Light or Dark Paint for Kitchen Diner with Young Kids

[Doodle4]

I am trying to decide whether it would be best/easiest to redecorate the kitchen diner with built in bench seating on one side (so potentially greasy/grubby kids hands on occasion) with another light colour like the grey we have now or go darker which I would like—like a grey/green... any thoughts would be welcomed!
I have scrubbable Dulux trade paint now, which is looking tired after a few years of wiping down after weaning two littles..,

Would the bench be near a wall? Would it be possible to buy/make a fabric backrest? Save them touching the walls

I've always had darker paint when mine were younger, still do if I'm honest. Not so much to cover dirt I just find pastels and greys a bit meh

Thanks for reply—the bench would be against a wall, but I hadn’t thought of a fabric backrest, I will explore that idea.
I am also trying to figure out if light or dark paint disguised kiddie prints better...

Depends on the size of your bench, but an upholstered headboard (loads of places sell them separately from beds) might be a cost-effective way to achieve the effect.

And as far as the paint is concerned, as long as you have a hard-wearing, wipeable finish it shouldn't make a huge amount of difference, though IME either very light or very dark is more likely to show marks than a mid-tone colour.