Make Your Kitchen Cozy With Farmhouse Tables and Bench Seating
The farmhouse style is inviting homeowners everywhere to embrace its casual charm. With warm, natural materials and vintage touches, this look brings cozy functionality to kitchen and dining rooms.
Farmhouse tables paired with bench seating are the perfect way to recreate this rustic yet refined style. Long benches provide casual seating for family meals, while wood tabletops reflect the traditional farmhouse aesthetic.
What is Farmhouse Style?
Farmhouse style has its origins in modest country homes from past centuries. Today, it's a go-to look for creating welcoming spaces with vintage character.
Design elements include natural woods, visible wood grains, and distressed paint finishes. Neutral color palettes keep things light and airy. You'll also see industrial piping, galvanized metal, and reclaimed wood panels for rustic flair.
Related styles like shabby chic, industrial, and rustic have overlap with the farmhouse aesthetic. But classic farmhouse uses clean lines and solid wood constructions over ornate curves and metallics.
Painted vs Stained Farmhouse Furniture
Wood surfaces with light stains are common in farmhouse style. But painted woods have become popular for a more cottage or shabby chic look.
Painted finishes involve applying a solid color over the wood, often white or light grey. The edges are then sanded down to create a distressed appearance.
Farmhouse tables and benches look great in both stained and painted finishes. Consider your overall decor when deciding on a finish.
Benefits of Farmhouse Kitchen Tables with Bench Seating
Farmhouse dining sets with benches offer charming design with practical seating for dining spaces of all sizes. Here are some top reasons to choose this combo:
Cozy and Casual Vibe
Bench seating at a wooden farmhouse table encourages family and friends to sit together and linger after meals. The casual styling sets a relaxed, inviting mood.
Space Saving Layout
A bench against the wall takes up less space than individual chairs when not in use. Plus guests can squeeze together on benches when you need to seat more people.
Easy to Style
Add some plush cushions and throws over your benches to complement the farmhouse vibe. A simple table runner and floral centerpiece are all you need to finish the look.
Tips for Styling Your Farmhouse Kitchen or Dining Area
Want to add farmhouse coziness to your own home? Here are some top tips for styling your space with a farmhouse table and bench seating:
Choosing a Table and Bench
Opt for solid wood tabletops in oak, pine, or reclaimed woods. Match the size to your space - 48”-60” seats 4, 60”-72” seats 6, and over 72” fits large gatherings.
Freestanding farmhouse tables allow flexible seating arrangements. Built-in bench seating creates a cozy banquette vibe.
Complementary Decor Touches
Layer on textiles like cotton table runners and linen blend cushion covers for softness against the wood. Fresh flower centerpieces in white ironstone vases enhance the farmhouse charm.
Framed vintage sign prints, woven baskets, and rustic open shelving introduce rural character to your walls. Wrought iron candleholders and lanterns add flickering ambiance.
Soothing Color Schemes
Soft whites, beiges and greys keep things light and airy. Accent walls in warmer antique whites, pale blues or sand beiges create depth.
Avoid bright colors that might clash with the neutral farmhouse palette. But small pops of deep red or green do add nice contrast.
Finishing Farmhouse Touches
Exposed cabinet hinges, glass fronted upper cabinets, and open shelving achieve a timeworn look. Rustic pendant lights over the table enhance the handcrafted vibe.
Vintage styled rugs and gauzy curtains soften the wood elements. A few antiques like a dough bowl or ironstone pitchers deliver nostalgic charm.
DIY Farmhouse Table and Bench
Want to create your own farmhouse dining set? With some basic skills, you can DIY a table and benches on a budget.
Building Materials
Use sanded plywood or solid wood boards for tabletop and bench slats. Choose pine, poplar, oak, or maple. Salvaged barnwood brings instant character too.
You'll also need wood boards for legs and supports, wood glue, screws, sandpaper, wood finish or paint.
Construction Steps
Cut tabletop boards and use pocket holes to join them. Attach apron boards around the underside perimeter. Use a Kreg jig kit for easy joining.
Make leg supports from 2x4s or 4x4s. Attach to corners with more pocket holes. Repeat process for bench tops and supports.
Sand surfaces thoroughly before staining, painting, or using polyurethane for protection. Distress edges for worn charm.
Tips for Success
Avoid visible screws by drilling pocket holes on undersides only. Secure joints with wood glue before screwing. Use a filler if needed.
Check tabletop is level before attaching legs. Mismatched heights will wobble. Apply finish coats patiently for best results.
Where to Buy Farmhouse Dining Sets
Quality pre-made farmhouse dining sets are available from many retailers. Here are some top options to explore:
Pottery Barn
Known for their farmhouse designs, Pottery Barn offers artisan crafted tables in oak, pine, and acacia woods. Matching wood benches available.
Crate and Barrel
Choose from natural, grey washed or painted wood dining tables. Their Tigereye collection includes optional benches with cushions.
Anthropologie
Unique reclaimed wood and colorful painted tables create whimsical farmhouse dining. Bench seating sold separately.
Amazon and Wayfair
Find more budget-friendly farmhouse and rustic dining sets with bench seating through their wide selections.
When comparing, look for stable leg constructions and tabletops that won’t easily stain or scratch.
Farmhouse tables paired with complementary bench seating create vintage countryside charm in any home. With cozy and casual vibes, it’s a classic way to gather for meals and conversation.
By keeping decor natural and fuss-free, the farmhouse style welcomes friends and family with its timeless appeal. So embrace this inviting look for your next kitchen or dining space makeover.