15 of the best simple wooden benches

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A simple wooden bench has to be one of the most versatile and timeless pieces of furniture there is. It can be used for all sorts of things – as a coffee table, as a sideboard, in a hallway, around a dining table, as a plant stand, as extra seating in a living room or kitchen… I’m currently looking for one to sit at the foot of our bed, but I’m sure it will end up being put to all sorts of different purposes over the years. It really is the kind of item that will stay in your home for decades, evolving with your needs and your decor.

There are some beautifully understated and elegant wooden benches to choose from at the moment, with options to suit all budgets and spaces. Here’s my pick of the best…

1. ‘Burford’ acacia-wood bench (matching items available; suitable for outdoor use), £220, John Lewis & Partners
2. Woud ‘Baenk’ soaped-oak veneer bench with seat cushion (also available in smoked-oak veneer), £749, Utility Design
3. Frama ‘Adam’ oak and steel bench, from £625, Tea + Kate
4. HAY ‘Triangle’ oiled-oak bench (matching dining table available), £862.75, Made in Design
5. Normann Copenhagen ‘Slice’ solid-oak bench (matching dining table available), £970, Clippings.co.uk
6. ‘YPPERLIG’ solid-beech bench, £35, IKEA
7. ‘Georg’ solid-oak bench with seat cushion (also available in black oak), £639, Skagerak
8. ‘Bergen’ solid-oak bench (matching dining table available), £375, Rose & Grey
9. HAY ‘Copenhague Deux CPH215’ bench (available in numerous wood and laminate combinations), from £379, Made in Design
10. ‘Hewinson’ mango-wood and steel bench, £279, Swoon Editions
11. HAY ‘Pyramid’ solid-oak and steel bench (matching dining table and chairs available), £765, Nest.co.uk
12. Solid ash bench, £275, Cox & Cox
13. Muuto ‘Linear’ oak-veneer bench (matching dining table available), £445, Utility Design
14. ‘Chesil’ solid-oak and steel bench (matching dining table and stools available), from £595, Oggetto
15. ‘Rhye’ solid-oak bench with woven seat, £199, MADE.com

And here’s a closer look at my personal favourites from the above selection…

The ‘YPPERLIG’ bench by IKEA

Designed as part of IKEA’s ‘YPPERLIG’ collaboration with HAY, this unbeatable-value bench is made from solid beech. It’s slim enough for narrow hallways yet very comfortable to sit on, and features two tilted seat slats that have a subtle Japanese look about them. Much of the ‘YPPERLIG’ collection has been phased out over the last few months but the bench is still available, and I hope it will stay on the market for a good while yet.

The ‘Georg’ bench by Skagerak

Drawing on influences from Scandinavia and Japan, Skagerak’s minimalist ‘Georg’ bench is the perfect blend of form and function. It’s the work of Swedish-Danish designer Chris Liljenberg Halstrøm and is part of her wider ‘Georg’ series, which also includes desks, side tables, stools, mirrors and coat racks. I love the minimalist lines, the rounded legs, and the way the removable woollen seat pad is held in place with braided leather straps. It’s available in natural or black-stained oak, and both options are 100% FSC-certified.

The ‘Adam’ bench by Frama

Inspired by industrial workshops and artists’ studios, Frama’s ‘Adam’ bench has a structural, utilitarian look that suits a huge range of different settings. It consists of a solid-oak seat on a slimline black steel frame, and is designed to fit any regular-sized desk or table, with a choice of two lengths (120cm and 160cm) available. The hole in the top makes it easy to carry and move around, and the horizontal bars underneath can be used to hold books, boxes and magazines.

The ‘Baenk’ bench by Woud

Designed by Maja Bøgh Vindbjerg for Danish brand Woud, the ‘Baenk’ bench is brilliantly multifunctional. There’s an upholstered middle section for comfortable sitting, plus a shelf that’s ideal for books and coffee cups. There’s even a circular hole on one side that can be used for an umbrella or plant pot. The bench’s shape was inspired by old cardboard embroidery bobbins, and the solid oak is treated in a way that accentuates the natural grain and veins of the wood. It’s available in soaped and smoked finishes.

The ‘Linear’ bench by Muuto

Created for Muuto by Copenhagen-based Thomas Bentzen, the visually clean ‘Linear’ bench and matching table were designed to be indoor versions of the ‘Linear Steel’ collection of garden furniture. They’re crafted from beautiful oak veneer and pair rounded legs with sleek tops in two halves. The bench comes in two different lengths (110cm and 170cm), meaning it works brilliantly on its own and as seating around a dining table.

All photography via the respective brands named above; top image by Skagerak