Benches + Stools

Benches and stools are the utility players in the modern home. A living room bench can sit quietly against a wall to serve as a spot to sit and pull on slippers or a way station for a backpack or stack of new mail, then be pulled out in a flash for use as overflow seating during a party. A minimalist bench will call even less attention to itself and complement a wide range of decorating styles. Stools are another category of versatile furnishings, with the added quality of being even easier to move around. A short minimalist stool can also serve as a footstool in a pinch. 

Types of benches and stools 

Benches can be used in nearly any room in the house. A storage bench makes a handy place in the bedroom to keep extra blankets and a place to sit while getting dressed. An entryway bench makes  a good place to pull on boots in winter or hold the dog leash year-round. A dining room bench provides an ideal seat for kids, who take naturally to the shoulder-to-shoulder proximity a bench provides. Stools, too, because of their great variety, can be used almost anywhere. A swivel stool can be found at a kitchen counter or, in a much shorter version, stationed beside the fireplace in the living room.