Benches instead of chairs?

[IsoscelesSandwich]

In my head it looks great having two benches instead of four kitchen chairs. Is there an obvious practical reason we should stick with chairs instead of benches? We have a small kitchen and as well as kitchen chairs I’m trying to squeeze in a high chair and toddler chair thing round the table and it feels like a lot of chair traffic. Anyone have any bench-related pearls of wisdom?

I look very able bodied but cannot sit on a bench for more than 5 minutes due to back pain.

We had a black bench set for our small kitchen. Only advice would be make sure someone half clued up assembles them... A lot of pulling and shoving!
Wobbled a lot!!
Maybe crap quality or maybe ds crap with a screwdriver!

We have one bench and 4 chairs.

We had a bench when the children were younger. It was ok, as long as you didn't want to sit round the table for too long. It worked well at the time, when they became older teens we swapped back to chairs.

One bench and two chairs is fine

But I don’t think you can have two benches - it hurts my back to not be supported and the hard wood hurts my bum so I’d personally go for a chair in that situation

We had benches for years without backs but I would not want them now I am older. But restaurant style benches with backs and cushions would be fine.

They're annoying to get in an out of if it's a tight space; it can be a pain to get in and out of wearing a skirt; if two people want/need to sit at different distances from the table, it's more of a hassle; if you need to move the bench closer/further away, both people have to co-ordinate it; if one person wants to get up and can't just slide out, both people have to move, etc.

We have one bench (with a back) and two chairs... works perfectly and wouldn't go back to four chairs!

We have table and two benches from next. Works well for us as its smallish space. Had them for few years now.

We have a bench on one side and chairs on the other. When we have guests (ie our parents) there's no way they would sit on the benches. I like having the bench though because it tucks right in under the table and looks really neat.

We had a black bench set for our small kitchen.

How many kitchens do you have?
Are you Ed Miliband?

I changed from chairs to benches so I can tuck them under. There is space at both sides for people to slide out so you don’t need anyone else to get up to let you out.

We had them growing up and I'm thinking of getting one and three chairs, great for squeezing multiple small children on I hope!

When we finally get our kitchen done I'm having a bench on one side and then chairs, so children can sit on the bench and adults the chairs.

My grandparents had a bench on one side and the youngest (not babies) grandchildren sat on it until they "graduated" to a chair and their bench space was taken by a younger grandchild. It was against a cupboard, though, so you could lean back if necessary. I want to recreate that feeling in my kitchen!

We have a bench with a back against a wall and then two chairs the other side. Works fine.

I have two benches and a chair either end. Love the informality of hosting with the benches