The humble storage bench is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can find. Growing up, we always had a few in our house: a Shaker-style bench that doubled as a coffee table, a more slender version that held sheet music at the piano, a toy chest that held our "dress-up costumes." Click below for 10 places you might be able to use one in your home...
• 1 In an entryway, it holds your stuff and doubles as a seat to tie your shoes.
• 2 At the foot of the bed, it holds extra pillows and blankets.
• 3 In a living room, it works as a coffee table that hides remotes and magazines.
• 4 A version with open shelving can double as a media stand.
• 5 In a child's room, it's a toy storage bin.
• 6 A storage bench tucked into an alcove becomes a banquette.
• 7 An outdoor version hides your gardening supplies.
• 8 A tall version provides extra seating in the dining room and stows your linens.
• 9 In a bathroom, it stows clean towels.
• 10 A home office bench holds books and office equipment.
Tina Wilson's Striking Style 
30 DIY Projects for the 3-Day Weekend
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Hose Jockey Wall Mount
20 Scrumptious Brunch Recipes 
Magic One-Ingredient Ice Cream 5 Ways: Peanut Butter, Nutella, and More
Comments (9)
Having walked into one too many benches at the end of beds from hotel rooms to friend's homes, I have forgone getting one as I value the health of my shins and toes far more than storage and additional place to sit.
If used as a toy box, special hinges have to be installed so kids don't get trapped by the lid.
Our entryway bench has sliding drawers that are the perfect size for shoes: http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2008/10/entryway-makeover/
Where is that comforter/ duvet from? I love it!
Ok, nevermind. I just saw it was Pottery Barn.
What is the paint color?
I'm for the nothing at the end of the bed group - it's just something you'll end up hurting yourself on.
In my first apartment, I recovered a piano bench to use at the foot of the bed. It was little so I chose a more boldly patterned fabric than I usually would, and it looked fantastic.
I stored jewelry in silverware organizers instead of sheet music though. I did bruise my leg on it a couple of times, but we made nice (the bench and I), because of our shared hatred of a cluttered dresser top.
I have a leather storage bench at the foot of my bed, and it has just enough padding that I (contender for Klutz of the World) haven't hurt myself on it once. (I do have a roomy bedroom, though...)
I also have two storage benches in the home library. One holds files and papers, and the other has a cat flap and hides the litter boxes. (We added the flap, it didn't come that way.) I open the lid to scoop the clumping litter. I won't insist it's odorless, but the house doesn't have any suitable corners or hidden places on the ground floor so this was our soltion, and it does work pretty well for us. And it's not usually noticible unless it was just used. (Occasional spritzing of Febreeze helps, too...)