Benches can be the workhorses of the furniture world: These charmers are compact, efficient, and wonderfully versatile. Here, we've created three unexpected settings to get you thinking about benches in a new way.

Placed beside a deep vintage bathtub, this low bench is practical and pretty. It can be used as a step stool for kids. Or it acts as a handy shelf, holding towels and a mirror or soaps and shampoo. The crackled green finish provides a textural counterpoint to slick tile and porcelain.

The low horizontal space beneath a long, narrow window can pose a decorating challenge. This footstool-size bench helps bridge the gap between the window sill and the floor. To offset the strong horizontal lines, we added a trio of garden flowers. Other vertical objects, such as candlesticks or a lamp, would work equally well.

Stacking benches into shelves adds dramatic height to a room and provides a place to hold treasured objects. To keep the overall look from becoming too "woody;" we combined benches with plain, distressed, and crackled finishes.