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37 Banquette Seating Ideas for Cafe Energy at Home

By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 10/09/24
banquette seating kitchen

Michelle Berwick Design

Kitchen banquette seating will make an eat-in kitchen more functional and help save space in a smaller room. Unlike a kitchen island with bar seating, banquettes offer chair-height bench seating that may be more comfortable for family members of all ages.

From L-shaped and corner banquettes to restaurant booth-style U-shaped banquettes, there are small and large designs to suit any space. Install a built-in banquette with hidden storage and an upholstered backrest if you’re renovating or try an affordable standalone or DIY option depending on your style and budget. 

Get inspired with these banquette seating ideas in a range of sizes and styles.

  • 01 of 37

    Include Hidden Storage

    corner banquette seating kitchen

    Georgia Zikas Design / Photo by Jane Beiles

    Make use of the dead space beneath a corner banquette by added storage drawers to hide clutter. In this galley-style apartment kitchen from Georgia Zikas Design, a corner banquette is built in at the far end beneath a window, with blue seat and back cushions to add color and comfort.

  • 02 of 37

    Anchor With a Pendant Light

    cozy banquette seating kitchen

    Ashley Montgomery Design

    A banquette makes an eat-in kitchen feel like a destination rather than an afterthought. Ashley Montgomery Design anchored this comfortable leather banquette seating area with a large woven pendant light over a sculptural wood table.

  • 03 of 37

    Try a Loose Pillow Backrest

    farmhouse banquette seating kitchen

    Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

    Make a wooden banquette more comfortable with loose oversized linen-covered cushions that act as a backrest. This renovated farmhouse from Leanne Ford Interiors has a long built-in wood banquette in a natural finish with under bench storage and a small vintage French bistro table by the window.

  • 04 of 37

    Decorate the Wall Above

    banquette seating styles kitchen

    Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto

    Anchor your banquette by placing a large photo or painting on the wall above. The breakfast nook in a renovated 1930s house in Miami Beach designed by Calimia Home is finished with an abstract color beach photo that reflects the setting.

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  • 05 of 37

    Try a Small Corner Banquette

    corner banquette seating kitchen

    Jessica Nelson Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki Photography

    Paint a built-in corner banquette base in the same blue as the kitchen cabinets for a cohesive look. This cozy corner banquette from Jessica Nelson Design has natural light from the windows, comfy upholstered seating with extra throw pillows, and a small round cafe table to preserve flow.

  • 06 of 37

    Hang a Mirror Above

    bistro-style banquette seating kitchen

    Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

    Create a cafe feel by hanging a mirror on the wall above your banquette. Leanne Ford Interiors used a black-and-white palette and a mix of old and new decor—a modern bistro table, classic French bistro chairs, a gilded vintage mirror, and a woven pendant light—that gives this kitchen a timeless appeal.

  • 07 of 37

    Try a Wall-Mounted Backrest

    banquette seating backrest ideas kitchen

    Becca Interiors

    In this Southampton surf retreat from Becca Interiors, a roomy kitchen banquette accommodates a large wooden farm table and antique chairs. The banquette is built on a sturdy painted white wood frame but left open for an airier look that complements the white shiplap walls and coastal decor.

    Tip

    Upholstered seat backs held up by fabric loops secured to long metal wall-mounted bars are an easy DIY hack that works well for a banquette backrest or an improvised headboard.

  • 08 of 37

    Make It Family-Friendly

    family-friendly banquette seating kitchen

    Erin Williamson Design

    Install a large banquette in a spacious kitchen to accommodate the whole family. In this Tudor renovation from Erin Williamson Design, a family-style banquette seating runs the width of the whole back wall of the long rectangular kitchen.

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  • 09 of 37

    Upholster With Leather

    leather banquette seating kitchen

    Heather Hilliard Design / Photo by David Duncan Livingston

    Recreate the ambiance of a cushy restaurant booth with a curved wrap-around banquette. Heather Hilliard Design upholstered the banquette in leather for a comfortable luxe feel.

  • 10 of 37

    Accent With Wallpaper

    small kitchen banquette seating ideas

    Michelle Berwick Design

    Create a backdrop for a small banquette and round table with colorful kitchen wallpaper. This built-in breakfast nook from Michelle Berwick Design has multi-colored abstract floral wallpaper that creates a striking focal point in the all-white kitchen.

  • 11 of 37

    Add Extra Seating

    banquette seating kitchen

    Erin Williamson Design

    In a large kitchen, add extra chairs around the table to maximize seating. This contemporary banquette in a historic California home renovation from Erin Williamson Design is positioned in the corner of a spacious kitchen with industrial glass and metal windows and doors that open to the outside and provide a view of the pool.

  • 12 of 37

    Try a U-Shaped Banquette

    u-shaped banquette seating kitchen

    Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly

    Embrace curves with a U-shaped banquette. This dramatic, all-white upholstered half moon banquette from Leanne Ford Interiors is custom built to fit in a large kitchen alcove, with an arched opening that is a far cry from your average breakfast nook.

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  • 13 of 37

    DIY an L-Shaped Banquette

    L-shaped banquette seating kitchen

    A Beautiful Mess

    Add color and texture to a small corner banquette with a DIY backrest. A Beautiful Mess created an L-shaped pink velvet banquette that brightens up the corner of a bright white kitchen, creating a cozy spot for having a drink or a meal.

  • 14 of 37

    Install Wainscoting

    banquette seating with wainscoting kitchen

    Caroline Brackett Studio of Design / Photo by Erin Comerford Miller

    Skip the backrest and install wainscoting or wood paneling on the wall above your banquette instead. Caroline Brackett Studio of Design scattered plenty of throw pillows on the bench for added comfort.

  • 15 of 37

    Include Under-Bench Storage

    kitchen banquette seating with storage

    Finding Lovely

    An oval table will create flow around a larger banquette. This light and airy kitchen banquette seating area from Finding Lovely includes under-bench storage with the same Shaker cabinetry and hardware found throughout the kitchen.

  • 16 of 37

    Create a Modern Lounge Feel

    Moroccan-style banquette seating ideas

    Heather Hilliard Design / Photo by David Duncan Livingston

    Create a modern Moroccan living room-inspired lounge feel by installing a long banquette equipped with tea tables. Heather Hilliard Design paired a Moroccan side table and a little round occasional table for afternoon tea breaks, pre-dinner drinks, or after-dinner conversations just feet away from the main dining table.

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  • 17 of 37

    Try an Angled Banquette

    banquette seating awkward space kitchen

    Becca Interiors

    Make an awkward space more comfortable with a custom banquette. This built-in kitchen banquette from Becca Interiors follows the irregular angles of a Colonial home in Connecticut to maximize every last inch of space, with an upholstered gray seat cushion and back to add comfort and shelter from the windows.

  • 18 of 37

    Cushion With Bolster Pillows

    banquette seating bolster pillows kitchen nook

    Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Tessa Neustadt

    Make a banquette without a padded backrest more comfortable with bolster pillows. Emily Henderson Design paired matching bolster pillows and seat cushions with touches of color on throw pillows in this bright corner dining nook.

  • 19 of 37

    Use Earthy Finishes

    earthy banquette seating kitchen

    Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Douglas Lyle Thompson

    Use weathered materials and finishes to make your built-in banquette feel like part of the architecture. This Venice, CA, banquette seating area from Leanne Ford Interiors is finished in earthy neutral tones and vintage furniture.

  • 20 of 37

    Add a Bonus Banquette

    small banquette seating kitchen

    Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto

    The key to harmonious family living is often creating multiple spaces where people can gather or peel off from the group as desired. This spacious West Palm Beach, FL house designed by Calimia Home includes a bonus banquette seating area with a small table and bentwood chairs designed for solo work or one-on-one conversations.

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  • 21 of 37

    Include a Cat Cubby

    banquette seating with cat cubby

    Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

    Make use of the empty space beneath a corner banquette with a cat cubby. This dining area designed by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design includes a discreet round hole in the base that is a stealth passageway for a pair of happy cats who blend right in with the black-and-white decor.

  • 22 of 37

    Create an Island Banquette

    island banquette seating eat-in kitchen

    Kate Marker Interiors

    Use the back of a large kitchen island as a backrest for a comfortable seated dining area in a large kitchen. Kate Marker Interiors equipped this spacious U-shaped kitchen with a hybrid island and dining table for a more traditional feel.

  • 23 of 37

    Install a Tall DIY Backrest

    diy banquette seating with hidden storage

    A Beautiful Mess

    Add drama with an extra-tall backrest. This DIY sunroom banquette seating area from A Beautiful Mess has a channel tufted back in a neutral fabric that runs all the way up to the ceiling, with hidden under-bench storage thanks to swing-up hinges.

  • 24 of 37

    Install Twin Banquettes

    double banquette seating kitchen

    Jess Bunge for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

    Use freestanding benches and wall-mounted back rests on either side of a wall-mounted table to save space while creating a diner booth feel. Emily Henderson Design paired clean-lined pale wood furniture with white walls and dark blue velveteen upholstery for a modern look.

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  • 25 of 37

    Use a Standalone Piece

    standalone banquette seating kitchen

    Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona

    If you live in a rental or don't have the energy or 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. Just back them up against the wall, add a table, and you're good to go, like this cottage seating area from blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona.

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  • 26 of 37

    Try a Banquette Window Seat

    cottage kitchen with banquette window seat

    Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

    Banquettes share DNA with window seats. Jessica Nelson Design created a hybrid banquette and window seat under a window at the head of this large kitchen table that can be used on its own or for extra seating at mealtime.

  • 27 of 37

    Paint It White

    board and batten banquette seating in a kitchen

    Arbor & Co

    For an understated look, paint your wood banquette white to match the walls. Arbor & Co kept it simple with a wooden table and bentwood chairs in this bright space.

  • 28 of 37

    Sneak In Extra Storage

    banquette seating storage ideas kitchen

    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

    Install a row of built-in kitchen cabinetry above your banquette to add extra storage. Cathie Hong Interiors accessorized this minimalist banquette with plump throw pillows in shades of pink and olive green for a soft earthy feel.

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  • 29 of 37

    Use a Space-Saving Bench

    midcentury modern dining nook with standalone banquette

    Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

    A popular space-saving solution in the midcentury modern interiors of the last century, built-in banquettes never really went out of style. Jessica Nelson Design installed a simple natural wood corner bench and a wood slat accent wall in place of a backrest in this streamlined midcentury modern kitchen.

  • 30 of 37

    Add a Patterned Seat Cushion

    kitchen banquette seating with multicolored throw pillows

    Studio Peake

    Install an extra-wide banquette to seat a crowd in a family home or weekend house that's built for entertaining. Studio Peake energized the eat-in kitchen seating with multicolored throw pillows and a patterned seat cushion.

  • 31 of 37

    Try a Bay Window Banquette

    banquette bay window seating ideas

    Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

    Built a banquette to fit a custom space like a dining nook for a seamless feel that maximizes space. Emily Henderson Design added a half circle banquette to a bank of bay windows that creates a room-within-a-room feel in an airy open plan space.

  • 32 of 37

    Use Vintage Furniture

    cottage kitchen with standalone vintage banquette

    Kate Marker Interiors

    Reupholster a thrifted sofa or banquette to add a cozy feel in a cottage kitchen. Kate Marker Interiors paired a tufted teal blue upholstered corner banquette with wishbone chairs and a midcentury modern table in this cozy space.

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  • 33 of 37

    Upholster in Red

    red kitchen banquette seating

    Design by Maestri Studio / Photo by Stephen Karlisch

    Turn your kitchen banquette into a focal point with a bold color accent. Maestri Studio combined vibrant red upholstery with green patterned wallpaper in this glam space.

  • 34 of 37

    Pair With an Island

    corner kitchen banquette seating

    Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

    In a larger space, there's no reason you have to choose between a banquette and island seating. Jessica Nelson Design tucked a discreet corner banquette by the windows in this tranquil space to create a cozy spot.

  • 35 of 37

    Paint It Sage Green

    sage green kitchen banquette

    Alvin Wayne

    Soften a wooden banquette with sage green paint. Interior designer Alvin Wayne combined the soothing hue with a dramatic black accent wall and large-scale color photo in this modern kitchen, but the popular earth tone would work just as well in a more traditional space.

  • 36 of 37

    Add French Country Style

    apartment kitchen dining table ideas

    Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer

    Channel the feel of a French country kitchen with a banquette. Marie Flanigan Interiors paired a built-in banquette with an extra thick seating pad and below-bench storage with a French marble bistro table and industrial chairs for an inviting feel.

    Continue to 37 of 37 below
  • 37 of 37

    Try an Extra-Large Banquette

    large corner kitchen banquette

    Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

    Create a focal point with an extra-large built-in banquette. Jessica Nelson Design positioned this corner banquette in front of a bank of windows with a wide-open view and anchored it with a simple industrial pendant.