

• Artificial leather or leatherette is the most common type of kitchen upholstery and is distinguished by a long service life, a large selection of colors and textures, low cost and high hygiene. The disadvantages include the likelihood of paint skipping, cracking corners and a fear of sharp objects.

• Leather is the most expensive and prestigious type of upholstery and is found in expensive kitchen nooks, often made of natural wood. The advantages of the material include its elegant appearance, hygiene and environmental friendliness. Among the disadvantages are the too high cost and the need for regular maintenance.

• Fabric is the most impractical option for kitchen upholstery. and requires special care in handling and painstaking care. The most common furnishing materials are dense, low abrasion fabrics such as chenille, tapestry, jacquard, flock, velor and microfiber.

When buying a kitchen bench, it is advisable to take into account a number of criteria, which will help you not to make a mistake with the choice.

• The area of ​​the kitchen should be taken into account first. So, for small-sized premises, it is better to choose a folding or linear model of a small size. A bonus will be the presence of a capacious box for storing various items.
• Functionality. The best option would be a transforming bench or a chest bench, which effectively combines the functions of several pieces of furniture at once.
• Upholstery. If there are pets and small children in the house, it is better to give preference to leatherette models. They are easy to clean, do not get greasy and do not accumulate dust in themselves. Of the fillers, foam rubber or polyurethane foam will be a good choice.

The kitchen bench should be in harmony with other interior items, successfully fit into the color scheme and maintain the overall style.

• The wooden bench is a perfect addition to the corner bench and a continuation of the overall design line.

• The natural wood corner looks very luxurious and elegant.

• Chromed legs and silver upholstery will adorn the interior of a modern style with dignity.

• Genuine leather and black oak are a good solution for the kitchen of a country house.

• A kitchen bench with a sleeping place is stylish, practical and functional.

For information on how to make a bench in the kitchen, see the next video.