Banquette seating is an upholstered bench or a real sofa that is tucked against a wall and is usually built-in. Such seating is often rocked in breakfast nooks or eat-in kitchens, though it’s great for a separate dining space, too. Let’s find out some pros and cons to understand if it’s right for you or not.
Pros
Banquette seating can be functional for small spaces, and sometimes this type of seating is the only real option available. Having a bench or other banquette seating against a wall instead of being centered in a room means the kitchen can expand but still allow for a dining area that can be both attractive and comfortable.
Many people may want banquette seating in their homes for the same reason people request a booth at a restaurant – it’s cozy! Banquette seating can offer more width for people who may feel crammed into a chair with arms. There is also an intimate feeling to banquette seating that makes it a warm addition to many homes.
The average individual chair would need at least 24 inches or more in order to have space to pull it out, push it in and comfortably sit. The addition of benches allows more seating flexibility than individual chairs. This is especially true for families with children as one bench could seat three or more small children as opposed to having one to two chairs per side for a dining table.
Built-in banquette seating is often a seen as a unique feature in a home. As it is generally custom-built for a space, it can showcase beautiful detailing and custom features like storage in the benches, bookcases above or below, or special trim accents.
a beautiful breakfast nook with a rounded banquette seating with striped upholtsery, a round table, green chairs and a cluster of pendant lamps
a beautiful breakfast nook with a white and brown leather banquette with storage, a black round table, woven chairs and a chandelier
a beautiful vintage kitchen with white furniture, a white and amber leather banquette, a rectangle table and woven chairs
a bright dining space with a green banquette seating, elegant black chairs, a round table and a gorgeous neon sign
a chic modern dining area by the window with a black and white banquette, a long table and black chairs plus a chandelier with candles
a chic modernist dining space with a curved floating banquette, an oval table, grey chairs and pendant lamps is cool
a chic teal leather corner banquette seating with a storage space inside is built-in harmoniously
a coastal dining area with windows, a banquette seating with printed pillows, an oval table and printed chairs
a coastal dining space with a view, a banquette seating with pillows, an oval table and buoy-style pendant lamps
a colorful dining room with a bright yellow corner velvet banquette seating
a contemporary tropical indoor-outdoor eating space with a leather and wood banquette seating, a curved table and woven chairs by the terrace entrance
a corner banquette seating with a storage space inside and a round concrete table plus a vintage metal pendant lamp
a cozy built-in chalf circle banquette seating with a small rustic table look very inviting
a cozy little dining nook with a black tufted banquette, check pillows, a concrete table, woven chairs and a hexagon pendant lamp
a cute dining nook with a banquette seating with storage drawers upholstered with green velvet, a round table and a bold artwork
a farmhouse dining space with a grey banquette with colorful pillows, a table on a metal leg, open shelving, black metal chairs
Cons
If banquette seating isn’t essential to making a space functional, and is custom-built into a space, it can sometimes not be an asset to a home’s value. Especially if you are planning to sell, building in custom seating can be seen by potential buyers as limiting them to a certain style or design for the space. In such a case it’s better to buy a table and some coordinating chairs that don’t limit potential buyers to anything.
If banquette seating is custom-built, it will often be created by or for the person who wants it. If the creator is taller, shorter people may suffer; if it created by a shorter person, taller people may have a difficult time fitting into the smaller space.
Having banquette seating custom-built can cost a pretty penny, this is especially true when it is done by a skilled carpenter or craftsman.
If you only need space for two to three people, a petite breakfast set with a table and a few chairs may be a better use of your space, though it still depends on how well a homeowner manages the space and makes the use of it. So, now you know all the pros and cons of banquette seating, would you go for it?
a fresh and natural dining space with a stained wood banquette seating with neutral upholstery, an oval table and a black pendant lamp
a fresh and serene dining space with a light green banquette seating, a wooden table and chairs plus a white pendant lamp
a luxurious banquette seating with lots of cushions and pillows plus storage inside plus beautiful Moroccan pendant lamps
a mid-century modern space with a green leather banquette seating and a black table
a modern dining area with a black leather banquette and a raw edge dining table, a statement gold geometric chandelier
a modern dining space with a wood, leather and velvet banquette in contrasting colors, a metal pendant lamp and a bold artwork
a modern rustic dining area with a printed cozy curved banquette seating, round chairs, cool bamboo pendant lamps
a modern rustic dining space by a glazed wall, with a banquette seating with faux cowhide pillows, an oval table and neutral chairs
a neutral modern dining space with a grey leather banquette, a long light-stained table, a bench and chairs plus some artworks
a pastel dining space with an arch, a pastel banquette seating, a matching upholstered bench, a pendant lamp and a window
a refined dining area with a navy banquette, a chic table, yellow chairs and wooden stools plus a storage niche
a refined dining space with a brown leather banquette seating, a black round table, wooden chairs and black lamps
a sophisticated dining space with a white and green elather floating banquette, a rectangle table and leather and wood chairs, pendant lamps
a traditional and refined space with a vintage feel and a corner banquette seating with a nail trim
a vintage nautical dining space with a built-in banquette seating and a round table plus vintage chairs and striped pillows
a white corner banquette seating and a small black round table for a tiny breakfast nook by the window
a cozy breakfast space with a banquette seating
an amazing breakfast nook with a floating banquette with green upholstery, glazed walls, small white tables
an elegant eating space by a whole gallery of windows, a grey banquette seating, printed pillows, a stained table