Banquette seating in a home is one of my favorite things. It creates a cozy arrangement that not only looks good, but saves space and can be installed virtually anywhere. Not just for kitchens anymore, people are using this for dining rooms, lounges, libraries, rec rooms and anywhere you want to be able to sit down and eat, read or just have drinks.
It used to be that you had a bench or loveseat, a table, two chairs and a light and you’d have a kitchen nook. Now, banquette seating can be more elaborate and they are everywhere in the modern house. Take a look at some of the best ones on the internet.
Tight Spaces
You usually think of dining nooks as a space saving idea and these configurations below give plenty of options for fitting a table and chairs into a tight space.
If you have a dead space at the end of a span of cabinets why don’t you place a high back upholstered bench, a small table and a couple of chairs? You instantly have dining for four.
If you have room, take the bench around the corner and now you have seating for six.
I love this rounded bench that gives a glam look to this set-up.
You can also use banquette seating in a corner that wouldn’t normally be used. It’s a great alternative to just a chair and a side table/lamp.
This lovely seating arrangement utilizes a span of wall in a hallway. It’s genius.
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L-Shaped
L-shaped banquettes gives a space the most seating because you can always add more chairs and fit more people on the banquettes.
This L-shaped banquette with striped back pillows is a lot of fun and the colors really pop against the neutral grasscloth wallpaper.
Black and white is always a good palette and this cute set-up gives you a chance to get creative with your pillow patterns.
This mid-century modern set-up is fantastic with the striped black banquette upholstery. It can double as a dining room and a library.
The light wood lends a warm Coastal look with the misty blues and grays and light wood.
Curvy
Curvy upholstery is cool right now. You see it everywhere in interiors from curved couches to curved chairs.
This bright yellow curved banquette gives this kitchen nook such a sunny outlook. You can’t help but smile every time you see this.
Boom chicka pow, pow. This is totally 70’s and it’s giving me life. From the oversized cushions to the plush pillows and the cool pendant, I love this so much!
This banquette is such a unique shape and the color is such fun.
In this sexy mid-century modern house, this banquette seating would probably seat at least ten people and if you pull up some chairs, even more.
Narrow Room
Some older homes have very narrow rooms, especially if it’s a brownstone or what we used to call a “shotgun” house. Banquette seating, especially in dining rooms, can enable you to have adequate seating for guests without taking up walking space.
Since this is pushed up against the wall, it does not block the pathway to the next room.
This also does not block the pathway to the accordion doors leading outside.
Add a bench and you can tuck it under the table when not in use. Another way to save space.
Another way to use banquette seating to save space.
If you only have a narrow space on the side of your island, this banquette seating nook uses every last inch to provide seating and the cowhide is fun also.
Unique Backs
Never forget to address the wall behind the banquette seating. You can literally do anything you want and I mean anything. Be creative and see what you can come up with.
Using cushions suspended with leather straps from curtain rods. This is so inventive. I’ve thought about doing this for my daybed in the guest room, but this is even better.
The back of this banquette seating is wood wainscoting and a picture ledge to display all of your favorite artwork. I’ve seen tables like this DIY’d all over the internet lately and the light color goes so well with the dark wall. Top it off with a cool swinging light sconce and you’re all set.
This channel back “leather” banquette is incorporated into the island for a stylish space saving dining nook. Absolutely love the colors in this kitchen.
This is the ultimate built-in banquette seating situation with a channel tufted back, glass cabinet, bookcase and major artwork. The color scheme is very Modern Organic and I’m here for it.
This is absolutely fabulous and totally my jam. From the tufted velvet back to the antiqued mirror panels to the killer pendant to the wood and stone base table to the vase with large branches to the little french chair and there’s even storage underneath! I could go on and on.
Storage Underneath
Why not have storage in your banquette seating? It seems like you’d be killing two birds with one stone. From drawers to cabinets to hinged doors, if you incorporate storage it takes it up another notch.
Try matching the drawers of your banquette seating with your kitchen cabinets. It makes everything seamless and looks like it’s always been there.
I love these drawers with the 3-D fronts and modern hardware. So chic.
These storage boxes are accessed by removing the cushions and lifting up the top. You could even DIY these boxes and attach the top with a piano hinge if you’re feeling ambitious.
I love these drawers on the side of the banquette. There’s easier access and with four drawers, so many options to store linens, utensils and even small appliances. I’ve even seen people use the bottom drawer to keep the dog’s eating and drinking bowls.
Other Rooms
Banquette seating is not only for eating. Try it in a lounge space in your house, in an office, in the basement rec room and any other room where you want cozy seating.
This could be so cute in an office without the sconces or seating in your basement next to a bar.
Custom Build
There are many companies that will do a custom build for you if you have specific dimensions. This way, you can pick out your fabric and other materials and get exactly what you want.
This funky black and white fabric mixed with the black leather seating is pretty special. The sky’s the limit when you do a custom build.
Velvet will always be in style and green is still trending. It’s my favorite color, so for me, this channel back bench is a win.
Store Bought
If you have standard measurements, you could buy benches or modular seating from any retailer and make a banquette seating nook.
This bench with the rattan back would go well in a Coastal or Modern Organic decor style.
Use this boucle bench to create a fun and quirky banquette nook.
Another idea is to buy banquette seating from a restaurant supply store. You’ll get cool “pleather” seating in fun colors.
To create an L-shaped seating nook, buy two modular seats and you can create a banquette.
You could even DIY banquette seating. My brother-in-law used wood from his daughter’s old bunk beds to build one in his dining room. I was so impressed.
Let me know if you have a kitchen nook or banquette dining anywhere in your and if you’ve ever DIY’d anything like this.
See ya later.
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