I really want to love this bench but the seat is a very rough, unrefined scratchy loosely woven seagrass.  It is not a tight weave.  In my mind's eye, it was going to be a smooth seagrass but that's not the reality.  It looks and feels more like straw or reeds.  I'm using it as a bench at the end of a queen guest bed for guests to put down their belongings so it won't be used frequently but I'd definitely look elsewhere if you want a smooth textured bench.  Also, if you have cats, beware, as mine love using this as a scratching post.