Benches instead of dining chairs - yay or nay?

[Times10]

We need to replace our dining chairs and we’re thinking maybe benches would work better, but would they actually annoy us, or would they work well?

We have DCs under 10, and pre-Covid used to invite one/2 people around for meals several times a year (not regularly but still enough for it to be important in our use of furniture, iyswim)

Personally I find benches uncomfortable. Even with a cushion on, and even if there is a back, it seems like a poor option. I don't like them in bars etc either. However if you need to accommodate more people I guess they are more flexible.

A bench is fine to sit on occasionally but I couldn’t sit on one every meal. If you never sit at the table with your back supported by the chair back it might be fine for you.

It's fine unless you end up sliding along all the time to let someone else up.

As a short person I sit far closer to the table than someone taller. It’s a pain when sitting on a bench.

Agree benches can be a pain, because you can't individually adjust how close you are to the table.

Benches - Do you want backache ?

I'd hate that. Sorry.

We got rid of 2 annoying carver chairs (with armrests) that didn't fit under the table, and replaced them with a bench along the inside against a wall. We kept the other 4 "ordinary" chairs with no arms, moving 2 to the ends where the carvers used to be, and 2 along the outside long side. When we have a good few people eating, we can squash up to 4 along the bench, and add folding chairs along the outside and end - we've been known to have 12 or 14 at that table (very squashed, but we're a friendly group!!)

We have cushions on the bench, which does help

I'd have chairs and get a stack of cheap stools from IKEA for emergencies.

if you have a bench, it really needs ot be along a wall, and have back cushions on the wall.

benches on one side are great if you have younger kids, we used to squeeze lot sof cousins along the bench at family meals. As kids we were fine sitting on the bench, and the issues of how close the table was and discomfort didn't really apply. As an adult, I would prefer not to sit on a bench though

Can't sit on a bench, unless it's backed up against a wall

We have benches but tbh we don’t eat up the table often, usually it’s only the DC’s. I love them for the children! They can’t swing on the chairs, forget to tuck in the chairs etc! It looks so much tidier! X

In case enough people haven't said it. Please don't get a bench. So uncomfy

Thanks for all the feedback! We could potentially put one bench against the wall for the DCs, and the rest chairs but we’ll probably opt for chairs though as the price difference (on the ones we’re looking at) is pretty similar, and there’s less downsides to chairs. I knew this was the place to ask!

We've got something along these lines in kitchen which is really comfortable although admittedly the bench part doesn't get used much

https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/central-park-dining-table-right-hand-facing-corner-bench-and-standard-bench-set-multi-saver-set/CENPFSET4-001.html?istCompanyId=32a7a394-6440-4007-a75f-7a392507ff63&istFeedId=5bb8bce3-d094-4c41-8359-a452a69a72e3&istItemId=iirwliplt&istBid=t&$ja=tsid:%7Ccid:1675315576%7Cagid:70681080448%7Ctid:pla-670895757798%7Ccrid:324782632552%7Cnw:u%7Crnd:12143147828658766328%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cloc:9046130&gclid=CjwKCAjw5Ij2BRBdEiwA0Frc9egmn0yudMuQhXsx2IZuJqBvXMPHsRoDDA1EyqQwqJdW5HTE3jTvcBoCnOwQAvDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I hated the benches my cousin had, you couldn’t get comfortable on them, no backs and if finished awkward to get off.

We ended up ordering chairs. I think the benches would have annoyed me quite quickly, especially on all the aspects everyone’s pointed at!

I dislike bench s in pubs. Climbing in and out is painful. Children elbow each other and it increases squabbling. No good for supper parties except in student houses,
Stick with chairs where people can linger over their port.

We have a mixture. A bench along one long end of the table and a further four chairs around the remaining sides. When we entertain(ed) the children would sit on the bench and it was v handy to accommodate four or five small bottoms. I don’t find it especially uncomfortable but I went to a college where we had to sit on benches for formal meals so perhaps this early training served me well.

It has also proved the perfect height for toddler DS to play with his toys!

Oh hadn’t thought about toy area @PuntoEBasta . Maybe we’ll buy something in the future, although we’re also looking for a coffee table (our room is a dining/living room so everything has to fit in a fairly small space.)