I get why designers go shallow, though. Makes the room look bigger in photos, and you can style it with all those cute throw pillows.
Totally get this—sometimes I feel like half the stuff on Pinterest is just for the photo op, not real life. I’ve had clients ask for those super shallow benches and I always have to ask, “Are you actually planning to sit here?” It’s wild how much difference a couple inches makes. Curious—has anyone tried adding storage underneath? Wondering if that ever impacts comfort or if it’s just a bonus.
Wondering if that ever impacts comfort or if it’s just a bonus.
I’ve wondered about that too—like, does adding storage underneath make the seat even higher or more awkward? In my old house, the original window seats have these deep bases for storage, but the cushions are thin and not exactly cozy. Maybe it’s a trade-off between function and comfort? Has anyone found a way to keep both?
I totally get what you mean about the trade-off. I’ve sat on a few benches with storage and yeah, sometimes they’re just a bit too tall or the cushion’s not thick enough. Has anyone tried adding a thicker cushion or maybe a backrest to help? I’m curious if that actually makes a difference or just looks weird.
I’ve had the same issue—storage benches almost always sacrifice comfort for function. A thicker cushion can definitely help, but you have to watch the total height or your feet start dangling. I built a simple angled backrest for mine out of plywood and foam, covered in fabric to match the cushion. It made a huge difference in comfort and honestly didn’t look weird at all, just more intentional. The trick is making sure the proportions still work with the rest of the room. Sometimes those little tweaks are what make built-ins actually usable for more than five minutes at a time.
Yeah, dialing in the proportions really is key. I’ve seen so many benches that look great in photos but are just awkward to sit on. That angled backrest idea is smart—little tweaks like that can totally change how people use a space. I’ve added custom cushions to a few of my rentals and it’s wild how much more inviting they feel, even if they’re just plywood underneath. Sometimes it’s the smallest details that make people actually want to hang out there.