Hello all! Happy Friday! This week has flew by – all of the girls’ activities have started up, so most evenings you can find Matt and I shuffling kids around. This time of year is always one of my favorites- I love getting back into the school groove, as well as my favorite season on the horizon. So, today I wanted to share a somewhat unique idea for seating at the kitchen island. We’ve had these barstools for almost 5 years and they’ve seen better days. This type of material is HARD to clean and stains so easily. I was over them.

Bench Seating at Kitchen Island

I’ve always liked the idea of a bench type of seating at the kitchen island; it’s not something you see done very often but I like that it’s unique. After browsing hundreds of bar stools online and going over endless options, I settled on these bench stools.

Pros of Bench Seating

• More Affordable – I couldn’t believe how expensive some barstools were that I liked, and of course I liked all the expensive ones. Getting 2 bench seats was cheaper than buying 4 individual chairs.
• Streamlined Look – I really like the streamlined look that these give. Having 4 barstools could sometimes look cluttered in my opinion and I think this looks more simplified, which I like!
• Can Fit More Kids – When it comes to little ones, you could totally fit 3 small kids on one bench. I like that this offers more seating for younger children.
• Accessorize – So, while at this stage in my life, I probably wont be doing this; I did have the thought that it would be nice to be able to throw a pillow or throw on the bench. As a home decor lover- I really liked this aspect.
• Secure – With toddlers, this bench seating feels much more secure than a standard barstool. I know when my girls were younger, I would’ve appreciated having something like this.

Cons of Bench Seating

• Can’t Move Around – So with our barstools, we could pull one up to the side of the counter if needed; with benches, you really can’t do that. This isn’t something we would do often but still a con in my opinion.
• Access- When 2 of my girls are sitting down on a bench and one wants off- it can be a little annoying to have to scoot the bench out and away from the island. My girls aren’t bothered by this but I could see how it could be a little annoying for some. (I will say, this type of bench we got glides very smoothly and easily across our wood floors, which makes this not so much of an issue.)

My girls LOVE these benches- every single one of them! That is a win in my book!