Just a couple of decades ago, a bench was considered an auxiliary element of furniture. It was used mainly when putting on shoes. Thanks to the modern look of designers, the attitude towards the bench has changed. Today, it is considered one of the key elements in the arrangement of the hallway. About what its varieties, color schemes and nuances of choice, this article will tell.
What is it for?
The bench in the hallway is a functional element of furniture that combines practical and decorative functions. Depending on the design, the bench can be:
- a place for easy putting on and removing shoes;
- a kind of chair on which you can wait for households gathering on the street;
- a place of rest if it has a comfortable back and soft upholstery;
- organizer containing shoes;
- part of a modular hallway;
- a kind of box for storing household items;
- a stylish design element that indicates belonging to a specific style;
- a stool, which, if necessary, will reach the upper drawers of the closet or wardrobe;
- a cupboard, on the part of which you can store the most necessary things.
Types of designs
Today benches for halls are produced in various versions. If desired, some of them can be supplemented with sofa cushions or bedding. Conventionally, all products can be divided into several groups.
Classic
This category includes models without backs and extra decor. In fact, these products are nothing but elongated stools for 2-3 or more users. They can differ in the width of the seat, the type and number of supports (2, 3, 4, 6), the streamline of the lines, and the height. Depending on the design, they may have legs in the form of hollow rectangles or solid walls.
With back
These models are classics with backs. In most cases, they are as compact as the classic varieties. Often for the convenience of users have armrests, which increases their aesthetic appeal.
Depending on the model, they can have a seat with soft upholstery and up to 8 legs.
High back
Some options are equipped with a high back, which is used to place things. In fact, these are dressing rooms, the back of which is a panel with a shelf and hooks. Separate modifications instead of hooks are supplemented with mirrors, which is very important for hallways. In addition, the products may have on the back places for embedding fixtures.
These benches can be part of the built-in hallway.
Pedestal bench
This group includes products that look like curbstones, pouffes or so-called banquets. They have a seat without a back and armrests, a pair of drawers under it, at the base they are mounted on a stable stand. The bench bench has short and strong support. In some cases, they may have low side rails, allowing for the convenience of households to provide the seat with soft bedding. The box can be very long, while the product can have a 2-tier storage system.
With shelves
Such models differ from the classical ones by the presence of built-in shelves, which are usually used for storing seasonal shoes. These modifications are convenient especially for small halls. The number of shelves depends on the model itself, as well as their location. They themselves can be lattice or solid, symmetric and asymmetric. Wicker baskets can be placed in shelves.
With hinged seat
Benches with a folding seat are convenient in that you can remove any objects from them. As a rule, except for internal boxes, they do not have any shelves. The type of folding seat may be different: it can open all the boxes completely or separately each of them. The number of legs for products can vary from 2 to 6, and with a longer length - up to 8.
The folding seat can be found on models without armrests and with them.
With drawers
This category of benches is convenient in terms of zoning. The presence of closed drawers located under the seat allows you to remove the appearance of small things that are typical for hallways. The type of drawers can be different, for example, built-in under the folding seat. In addition, as in the models, cabinets, drawers can be arranged vertically, when opened, taking a horizontal position.
Based on the characteristics of the models, they can have one in common or two separately opening seats.
With rails
These models are products with the so-called lower shelf, consisting of metal bars. The number of rails can be different, these models are nothing more than classic-style benches and products with backs and armrests. The roof rails are convenient for storing street shoes, they allow you to remove it from view, are easy to clean, and can have different widths.
Shelving
These modifications are distinguished by their original appearance. They are similar to traditional models with backs, but have shelves divided into compartments located under the seat itself. As a rule, these products are longer, have three compartments, each of which is divided into 3-4 shelves. The rack does not have a back wall.
Such a bench is usually made of durable and reliable material.
Combined
Often, in order to achieve comfort and functionality, manufacturers produce models that combine both a bench and a pedestal at the same time. Besides, they can be like a bench with a small table under which there is a pair of drawers.
Shapes and dimensions
The bulk of the hallway benches are rectangular.However, if the design provides smooth and asymmetric lines, the width of the two sides of the product may be different, as well as the seat line. It can be not only straight and even, but also curved, wavy or concave.
Despite the fact that the main assortment is carried out in the traditional linear version, you can find corner-type products on sale. This is convenient when you need to equip the corner of the hallway with maximum functionality and space saving.
Such models are used to beat the ledges available in the hallways. Thus, the perspective is given a special flavor, turning its flaws into advantages of the interior composition.
The seat width of the products is usually small, and even completely narrow. As for the sizes, they can be the most diverse, it depends on the desire of the buyer and the space reserved for the bench. For example, on sale you can find options with parameters of length / width / height? 894х372х475, 1000х440х970, 1150х540х880, 700х350х420, 965х420х890, 1728х370х500, 1077х406х872, 900х406х805, 1200х450х450 mm. Models with asymmetric backs can be tall. The height of the larger edge in them usually exceeds 1.5 m. Small benches rarely exceed a height of 45 cm.
Materials
In the manufacture of benches for hallways, manufacturers use wood, chipboard, MDF, metal, plastic. In addition, products are often equipped with soft bedding and pillows. Wooden furniture is considered the most reliable and durable. Wood products look great in any interior. They are especially effectively combined with forging elements: forged furniture brings a special touch to the interior composition.
Derived woods do not have a long service life, this is a budget type of benches. However, they can become a completely acceptable element of arrangement, can be supplemented with metal parts or wicker baskets. Plastic furniture is completely impractical. Despite the fact that today it has a wide range of colors, it is short-lived, afraid of scratches and mechanical damage.
Color schemes
The color of the product depends on the design idea, as well as the existing basic furniture. For example, in stores you can find models in white, beige, brown, gray, black and any shades of wood. White color looks beautiful, but it is of brands, which is why buyers usually choose more practical tones, from dark beige to mocha. They look beautiful in the interior of the bench in pistachio and gray-mint colors. Refined models with upholstery in gray and blue.
Design options
Today, brands present to the attention of buyers benches for hallways of the most diverse type and design. Laconic options are performed without unnecessary decor: often such shops have a deliberately rough appearance. Models with backs are variable: it can be lattice, carved, even, wave or crown-shaped, decorated with textile upholstery, which gives it a special look.
The design of the armrests is also different. They can be symmetric, asymmetric, curved, wavy, carved, forged, openwork. Models with a stand and a folding seat look beautiful. Other modifications have compact tables, wicker baskets. Others are distinguished by the decoration of facades; in a separate line, the emphasis is on the contrast of the materials used or color schemes.
Options with soft mattress seats are unique, and analogues with metal fittings look organically. Sometimes the design involves decorating laconic models with thin mattresses and pillows of a cylindrical shape, which are located at the armrests.
In the decoration of other models, decorative braid is used.
How to choose?
When buying a product in the corridor of an apartment or a private house It is necessary to pay attention to several nuances.
- Before buying, measure the place under the bench. This will determine the size of the product. Too big a thing will not leave room for passage.
- The color of the product must be practical, the material durable. Priority materials resistant to accidental mechanical damage.
- The product should be practical: closed shelves save stored things from dust, open ones collect not only dust, but also dirt.
- The storage system should be convenient. When buying options with drawers and doors, they always check the working mechanism: it should not jam or brake.
- It is necessary to pay attention to the quality of the assembly: if something hangs, this indicates a marriage or a broken thread of the joints.
- The color of the product should match the color of the furniture installed in the hallway. If desired, it can be related to the available furniture elements.
- The shape of the product and design are selected taking into account the design of the hallway itself. Furniture status should also be appropriate.
Beautiful examples
We offer 10 examples of stylish bench design for placement in the hallway.
- An option for a narrow corridor with an unusual design.
- Compact but roomy model for arranging the hallway.
- Model cabinet with spacious drawers and upper shelves.
- Beating the hallway constructive ledge.
- Harmonious placement of the bench in the interior of the minimalism style.
- A soft bench in the interior of a modern style.
- Blue bench with padded seat and shelves.
- Wooden model with leather upholstery and slatted doors.
- An open-plan bench that allows you to zone your space with an extraordinary backrest.
- A modular kit in which two benches are used.
See how to make a bench in the hallway with your own hands in the next video.