Oh, those bench cushions!  They always come undone when driving.  You have to move them aside when you open the under-bench compartment.  If you are not setting up the king size bed, you have to find a spot for the side cushions at night.  They just always seem to be in the way.

Surely we can put them to good use!  They are very modular and stack up nicely and sturdy, so what can we do with them?  Other than putting them against the windshield when going to bed, we found one other good use so far.

We complained a bit about the counter space – the picture below illustrates the entire kitchen counter that we have in the Banff.  Not much!

We can set up the middle table(s), or the front table, but they obstruct access to the rest of the van and restrict movement. Oh, and did I mention already that we are a bit lazy?  When in need of a quick extension to the counter while leaving the main corridor free, say, for prepping or drying dishes, why not extend the counter by arranging the cushions and table tops as a temporary solution.  The cushions are sturdy enough, the extra counter space is magical, and it takes just a few seconds to set up!

You can do it in one of two ways:

Either grab two of cushions from one of the benches, place them on their side next to each other, and then place one of the tables on it;

or, for an even sturdier arrangement, take all four cushions, put the long cushions first and then the shorter ones on top of them. You can then place one or both tables on them for tons of extra surfaces.  Try it, it’s really sturdy and almost flush with the existing counter!

The support at the base of the tabletop will fit nicely in the space between the two upper cushions.

It’s very quick to set up and take apart when you need to!  We are starting to warm up to these cushions.

Totally sturdy and ready for a feast, just don’t forget to put away the tabletops before you drive away!

What are you doing with your cushions?

BY THE NUMBERS: 

• Cost: $0.00
• Time to assemble: 2 minutes 
• Existing counter space: approx. 250 square inches 
• Added counter space: approx. 1000 square inches
• My counter space at home: approx. 6000 square inches

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