I just tested benchs and they work well. I "conquered" a plains beach near to my spawn point after the first boss by cleaning the mobs there and placing some benchs to prevent normal/night spawn while I was building my main base. You can fortify the benchs or put in the ground, just be sure its not destroyed by the raids or greydwarfs. One brute destroyed a bench, I didnt notice and suddenly there was like 4 night fulings and 1 deathsquito that almost killed me (bronze armour).