Banquette seating was once seen as a staple for cosy diners and restaurants, but has recently found its way into modern homes, becoming a popular choice for kitchens and dining areas. This built-in seating design has evolved into a versatile design element that fits seamlessly into the heart of the home, whether in a cosy nook or part of the kitchen island. It has captured the hearts of interior designers and homeowners alike due to the intimate dining experience it gives.
It remains a popular choice for many reasons, and we look to see why this seating is favoured in the home.
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Add this beautiful trend to your home with a Planet Furniture design. This practical, stylish and versatile solution for modern homes is ideal for anyone looking to save space, add storage, or create a sociable seating area – all the benefits are worth it! We look forward to hearing from you and building your dream kitchen with banquette seating.
Every kitchen is handmade in our Hertfordshire workshop and installed across Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Bedfordshire, London and the wider Home Counties. Explore more seating and dining ideas, or book an appointment at our Hitchin showroom to try our banquette island for yourself.
The Short Answer
Banquette seating is a built-in bench or booth designed into the room, running along a wall, tucked into a corner or attached to a kitchen island. Because there are no chairs to pull in and out, it saves floor space, which makes it ideal for smaller or narrower rooms, and the base can hide storage drawers. With padded seats and backs upholstered to suit the room, it creates a comfortable, sociable place to eat, read or gather.What is a Banquette?
Firstly, a banquette is a seat or bench designed into the space, either running along a wall or attached to the island to create a booth. They are often found in restaurants and bistros, but nowadays are seen more in modern homes, and many designers are incorporating them into their luxury drawing plans. Additionally, they can double up as hidden storage for space-saving solutions.Why Opt for Banquette Seating in Your Design
1. Space-Saving
One of its greatest advantages is its ability to maximise space. Unlike traditional dining tables and chairs, where room is required for the chair to be pulled in and out, banquettes are built into a corner or along a wall, freeing up valuable floor space. They are an ideal solution for small or narrow rooms, where space is at a premium.2. Comfortable and Stylish
Being an incredibly comfortable seat, banquettes typically feature padded seats and backs providing excellent support and comfort during meal times. They can further enhance a cosy vibe and make the seating area a favourite spot in the home. Banquette seating is also highly customisable, allowing it to be tailored to the room’s style and suit the homeowner’s specific needs and preferences. Choose the size, shape, style and upholstery.3. Storage Solutions
In addition to being an incredibly versatile seating option, banquettes can also offer hidden storage in the base. Whether you’re looking to stow away children’s toys or rarely used homeware, this feature is always a favourite among our clients.
4. A Social Gathering Area
Banquettes create an inclusive dining experience where the family come together to sit closer to one another, fostering a sense of intimacy and togetherness. This warm and communal atmosphere encourages social interaction and is ideal for talking about how the day went, making new memories and reminiscing.5. Versatile Around the Home
While the banquette is often associated with the kitchen, it’s also versatile enough to be used in various areas of the home. It can be a great addition to the dining room, hallway, or home office. Designing a banquette into the space can create a cosy reading corner, a comfortable spot for morning coffee with friends, or a casual dining area with the children that feels both relaxed and stylish. Letchworth Project Finished with delicate and soft blue cushions, our banquette in the Letchworth project is the ideal cosy corner. Storage is built underneath and it’s located near the glamorous drinks cabinet for ultimate satisfaction. Take a sip from that perfect evening drink you have just made and relax your mind in a good book.
6. Add Value to Your Home
Adding a well-designed banquette to the kitchen can add value to your home as it makes the space more functional and appealing which interests potential buyers. Potential buyers appreciate additional storage and seating, as well as the uniqueness a banquette provides.
Showroom Kitchen Island Example
The island in our showroom project incorporates a sociable banquette seating area that gives a friendly feel for guests to gather for pre-drinks or low-key family meals. Clever zoning means that the space ensures the cook can finish dinner on the working side of the kitchen and then serve drinks to guests from the Kaelo wine cooler, Sub-Zero Fridge Drawers and the drinks cabinet behind. Guests are relaxed on the sharing/dining side of the banquette, which has been upholstered to the style of the space and located by the media unit to unwind to some music or watch television.
St Albans Project
A cosy dining area blends banquette seating with a solid oak table. It seamlessly blends with the arrangement of the walls and cleverly supports integrated push-to-open drawers below. Soft plush, padded cushions give extra comfort while the rich chocolate tone of the solid planked oak table and black metal butterfly legs introduce a contemporary industrial contrast.
Offley, Hertfordshire Project
Making a comfortable TV area in this kitchen is our curved banquette integrated into the island, which is certainly striking. With a mixture of grey and white hues and layered textures, this casual dining area is a blend of everyday practicality with a touch of elegance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is banquette seating?
A banquette is a seat or bench designed into the space, either running along a wall or attached to a kitchen island to create a booth. Once mostly seen in restaurants and bistros, banquettes now appear in kitchens, dining rooms, hallways and home offices.
Does banquette seating save space?
Yes. Unlike dining chairs, a banquette needs no room to be pulled in and out, and it can be built into a corner or along a wall. That frees up floor space and makes it an ideal solution for small or narrow rooms.
Can a banquette include storage?
Yes. The base of a banquette is ideal for hidden storage, whether drawers or cupboards, for children’s toys or rarely used homeware. Our St Albans banquette uses push-to-open drawers, and our Letchworth banquette has storage built in underneath.
Can a banquette be built into a kitchen island?
Yes. An island banquette creates a sociable dining side while the cook works on the other. Our showroom island includes a banquette seating area, and in our Offley project a curved banquette is integrated into the end of the island.
Does a banquette add value to a home?
A well-designed banquette can make a kitchen more functional and appealing, and buyers tend to appreciate the extra seating and storage it adds.
Does Planet Furniture design bespoke banquette seating?
Yes. We design and build banquettes to suit each room, choosing the size, shape, style and upholstery, with projects in Letchworth, St Albans and Offley and a banquette island in our Hitchin showroom.
