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After a scorching season filled with backyard barbecues, neighborhood pool parties, and after-dinner drinks on the back patio, autumn has officially arrived. The cooler mornings are perfect for sipping coffee on the front porch, but the warm afternoons will soon give way to chilly days that require bundling up before you head outside. While spring is most commonly associated with tidying up the home, a fall refresh can be extremely helpful as you’ll soon be spending more time indoors.
Clearing out spring and summer home decor and replacing it with fuzzy blankets and pumpkin decorations is a good first step, but your fall cleaning checklist should also include clearing out any clutter that’s accumulated over the past few months. Fall is all about embracing the coziness, and that’s harder to do when there are messy piles of shoes or charging cords strewn about the living room or bedroom. This doesn’t have to be an intensive process. In fact, there’s a simple way to tidy up your house in minutes — open the top of a bench with hidden storage and toss everything inside.
Streamline your space with a storage bench
A storage bench is one of the most practical furniture investments you can make. The seating works double-duty with built-in storage, and they come in just about every shape, style, and size, so you can definitely find one that blends with your interior decor. Some storage benches are large enough to comfortably sit two or three people, while others are more compact, serving as a footrest or a single seat.
Nearly a decade ago, I bought a storage ottoman, a smaller counterpart of the storage bench, and it’s still with me after multiple cross-country moves. It’s always handy to have another seat available when you’re hosting a holiday party or game night with the extended family, but the multipurpose design with hidden storage adds another layer of convenience. Mine has been used as a catch-all over the years, storing swimsuits in winter, office supplies when I was in a studio apartment without a desk, and now it’s stuffed with old journals and notebooks filled with precious memories.
The beauty of a storage bench or ottoman is that they can go pretty much anywhere in your house, whether you need to organize the entryway or spruce up the hallway. They’re also quite affordable, so adding one to your space won’t break the bank. The Songmics 43-Inch Folding Storage Ottoman Bench is currently ranked as Amazon’s no. 1 bestseller in ottomans, and it’s 28% off with a limited-time deal. As a result, shoppers can score the $50 tufted bench with a massive 35-gallon storage space for just $36. The study seat has a 660-pound weight capacity, and if you ever need to rearrange, you can fold the bench flat and quickly stow it away thanks to its collapsible design.
Songmics 43-Inch Folding Storage Ottoman Bench
How to use a storage bench
There are countless ways to utilize a storage bench in your home. Here are some of the most popular ways to set up a storage bench.
- At the foot of the bed in the bedroom. It’s nice to have seating in the bedroom when you’re getting dressed in the morning. An end-of-bed bench with storage is great because it’s low enough that you won’t accidentally kick it in your sleep, and you can use it to store fitted sheets or quilts that are hard to fold and look sloppy on linen closet shelves.
- In the entryway or mudroom. Are you a shoes-off household? Or maybe you routinely kick off your shoes by the front door when you get home? Placing a storage bench where you take your shoes on and off not only gives you a seat for this task, but it also provides a spot to hide away your unworn footwear. You can also use it to organize umbrellas, scarves, and other items you frequently need when heading out the door.
- In the living room by the couch. Adding a storage bench in front of the couch creates an instant footrest or ottoman. Depending on the style you choose, a storage bench can also work as a coffee table for even more versatility. You can place throw blankets, your tablet charger, DVDs, and the less-used remotes inside for easy access when you need them.
Storage bench deals at Amazon
Every home has its own unique style, and it’s likely that Amazon has a storage bench deal that fits your particular needs. If the selection above wasn’t quite what you require, we’ve listed more deals on seating with hidden storage at Amazon, including spacious benches and smaller footstools. All of these options are highly rated and available for under $45.
Songmics Faux Leather Storage Bench
Hausfrau Ottoman Storage Bench
Olixis Oval Teddy Fabric Storage Bench
Dumos 30-Inch Folding Storage Bench
Glaxyfur Oval Velvet Storage Bench
Onbrill 25-Inch Storage Ottoman
Songmics Flipping-Lid Storage Ottoman
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