Benches and stools are wonderfully versatile pieces of furniture. You can use a bench as seating in your dining room - 'refectory style', you can use both benches and stools as side tables, as extra seating or as a footstool. We have seen modern benches used to display collections - arrangement of sea shells, coffee table books, or Bonsai. Generally higher than a coffee table, they can double as a large side table comfortably holding a lamp, a book and specs. Drawn up between chairs benches make an excellent improptu games table for a friendly game of backgammon or scrabble. Our article about how to 'select a bench or stool' discusses both functional criteria and style in more depth, with a particular look at the use of upholstered modern benches vs un-upholstered benches.