A popular space-saving solution in the midcentury modern interiors of the last century, built-in banquettes never really went out of style. Long a fixture in tight city apartments and eat-in kitchens in older homes where a central island with bar stool seating would be cramped or impossible, these days the banquette is finding its way into larger, open plan spaces as a replacement for or alongside a kitchen island. The shape of a banquette can be adapted to suit the layout of your kitchen or dining room, and may run along a single wall or occupy an L-shaped corner or a U-shaped alcove. You can use a banquette to help define a seating area in an open-plan space, or custom build a banquette that follows the irregular angles of an older home. Adding a built-in banquette can range from a straightforward DIY to a more elaborate tailor-built job for a professional carpenter. Banquettes are usually made of a wood base that may include integrated or free-form upholstery in leather or fabric (choose an outdoor fabric if you’re worried about wear and tear) and may include under-bench storage. These ideas for built-in banquette seating will show you how to turn your kitchen into a cafe, your dining room into a bistro, and your home into a cozier, comfier space for meals, coffee breaks, or working from home. If you live in a rental or don’t have the means to add a built-in banquette, there are plenty of options out there for freestanding banquettes in a range of materials, styles, and colors that can mimic the look.
