A bench or pouf is usually the last piece chosen for a room, and often the one used most: you sit on it to put on shoes, leave a bag on it, rest your feet on it or pull it over when guests arrive. Because it is small, a few centimetres in height or depth decide whether it works next to a bed or a sofa.
This guide covers the benches in the Sitdesign bench and pouf collection, the sizes and shapes that work in practice, how to approach poufs, and how to choose between leather and fabric. Every piece is handmade in our own factory in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul.
Three benches, three characters
The collection currently includes three bench models. They share the same basic idea, a comfortable upholstered seat at a practical height, but differ clearly in form.
Bravo bench
The Bravo bench is fully upholstered, with low raised ends that work as small armrests and a laced detail on the outer sides. It stands on dark tapered legs. It belongs to the same family as the Bravo bed, so the two can be ordered in the same fabric or leather for a matching arrangement at the foot of the bed. In a light fabric it looks soft and calm; in leather the end details become more visible.
Felix bench
The Felix bench has a channel-stitched seat cushion resting on an open, dark-finished base with sculpted legs. The channels give the seat a tailored look and show the upholstery well: in green fabric the bench reads as relaxed, in brown leather it becomes more formal. Felix works at the foot of a bed and also in a living room, where it can stand opposite a sofa as extra seating.
Fiona bench
The Fiona bench is the lightest-looking of the three: a slim dark base with curved legs and a single flat seat cushion. Because the base stays visible and the seat is thin, it suits entrance halls and corridors where a heavy piece would block the view. A strong colour on the seat, such as the red in our photographs, turns it into an accent without taking up visual space.
Sizes and proportions that work
Our catalogue models have standard dimensions, and custom dimensions are available on request. Whether you order a standard size or adjust it, these general guidelines help:
- Seat height: benches and poufs used for sitting are typically 42–48 cm high, close to the seat height of a dining chair or sofa.
- Length at the foot of a bed: a common rule is roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the bed's width, so the bench does not stick out beyond the bed frame.
- Depth in a hallway: 35–45 cm usually leaves enough room to pass; deeper benches are comfortable but narrow the walkway.
- Clearance: leave around 60–90 cm of free space in front of a bench so people can sit down and stand up easily.
Measure the space and the piece next to it, whether a bed, sofa or console, before choosing. A bench slightly lower than the edge of the bed or the sofa seat usually looks more settled than one that is higher.
Poufs: shape, height and firmness
A pouf does three jobs: footrest, extra seat and occasional surface. The right shape depends on which of these comes first.
- Round poufs are easy to walk around and fit well in front of an armchair or in a corner.
- Square poufs line up neatly with a sofa and can be used in pairs.
- Rectangular poufs sit between a bench and a coffee table and suit larger seating groups.
As a footrest, a pouf should be about the same height as the seat it serves, or a few centimetres lower. If it will also hold a tray, ask for a firmer top. Our collection page currently shows benches; if you are looking for a pouf for a particular sofa or armchair, send us the size and upholstery you have in mind and we will tell you what is possible.
Leather or fabric
Benches and poufs are touched, sat on and bumped into more than most furniture, so the upholstery choice is practical as well as visual.
Genuine leather is easy to wipe clean and suits entrance halls, where bags and coats end up on the seat. We use genuine leather only, in 76 colours across 12 colour families, and Italian leathers form our top leather group. You can see the range on our leather materials page, and we send leather samples on request.
Fabric feels warmer and softer and is a natural choice at the foot of a bed or when the bench should match curtains or a headboard. If you already have a fabric in the room, we also accept customer's own material (COM).
A useful rule: a bench next to a sofa or bed should either match it exactly or contrast clearly, for example a cream bed with a brown leather bench. A slightly different shade of the same colour tends to look accidental.
Where they are used
- Foot of the bed: a place to sit while dressing and to lay out clothes or a throw.
- Entrance hall: somewhere to put on shoes and set down a bag.
- Living room: extra seats that move easily when guests arrive.
- Dining table: a bench along one side seats more people than separate chairs.
How they are made
The upholstered parts of our benches are made the same way as our sofas. Upholstered frames are kiln-dried beech, and seats use high-resilience (HR) foam that keeps its shape under daily use. Upholstered pieces are typically ready in 3–4 weeks.
For more placement ideas, see where benches and poufs work, room by room.
If you are planning a bench or pouf for a specific room, send us the measurements of the space and of the piece it will stand next to. We will send leather samples on request and prepare a quote. Contact us to get started.
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