To crate or not to crate?

So, I'm running into a bit of a dilemma… Our pup Richter is 4 months old and growing like a weed, which meant it was time for a crate upgrade. I absolutely love the crate, it doesn't look fancy, but it's a great way to give the dog his space (we also have a 14 month running around) and it really helped with house training. Richter didn't seem to mind the crate, so we decided to get a bigger crate.

However, now that we've put it up, we noticed it's taking up too much space in the house. It's currently in the living room (we don't have other spaces it fits) but it's taking up way more space than expected and the way the door opens is also not ideal. Everything about it just doesn't seem to work. We're also expecting baby number 2 which will eventually also take up space that we don't have (like a baby bed/box where he/she will rest during the day).

Now, my husband is pro dog bed. I don't mind it, but I like the idea of having a space the dog can call his own and where I can close the door if people are over and it gets too busy… but maybe it's better to get a dog bed? It would fit better and would be easier to bring along as well… I would also be able to move it into the kitchen or hallway for night-time so he can't roam too much (this isn't possible with the bench)…

What do you think we should do? Should we keep the bench until he's older and just deal with the lack of space for now? Or switch it for a dog bed? Tips, tricks, and experiences with the same problem are appreciated ❤️