Benches
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Was there ever a time you wanted to sit with somebody and bond? What about a time when all you want is to sit comfortably and lay back?
An indoor bench does this for you. It allows you to relax and share a seat with a person you care about. It brings you closer together to bond. A bench also complements the interior design of your home.
However, it also occupies a chunk of space. If you are going to use benches in the dining room, it will be difficult for an adult to exit if he is seated in the middle. In fact, it is counterintuitive. Instead of seating more, you are likely to seat fewer people on a dining bench if your guests are adults.
This is why you need to measure your space before buying one. Benches vary in length. The typical length is 52 inches. The usual height is 18 inches and the depth is 17 inches.
To help you make better decisions, here are some tips when buying a bench.
Bench Types
Benches come in different shape and sizes. Here are the different types that can help you choose according to your home décor goals.
Living Room – Surely, you want to entertain seated guests, right? These benches are usually placed across the living room table, by the fireplace, or in the foyer. You will also find a living room bench waiting areas.
Bedroom – A bedroom bench is usually placed at the foot of the bed or across a dresser. If used for relaxation, it is best placed beside a wall to make learning possible.
Dining Room – Do you want to eat indoors picnic style? These benches are designed as an alternative to dining chairs. It usually comes in pairs and with the dining table. If you do not buy a bench dining set, you may have a bench a tad too short to eat appropriately. Measure the height you need before making the purchase.
Bench Styles
No matter what purpose, an accent bench comes in many styles. Below are a few examples.
Traditional– This is the kind of simple bench that has little to no ornaments. They may have curves but they are not ornate. Some come with a backrest but most don’t. Traditional benches are simplistic and usually are not cushioned. They are made of wood with warm colors.
Contemporary – This type of bench is also usually referred to as modern contemporary or just contemporary. Benches of this style use wood and fabric to create texture. The colors that fall into this category are just black, white, and neutral ones. Remember, a contemporary design is one in which the texture comes directly from the material, not from paint or other synthetic materials.
Mid-Century –Mid-century furniture are those that belong to pre-war era. You can identify these benches by the simple curves. In this style, the function always comes first before form. There is minimal ornamentation on mid-century benches and they always have a sleek, straightforward look.
Classic – These are benches whose designed were inspired by furniture in the 1800s or older. These are all made of high-quality wood like ebony, African Blackwood, and sandalwood. Classic designs for benches are always ornate, with a lot of patterns found at the sides and feet. They are also usually dark and varnished.
Bench Upholstery types
To add luxury and comfort, benches are made with different upholstery such as foam and fabric. Below are a few that are typically used.
Leather–Real leather comes from animal hide. An upholstered bench with leather is expensive. If you do not know how to identify leather, you should only buy a bench from a reputable company. A leather is durable, stainproof, and waterproof. Leather benches are best used in areas with a cool climate.
Do not put a leather bench near a fireplace. Heat will dry the leather and cause it to crack. If it gets damp, just put it in a cool and dry area.
Faux Pas Leather – This is a kind of leather which uses synthetic materials. They look like leather and may even share some of the leather’s qualities but they are mostly made of polyurethane. Faux leather is also called PU leather. Faux leather is significantly priced lower than the genuine one. Synthetic leather is thin. Genuine leather is thick.
Fabric– All sorts of soft fabrics can be used on an entryway bench. But this is only possible after stuffing other materials in the cushion. The cushion is either made of cotton or synthetic material. The expensive ones are stuffed with down, wool or feather.
Bench Finishing and Frames
Bench materials and frames are typically made of either metal or wood. Though there are plastic benches available, these are not generally recommended for indoor use. Plastic benches lack the integrity of art and craftsmanship that is put into wood and metal benches.
Metals – Benches with metal frames are either polished or painted. Painted ones lean toward the modernistic type while polished metals provide an industrial look.
Metal benches are best used for modern apartments. They are not as expensive as wood but they will last just as long. One downside to painted metal is that the paint is going to chip over time. If it does, you can re-paint it yourself.
Wood – a wooden bench one will add a cohesive look for wooden houses. Perhaps the best material selection, this also comes at a steep price.There are two main types of a wood bench.
Kiln dried timber is carefully dried wood.It is done to remove moisture. It is a controlled process because over-drying can damage the integrity of the wood and make it susceptible to cracking. Inadequate drying makes the wood moist which will lead to warping.
A kiln wood bench is one in which the entire wood is used to craft the bench. It has no finishing other than varnish or wood preservative.
Veneered wood are thin slices of wood. Usually, they are less than 3 millimeters long. They are glued on top of the frame for the sole purpose of décor. The sturdiness of the bench is still reliant on the material behind the veneered wood.
When buying a bench with veneered wood, ask the vendor what the bench structure is made of.
Summary
When you buy a bench, consider only three things. These are purpose, budget, and interior design. These three things can help you narrow down your search.
Once you have identified specific details about these three areas, you can decide about the specific bench you are looking for in reference to the finishing, material, and upholstery.