Banquette: a long upholstered bench placed against or built into a wall.

When space is limited and you have a floor plan that makes it possible, a banquette is a great option to maximize seating. Who am I kidding? Banquettes are great even when space isn’t limited.

Because they are usually built into a wall, most banquette seats are custom-made.  If you don’t have the time or resource to build one from scratch, you can get creative. Create your own by using other furniture pieces, like a settee sofa or dining banquette, line a few x-benches together or turn a cabinet on its side (something durable but inexpensive from Ikea for example, plus you get extra storage) add an upholstered cushion for height and comfort. Voilà!

Here are some spaces to be inspired by: