Pick an upholstered dining bench if you want comfort and flexibility, with a piece you can move, reposition or take with you to your next home. Pick a corner dining bench if you need to seat the most people in the smallest possible footprint and are happy for the bench to define the layout of the room. In short, upholstered benches are about softness and freedom. Corner benches are about efficiency and that snug, booth style feel.<\/p>\n
The two can overlap, since many corner benches are upholstered and some upholstered benches can be arranged at right angles. But the decision usually turns on room shape, how often you change the layout and how many people regularly sit down to eat. Our upholstered dining benches UK<\/a> and corner designs cover both approaches, and both work well alongside the tables in our modern dining table and chairs sets UK<\/a>.<\/p>\n These are straight benches with a padded seat covered in fabric, faux leather or velvet. Some have a backrest, many do not. They sit along one side of a table, can be moved easily and work with most table shapes.<\/p>\n A corner bench, sometimes called an L shaped bench or corner banquette, is designed to fit into the corner of a room. It wraps around two sides of a table, usually with a backrest along both arms. Many include storage beneath the seat. Corner benches are often upholstered, but wooden versions with seat pads are also available.<\/p>\n This is where corner benches excel. By using a room corner that would otherwise be dead space, they free up the middle of the room. There is no need for clearance behind the bench because it sits against the walls. A compact corner bench with a small table and one or two chairs can seat four to six people in an area that would struggle to fit four chairs.<\/p>\n A straight upholstered bench also saves space compared with chairs, especially when pushed against a wall. However, it only covers one side of the table. The other sides still need chairs and the clearance that comes with them.<\/p>\n In narrow galley kitchens or small kitchen diners, a corner bench is often the more practical choice. In square or open plan rooms with space to spare, a straight bench gives more freedom. Either way, the table size sets the limits, and our modern dining tables UK<\/a> include rectangular, round and pedestal designs suited to both arrangements.<\/p>\n Both styles can be comfortable, but in different ways. Upholstered straight benches have padded seats and sometimes a back, making them pleasant for relaxed meals. Without a back, though, long sittings can feel less supportive.<\/p>\n Corner benches almost always have backrests, which makes them comfortable for lingering over meals, working on a laptop or reading the papers. The enclosed feel is cosy. The downside is the corner seat itself, which can be awkward to reach, and getting out from the middle often means asking others to shift.<\/p>\n With either style, chairs opposite the bench complete the arrangement. Upholstering them in the same or a coordinating fabric ties the look together, and our fabric dining chairs UK sale<\/a> range offers a choice of textures and colours that pair well with upholstered benches.<\/p>\n An upholstered bench is a freestanding piece of furniture. You can move it to the hallway, use it at the end of a bed or take it to another room when your needs change. It will fit almost any future home.<\/p>\n Corner benches are designed around a specific corner. They often come in left or right hand configurations and fixed arm lengths. If you move house, the new kitchen may not have a corner that suits. Some modular corner benches can be split into separate sections, which helps, but they are still less adaptable than a single straight bench.<\/p>\n If you rent or expect to move within a few years, an upholstered straight bench is usually the safer investment.<\/p>\n The table you choose shapes how well each bench works.<\/p>\n Square, rectangular and round tables can all work. A table with a central pedestal is especially good because there are no legs to bump into when sliding along the bench. Our guide to pedestal base dining tables for UK homes<\/a> explains why this base style is so useful for banquette and corner seating.<\/p>\nUnderstanding the Two Options<\/h3>\n
Upholstered Dining Benches<\/h3>\n
Corner Dining Benches<\/h3>\n
Space Efficiency<\/h3>\n
Comfort<\/h3>\n
Flexibility and Moving Home<\/h3>\n
Table Pairing<\/h3>\n
With a Corner Bench<\/h3>\n