Chairs versus Benches for the Kitchen
If you are trying to decide between chairs and benches for you breakfast nook, then you should look at the pros and cons for both. Both choices have good points and both choices have attributes that are lacking. I hope that after reading this article you will have a better idea about which one will be better for your home and your family.
First, I will discuss the positive attributes of a breakfast nook table and chairs. I think the biggest plus for chairs is that they are comfortable for every kind of person to sit in. Some people are not comfortable on benches, especially if they do not have backs because they do not feel as secure or balanced as they do in a chair. Also, when you are sitting on a bench you might have to sit very close to the person next to you. For family members that might not be a problem, but guests might not be as comfortable with people invading their personal space. In addition, if someone is larger, it may be hard for them to slide in and out of a bench or fit themselves between the bench and the table.
Breakfast nook benches have good points too. Probably the biggest advantage is that you can fit more people on a bench than in the chairs that would take up the same amount of space. A good rule of thumb is that you can fit one and a half people for every chair if you replace the same space with benches. If you have a large family then this point is especially important. Another positive to benches is that they often come equipped with under the seat storage space. Everybody can use some extra storage.
Since there are advantages to both choices, I think the best solution is to have a combination of benches and chairs. My favorite set up would be an L-shaped bench around two sides and chairs around the other two sides. That way you have chairs to offer your guests but you still have plenty of room for your big family.
