BH | Studio Rimini Channel-Tufted Velvet Storage Bench

The lidded chest is one of the oldest pieces of furniture in the house. Medieval households kept their linen, clothes and valuables in chests that also served as seats, and the habit of keeping one at the foot of the bed has never really gone away.

Here the chest becomes a soft, sculpted bench. Five padded rolls run the length of the front and sides, each filled with dense foam, and the seat on top is cushioned to match. The cover is a performance velvet that shrugs off stains, so muddy paws and spilled coffee blot away, in Mushroom, Oyster or Aegean, catching the light along every curve. The lid rises on a hinge that stays put while you rummage through the compartment below, non-marking glides sit underneath, and the bench is rated to hold 617 lbs. It comes fully assembled.

Give it a place in the front hall, with boots, scarves and dog leashes hidden inside and a bowl for keys on the console nearby. At the end of a bed it holds the spare duvet, and in a living room it doubles as a long ottoman. The velvet sits well with walnut, aged brass and a striped runner, and it looks especially handsome against a dark green or ochre wall.