What you need to know about buying, building your custom bench

By Lou Carlozo, Brand Publishing Writer

Say the word “bench” and it’s all too easy to conjure up the tired stereotype of some splinter-covered park prop. But if that’s your idea of this popular appointment, it’s time to catch up to reality: Today’s benches boast a broad range of desired qualities to grace any furnishing project; they’re versatile, fashionable and — yes — comfortable.

Around the home, benches and their placement have progressed over the past few decades. “It used to be that we’d see them just at the end of a bed, but not anymore,” says Edith Orlansky, a designer with the Baer’s Furniture, a family-owned group with 15 locations throughout Florida. “There are plenty of uses and plenty of styles — whatever you want,” says the Pinecrest-based designer.

That’s putting it mildly. “You can put any upholstery known to man on a bench,” says Janet Graham, an interior designer with Baer’s Furniture in Naples. “There are manufacturers that Baer’s carries that can make the bench to whatever size you need — 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet — and with all sorts of wood carvings, and literally thousands of different fabrics.”

To give you an idea of the wide style and price ranges, options run the gamut from the Paula Deen Upholstered Bed Bench With Contrast Welting by River House ($500) to the Essential TA Hanover Square Bench with a hand-carved and caned, double-seat back by Theodore Alexander ($1,470).

And for a touch of whimsy, there’s the Accents Rustic Cart-Style Settee Bench by Jadu Accents (call for price). It sits on large, rustic wheels reminiscent of a farm cart, but there’s nothing rough-hewn about the comfort. This bench boasts ample comfort with its cushioned seat.

Because rooms come in all configurations, the possibilities for purchasing a bench will depend largely on where you want to place it. At the foot of a bed, for example, backless styles will always be a popular choice, with the added consideration of whether you want the bench to double as an added storage space. Such benches come in leather, as you might expect, but you can also buy them with draped sides and upholstered accents that make a smart match for your bedding and room decor.

While bed benches are still a very popular option for Baer’s customers, Graham points out that the foyer also makes a great spot for a bench. There, you can use it as a station for the family to stop and untie shoes, for example.

“We’re using a lot of benches in living room settings and the family room,” she adds. “With a large area you’ve got room for extra seating area, but you want something that doesn’t distract a view.”

Benches also provide some intriguing design solutions. It’s possible to split a bench area, Graham says — that is, to use two short benches in an opening instead of just one. As Orlansky puts it, there are no hard-and-fast rules for sizing, though some guidelines are useful.

“Usually for one bench it’s no more than 80 inches, because otherwise it might be too long,” Orlansky says. “You’re looking for the size that fits your setting. Under a window, for example, I would not use something longer than the window itself. But if it’s a succession of windows, you could use a succession of benches to create a look of unity, or a long one framed by draperies on either side.”

Before you stop into any Baer’s store, it helps to do some homework. Determine as precisely as you can the furniture arrangement and colors in your living space to achieve the best match; photos aren’t required, of course, but can always help — and are easy to take with a smartphone.

What’s more, “You have to ask yourself why you need one,” Graham points out. “Is it decorative or are you going to sit down on it? What size area are you working in? What is the purpose of the bench?”