If you have been thinking about constructing a banquette in your kitchen I can tell you that it is the best home improvement project I ever did. It not only adds architectural detail to the room, but it creates more seating without the need for a lot of chairs, plus since the seating is right against the wall, the table can be pushed towards the wall making the room feel more spacious. There is no space allowance needed for chairs to be pulled back.
I originally saw a professional carpenter constructed custom bench with a slanted back that my friend had made for her kitchen. I loved how it looked, but knew I couldn’t afford a carpenter and would never be able to construct the back. After looking at it for awhile and seeing how it was made, I decided I didn’t need a back. The base was nothing more than a box with a top on it. Breaking it down in my mind like that, I realized I could probably make one with a little planning for my own kitchen. I didn’t have a pattern or directions to follow I just based it on the design my friend had.
Here is the finished banquette without anything on it. The top measures 23″ deep. The base 18″ deep. The difference in width allows you to kick your feet back for more comfortable seating. It is 18″ high.
View of the top. I rounded the corners to save everybody’s knees.
Side view – I added crown moulding, baseboard, and quarter round as finishing trim.
Since I can only sew something simple, I had two cushions made to place on top. If you want to protect the fabric from spills you can send your fabric to a company that will laminate it before sewing. The company I used was Custom Laminations, Inc. It cost a little more then I wanted to spend but I figured with kids and food I would be saving money by having the fabric protected. My friend, Karen who made them told me with the lamination and the length of the cushions, she felt like she was sewing 2×4′s together. The lamination adds a slight sheen to the fabric.
Since I didn’t make a back for the banquette I covered six bed pillows ( I sewed them, really simple) in various colors of fabric to add cushioning and interest.
I can sit about 9 people around the table now. I used to entertain in my dining room, but this has become our go-to spot, as it is such a cozy conversational area.
This is the only picture I have when I was contructing it. The base is nothing more than a frame of two by fours. The back wall has 2 - 2×4′s mounted to the wall. They take most of the weight. The base is not attached to the floor at all. The hardest part of making this was the top. I wanted it to look as professional as possible so I made a decorative edge with 3/4 piece of lumber. I rounded the corners with a sander so they would not be so square and dig into someones knee.
Without this handy little table saw I would not have been able to make the banquette myself. My husband and I found it when a home improvement store near us was going out of business. It cost us about $70.00. It was the best tool we ever bought. It is small and simple to use. Nothing complex about it to scare you from using it.
My simple sketch to show how I mounted the 2 x4′s to the wall with lag bolt screws. The top of the the 2 x4 should be placed on the wall at 16 1/2″ from the floor. When the top which was 1- 1/2″ high was added the total height of the bench was 18″
I made the top with 3/4″ poplar plywood. I didn’t want any warping so I got the best plywood the Home Depot had. I chose to angle the corner joint. You could also just make two square tops. That probably would have been easier.

The base is just a frame of 2 x 4′s. I used plywood to cover the front and sides. There was an electrical outlet on the wall which I had my husband ( I don’t do anything electrical) move for me so that it could be mounted on the banquette. I created the hole for the outlet with a jigsaw. I added crown moulding under the top and baseboard and quarter round on the bottom to finish it off.
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{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
can I bring you to my house, and have you re-do every room?? This is gorgeous!
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No way, I have been dreaming of one for my kitchen. We have a bay window and I want to build into it. You inspire me, I think we may have been seperated at birth. I am keeping this info. for when we can try to do ours, your the best.
Cha Cha
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Hi Dianna and Cha Cha-
If I ever move from this house, I know I will have to build a banquette in the next one. Sometimes when I am tired, I lay down and fall asleep on it. It is very comfortable. Trax, my cat and Schnizel, my dog – love laying on it too. It gets sun all day until about 2:00. Thanks for the nice comments.
Diane
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Fab.u.ous! I soooo want to build one of these for my dining room now that I have the kitchen nook table under control.
Thanks for the detailed how-to’s. I’ll be bookmarking this post for future reference
Glad you could Mi4M!
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I have always wanted a bench seat, you did a fabulous job!!~
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looks great! way to go
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I love my chop saw too! Great job girl!
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I love your banquette! How cool you shared all the details. If my huge deep freeze ever goes out I would like one there. Lezlee
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wow! great job. It looks really nice. I love that you used bed pillows… probably a lot cheaper than the alternative! (foam)
thanks for sharing!
gail
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holy cow!
you did an awesome job. you should be so proud. you are a pro! it looks like it was built-in with the rest of your room. everything matches perfectly.
what an inspiration piece for the home & YOU are an inspiration for doing it yourself.
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Wow! It looks really great!
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awesome. excellant job. I have always wanted one myself. Hint to husband…lol…mishelle
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Love this!!! I will put Husband on this project as I don’t like to know too much about this end of stuff- he has hobbies too. I will do the custom cushions. Just tonight, I had expressed an idea about tearing out some low bookshelves in the playroom and putting in a long window seat with lots of storage and new full sized bookcases on another wall. Wish you were in Dallas so you could give me your great ideas! I’d love to know what you think.
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That looks so cozy!!
Visiting from Cottage Instincts!
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This was the next thing on my to-do list… before we found out about the move.
I thought it would be a good place to sit and talk/blog while Hubby made dinner
I looks so nice in your kitchen. You did a good job!
I’m glad I found your blog.
Talk to you soon
Bunny Jean
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This is a great use of space. I love this. My area would not allow for this or I would do it in a heart beat!
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Wow, nice work! I’ve always wanted one of those!
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Wow, I love it. What a great use of space.
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Awesome project! I love it, it fits the space perfectly and lookds like plenty of seating room too!
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This is Brilliant and so are you to tackle it. Way to go!
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STUNNING! I’m so impressed, and it’s something that I’ve been wanting to do FOREVER in my house. You’ve totally inspired me! Great job.
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Hi, all you wonderful commenters.
Thanks for all the blog love. I love reading all your comments and visiting each of you if you have a blog.
Ann- send me a picture- I would love to give you some ideas on your playroom shelf transformation.
Diane
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You did an amazing job. IT looks great. Way to go!
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Hi Diane, I stopped back this morning for a better look around. You are a very creative gal and I am totally impressed that you painted your kitchen cabinets. One question, do you remember the color of white you used and did you use semi or gloss paint? I’m considering doing mine they really need a touch up, unless you like that chippy look.
I have found that using a semi gloss on the ceilings is an amazing way to reflect the candlelight on the diningroom table around the room. The effect is amazing and I am considering repainting the livingroom and hall ceilings with a butter colored white in semi gloss but I really dislike doing ceilings.
Preparing for another 12″ of snow! See you after the storm.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~
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That is awesome and I had never thought of doing anything like this! This would solve my seating woes also. Thank you for sharing!
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I have been so wanting one for my home. Will you please come and build me one? {smile}
It turned out fabulous! Thanks for the inspiration!
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I left something for you over on my blog! Check it out:
http://www.confessionsofafitnessinstructor.com/2010/02/awards-code.html
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Wow! I am really impressed with your building skills! This is awesome!
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Oh wow, we need a banquette. I had no idea where to start. Now I do. I love yours, it’s perfect! Thank you so much for sharing!
Lynea
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LOVE!
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This is so wonderful!! We have a kitchen that is on the smaller side and I think a banquette would be perfect! I must tell the idea to my hubby! Plus we might be able to use the bottom for extra storage space…
I found your blog on a SITS list on Twitter of people who are attending the Bloggy Bootcamp in Baltimore! I just signed up as well. I wanted to come by and say Hi! Looking forward to meeting at camp!
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Hi Mom, I’m taking a study break and visted your site. I made the picture of the kitchen table and bench my background for my laptop! It makes me feel closer to home! See you in two weeks! xo Mandy
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You did a great job. I’ve been wanting to do this for some time. Maybe I can talk my husband into helping me with this project.
Thanks for the help.
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you are so creative….thank you for posting this. I am now following you from friday follows have a great day.
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Stopping by to say hello with Friday Follow. Hope you have an amazing weekend with your family and friends.
Felissa
Please stop by my new blog:
http://www.twolittlecavaliers.blogspot.com
and my business blog:
http://www.felissahadas.blogspot.com
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Here From Friday Follow! This is a great idea!
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I have been SEARCHING for a banquette that was cheap and pretty. FINALLY I found yours on link up page I think through DIY…anyways, Im so glad you made everything so detailed..I will be having my dad and my husband make this for me! I cant wait! We have a small house with a great room and there isnt alot of space for a table with 6 chairs so Im extatic about this! Thank you
lacey!
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Wow!!! What a beautiful job! I have wanted to add a banquet to our new house and just haven’t been brave enough. You have inspired me and given me the best visual to show my husband! Looks fantastic!
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Oh I love it! We also have a banquette with lots of room for storage. Please come see
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Hi, following you from Friday Follow.
Have a nice day.
Come to visit my blogs:
http://www.santiagotwingirls.blogspot.com
http://www.palstiembroidery.blogspot
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I’m LOVING you blog. I just went through every post.
I have been wanting to make a banquette corner seat ever since we moved in almost a year ago. It seemed so difficult, but you make it sound pretty simple. How much were supplies all together? That will be my decision maker. =) Sooo excieted.
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Wow! What a great job! It’s awesome!
Thanks for sharing in the DIY Show & Tell (sorry I’m so late!)
~Roeshel
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I have wanted a banquette in our bay window for years! You made it look like a project my husband could do. I am saving this to show my him. BTW…..You did a great job! Thanks for sharing!!
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