13+ Genius Built In Benches That Transform Any Room

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By the end of this list you’ll have thirteen built in benches ideas worth stealing for your own house. Some are simple weekend fixes. Others are bigger projects worth saving up for.

I scrolled through more pins than I’d like to admit to put this together, lol! A lot of them looked so pretty in the photo and completely impossible in real life.

So the ones here got kept for a reason. They’re doable, they fit everyday budgets and they actually hold up once real life happens around them.

Built in seating solves a problem most rooms have. You need more seats but zero extra floor space. Sound familiar?

Whether you’re working with an awkward corner, a bay window or a whole wall that’s just sitting there empty, there’s an idea in here for you. Grab a coffee and let’s get into it!

BUILT IN BENCHES IDEAS

Entryway Storage Bench Idea

An entryway bench is one of those things you don’t think you need until you have one. Then you wonder how you ever lived without it, haha! these like this one give you a spot to sit while tugging off boots instead of hopping around on one foot.

Add a row of hooks above it for coats. Cubbies underneath handle shoes so they stop piling up by the door.

Dining Table Corner Bench

Corner benches next to a dining table are such a smart use of space. You fit more people around the table without dragging in extra chairs.

This one works especially well in a breakfast nook where square footage is tight. Add a cushion and some throw pillows and suddenly it’s the coziest seat in the house.

Bay Window Bench Design

How dreamy is a bay window turned into its own little seat? This is the kind of spot that turns into the unofficial reading corner of the house.

Build storage underneath for blankets or board games. Top it off with a long cushion cut to fit the exact shape of the window.

Bench With Hidden Storage

Hidden storage is the whole reason to build a bench instead of just buying a bench, honestly. The seat lifts up on hinges and suddenly you’ve got a place for extra linens, seasonal decor or the board games nobody plays anymore.

No shame in that.

Outdoor Deck Bench Seating

Deck seating built right into the railing or the perimeter saves you from hauling patio furniture in and out every season. It just stays put through rain, wind and everything else.

Pressure treated wood holds up best outdoors. Seal it every couple of years and it’ll last well past a decade.

Farmhouse Style Dining Bench

Farmhouse style benches next to a dining table have that lived in warmth that matching chairs just don’t give you. Thick planks, visible joints, maybe a little distressing on purpose.

It pairs beautifully with mismatched chairs on the other side of the table. That combination looks intentional instead of accidental, which is a nice trick.

Small Space Bench Solution

Got a tiny apartment with barely any room to spare? Same! A slim bench tucked against one wall can double as seating and a landing spot for keys and bags.

Under twelve inches deep still works if you’re clever about it. Every inch counts when square footage is limited.

Bench With Bookshelf Backing

A bench with a bookshelf built right into the back is such a clever way to use vertical space. You get seating on the bottom and display shelves right above eye level.

This setup looks fantastic in a den or a home library corner. Fill the shelves with paperbacks, framed photos or whatever you’ve been collecting for years.

Modern Minimalist Bench Nook

This modern nook keeps things simple. Clean lines, a single wood tone and zero clutter on the cushion.

It’s the kind of look that photographs well but also just feels calm to sit in every day. Not every bench needs a pile of pillows to feel finished.

Kids Playroom Bench Corner

Playroom corners get chaotic fast, so a bench that doubles as a toy chest is basically a lifesaver. Toss the blocks and puzzles inside and the room looks tidy again in under a minute.

Kids love having their own little spot.

Bench With Drawer Storage

Drawers underneath a bench beat a lift top when you need quick access to whatever’s stored there. No digging through a deep bin, just pull the drawer and grab what you need.

This works great in a bedroom for extra blankets or folded sweaters. It’s a dresser and a seat rolled into one piece of furniture.

Sunroom Bench Seating Idea

Sunrooms practically beg for built in seating along the windows. All that natural light makes even a simple wood bench look like the best seat in the house.

Add a few weather resistant cushions since sunrooms can swing warm and cold depending on the season.

Rustic Wood Bench Design

Last but definitely not least, we have this rustic wood bench that looks similar to it’s been in the family for generations even if you built it last weekend. Reclaimed boards and visible knots give it all its character.

Set it at the foot of a bed or along a long hallway wall. Either spot lets the wood grain do all the talking.