Dining benches with lift up lids are worth considering if you need extra storage in the dining area but have no room for another cabinet. The hinged seat hides a generous box that suits table linen, seasonal tableware, games and other items you use regularly but not daily. They seat more people than chairs in the same space, tuck neatly under the table, and keep a room looking tidy. The main trade offs are that you need to pull the bench out to open it, and the lid mechanism needs to be well made to stay safe and reliable.
In many UK homes, the dining area doubles as a homework desk, a place to work, a spot for crafts and somewhere to entertain. All of that brings clutter, and a bench that quietly absorbs it can make a real difference. Our modern dining benches UK include several designs with hinged storage seats, and below we look at what makes them useful, what to check before buying and how to get the most from one.
A lift up lid bench is a dining bench where the seat is hinged along the back edge. Lift the front of the seat and it opens like a chest, revealing a storage compartment that runs the length of the bench. When closed, it looks much like any other bench, often with an upholstered or solid wood top.
This is different from a bench with drawers or open shelves beneath the seat. Drawers are easier to access day to day, while open shelves show what is stored. A lift up lid gives you the largest single storage space and keeps everything completely out of sight, which suits a calmer, less cluttered room.
The most obvious benefit is that you gain storage without adding another piece of furniture. In a compact kitchen diner or a flat where every wall already has a job, a bench that holds the contents of a small cupboard can free up space elsewhere.
A bench of 120cm to 140cm can usually seat two adults comfortably, or three children. That flexibility suits family meals and gatherings where numbers vary. The same bench can be pulled out into the room as extra seating when guests arrive.
Because everything is hidden, the room looks orderly even when the box is full. This is particularly helpful in open plan spaces, where the dining area is always on view from the kitchen or living room.
The best contents are things you reach for every so often and that relate to the dining area. Storing items that belong here means you will actually use the space, rather than forgetting what is in it.
Avoid heavy items that make the lid difficult to lift, and avoid things you need several times a day. If you find yourself opening the bench constantly, a design with drawers, or a separate unit, will be more convenient. Our dining table and chairs sets UK sale and wider storage ranges give you options to balance hidden and accessible storage in the same room.
This is the single most important detail. A good lift up bench has hinges that are fixed securely into solid material, and ideally a soft close stay or gas strut that holds the lid open and lowers it slowly. Without one, a heavy lid can drop suddenly, which is a risk to small fingers. If you have young children, look for soft close or safety hinges specifically.
Upholstered lids with thick padding and solid wood lids can be heavy. Try to find out how easy it is to open. A lid that needs two hands and real effort will be used less often.
A smooth, lined or finished interior protects linen and other fabrics from snagging or picking up dust. Some benches include a small gap or ventilation holes, which help prevent musty smells when the bench sits against a cold external wall.
The lid is also the seat, so it needs to be strong enough to take the weight of two or three adults without flexing. Check that the box has a firm frame, and that the lid rests on a solid edge when closed rather than relying on the hinges alone to bear the load.
Storage benches can be slightly taller and deeper than standard benches because of the box. Check that the seat height sits around 45cm to 48cm for a standard dining table of about 75cm, and that there is at least 25cm of knee room between the seat and the underside of the table.
Because you need to pull the bench out to lift the lid, think about access when planning its position. If it sits against a wall under the table, you will need enough space in front to slide it out by 30cm or so. That is rarely a problem, but it is worth checking in a tight room where chairs on the other side might be in the way.
Check, too, that the lid has room to open once the bench is pulled out. A low window sill, shelf or radiator behind the bench can stop it opening fully. Measure the depth of the seat, add a little extra, and make sure there is that much clear height above the bench at its back edge.
The bench also tends to look best paired with a table that is easy to slide it under. Tables with a trestle, pedestal or set back legs are more forgiving than those with legs right at the corners. Our wooden dining tables UK sale include several base styles that work well alongside benches.
Lift up benches come in both styles, and each has its strengths.
Either way, choose a finish that relates to the table or chairs so the bench looks part of the scheme rather than a stray storage box.
It helps to weigh a lift up bench against the alternatives. A sideboard offers easier access and a useful top surface, but it takes up a full wall. Additional storage units are flexible but add another piece to a room that may already feel full. Our storage furniture UK sale covers many of these alternatives if a bench alone will not be enough.
In bedrooms, a similar question comes up when choosing between a storage bench and a chest of drawers. Our article comparing chests of drawers and bedroom benches in UK homes explains the different ways each type of storage gets used, and much of that thinking applies in the dining room too.
It is worth being honest about the situations where this design is less suited. If the bench must sit in a narrow gap between the table and a wall with no room to slide it forward, you will struggle to open it at all. If the people using it most are elderly or have limited strength in their arms, a heavy lid can become a nuisance. And if what you need to store is used at every meal, such as everyday cutlery or condiments, the effort of clearing the seat and lifting the lid will quickly wear thin. In these cases, a plain bench paired with a cabinet or a drawer unit nearby is the more practical arrangement.
A little care keeps the bench working well for years. Check the hinge screws once or twice a year and tighten them if they have loosened. Avoid overloading the box so the lid closes flat. If the bench is upholstered, vacuum the top regularly and treat spills promptly. A sachet of cedar or lavender inside helps keep linen fresh.
If you are planning a wider update to your dining area, you can explore all of our ranges at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
They can be, provided the lid has a soft close stay or safety hinge that stops it dropping suddenly. Check the product details for this feature and avoid benches with heavy lids that rely on simple hinges alone.
Yes. A well made storage bench is designed for regular use as seating. Check that the lid rests on a solid frame when closed and that the stated weight capacity suits the number of people who will use it.
Usually, yes, because the table sits above the seat. If you need daily access to the contents, a bench with front drawers may be more convenient.
Choose a bench that is around 10cm to 20cm shorter than the table, measured between the legs, so it slides underneath without catching.
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