In the past few years, banquette seating has gained popularity as houses have become more relaxed. How does it work? Learn more here…

Benches built into dining areas are called banquette seating.

Banqueta NOVAISO and booths have always been a relaxing dining option, but now they are also showing up in family rooms and kitchens everywhere. A built-in bench in the kitchen increases dining space and reduces the size of the area, so it’s perfect for small spaces. You can put the dining table in an area that may be too crowded with a standalone set of tables and chairs because there is no room to move behind the seats on the different sides of the table.

The bench can be designed to fit only on the edge of the table, as shown in the image above, or can be turned into a breakfast nook in the corner. Although most bench seats are cushioned for comfort, sometimes a basic seat cushion is all that is needed. The small spaces in eat-in kitchens are generally where there are benches, but they can also be useful in bars or family rooms where a food area is needed.

An additional benefit of banquettes is that they are comfortable and efficient in terms of space. For small kitchens, the benches can be made with tops that lift or drawers that are useful for storing other items.

Banquette seating

Consider the following two suggestions when choosing banquette seating for your home. Take into account the location of any overhead lighting.

Moving the seating area towards the corner or closer to the wall might require you to move the table. You can hire an electrician for this job or attach a hook to the ceiling and move the light where it belongs.

Choosing a dining table should also be done with care. As the guests will be slipping through the bench to sit at the table, a pedestal or trestle table is ideal. Corner tables with legs pose a challenge. Also, you’ll want to make sure that people are able to move easily between benches. People may not be able to move around easily if you choose a table that is too big. A corner bench or another bench set in another place has the same effect. It is important to consider the shape of the table. Certain situations call for rectangular or oval tables, while others require square or round tables.

Here’s how to build a banquette seating bench in your kitchen

If you’ve always wanted a storage bench or booth seating in your breakfast nook, you’re in luck. We’ve got a great detailed tutorial for building a kitchen banquette bench that you’re going to love!

We are grateful to Columbia Forest Products / PureBond Hardwood Plywood for sponsoring this banquette seating bench project! The opinions expressed here are my own. There are affiliate links in this post, but nothing I wouldn’t recommend wholeheartedly anyway.