33 Built-In Seating Ideas for a Bespoke Home
These bold bench seat and banquette set-ups will have you lining up to incorporate some built-in seating
Whether you’re renovating, planning to, or are just flirting with the idea of doing something a little different in your dining area, these 33 built-in bench seats provide all the ideas and inspiration you need.
2. Location: Darlinghurst, NSW
Designer
SJB
Features
One glance at this caramel-coloured banquette tells you it’s no surprise the space scooped this year’s awards season.
Browse through images of stylish banquettes
Designer
SJB
Features
One glance at this caramel-coloured banquette tells you it’s no surprise the space scooped this year’s awards season.
Browse through images of stylish banquettes
3. Location: Rose Bay, NSW
Designer
Woods & Warner
FeaturesA strong angularity gives this built-in dining nook presence.
See how these smart tables and seating maximise small dining spaces
Designer
Woods & Warner
FeaturesA strong angularity gives this built-in dining nook presence.
See how these smart tables and seating maximise small dining spaces
4. Location: Canning Cottage
Designer
Bicker Design
Features
The perfectly matched fabric of the banquette and the timber base shows exemplary attention to detail.
Designer
Bicker Design
Features
The perfectly matched fabric of the banquette and the timber base shows exemplary attention to detail.
5. Location: Marrickville, NSW
Designer
Bondi Kitchens
Features
That spread of mustard adds a zing of flavour to this monochrome kitchen, and the backless banquette helps keep a low profile in the narrow space.
Designer
Bondi Kitchens
Features
That spread of mustard adds a zing of flavour to this monochrome kitchen, and the backless banquette helps keep a low profile in the narrow space.
6. Location: Orange County, USA
Feature
The perfect place to while the hours away, sit quietly with a cuppa, or gather for a meal with friends.
Feature
The perfect place to while the hours away, sit quietly with a cuppa, or gather for a meal with friends.
7. Location: USA
Features
There’s no rule that forbids shiplap banquettes from beautifying beach-style homes.
Features
There’s no rule that forbids shiplap banquettes from beautifying beach-style homes.
8. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Features
White and grey make the day.
Features
White and grey make the day.
9. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Features
Although the graphic print of the banquette seat and the rusty hue of the leather sling chairs don’t share any colours in common, there’s something about their contrast that makes this built-in dining nook shine.
Check out these easy, DIY graphic art ideas
Features
Although the graphic print of the banquette seat and the rusty hue of the leather sling chairs don’t share any colours in common, there’s something about their contrast that makes this built-in dining nook shine.
Check out these easy, DIY graphic art ideas
10. Location: New York, USA
Features
The upholstered caramel banquette, grounded by the navy accent wall, delineate the kitchen from this living space.
Features
The upholstered caramel banquette, grounded by the navy accent wall, delineate the kitchen from this living space.
11. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Features
Sometimes simple is best.
Features
Sometimes simple is best.
12. Location: Sacramento, USA
Features
This sweeping semi-circle draws everyone into the conversation here… not to mention that gentle curve of the timber.
Features
This sweeping semi-circle draws everyone into the conversation here… not to mention that gentle curve of the timber.
13. Location: New York, USA
Features
Pops of pattern, puffy texture and punchy colours enliven this banquette beyond belief.
Features
Pops of pattern, puffy texture and punchy colours enliven this banquette beyond belief.
14. Location: New York, USA
Features
The subtle gap between the upholstered seat and backrest of this built-in bench (and the workmanship involved) is a design detail that takes this banquette up a notch.
Features
The subtle gap between the upholstered seat and backrest of this built-in bench (and the workmanship involved) is a design detail that takes this banquette up a notch.
15. Location: New York, USA
Features
This tongue-in-cheek built-in breakfast nook channels plastic fantastic with its vinyl-like diner seat and the Barbie-inspired art.
Want to squeeze in a breakfast bar in your kitchen?
Features
This tongue-in-cheek built-in breakfast nook channels plastic fantastic with its vinyl-like diner seat and the Barbie-inspired art.
Want to squeeze in a breakfast bar in your kitchen?
16. Location: Miami, USA
Features
Texture is the name of the game in this interior, with the fine fur of the pouffes, the soft hide of the banquette seat, and the tufted upholstery of the backrest, all against the velvety smoothness of the floor and walls.
Features
Texture is the name of the game in this interior, with the fine fur of the pouffes, the soft hide of the banquette seat, and the tufted upholstery of the backrest, all against the velvety smoothness of the floor and walls.
17. Location: London, UK
Features
The matching upholstery on the mis-matched chairs, cushions and banquette seat leave no doubt what the hero of this room is.
Features
The matching upholstery on the mis-matched chairs, cushions and banquette seat leave no doubt what the hero of this room is.
18. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer
Camilla Molders Design
Features
Here, built-in seating solves the tricky problem of a low ceiling height. Genius! Not to mention those pops of lipstick red in the upholstery buttons.
Designer
Camilla Molders Design
Features
Here, built-in seating solves the tricky problem of a low ceiling height. Genius! Not to mention those pops of lipstick red in the upholstery buttons.
19. Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Designer
Paul Uhlmann Architects
Features
This banquette seating channels mid-century style and the restaurant vibe that these owners wanted at home.
Designer
Paul Uhlmann Architects
Features
This banquette seating channels mid-century style and the restaurant vibe that these owners wanted at home.
20. Location: London, UK
Features
Slimline seating makes this built-in bench take a backseat.
Features
Slimline seating makes this built-in bench take a backseat.
21. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features
A monochrome marvel.
Features
A monochrome marvel.
22. Location: Woollahra, NSW
Designer
RAAarchitects
Features
Not all banquettes take centre stage. Part built-in bench seat, part-window seat, this streamline banquette is subtle and sophisticated.
Designer
RAAarchitects
Features
Not all banquettes take centre stage. Part built-in bench seat, part-window seat, this streamline banquette is subtle and sophisticated.
23. Location: Atlanta, USA
Features
Ghost chairs and a transparent pendant light fade into the background so the mis-matched upholstery can jump to the fore.
Learn about the beauty of mismatched rooms
Features
Ghost chairs and a transparent pendant light fade into the background so the mis-matched upholstery can jump to the fore.
Learn about the beauty of mismatched rooms
24. Location: Singapore
Features
This curved banquette seat is no fading wallflower. And the complementary floor cushion and ottoman? Brilliant!
Features
This curved banquette seat is no fading wallflower. And the complementary floor cushion and ottoman? Brilliant!
25. Location: London, UK
Features
Stylish and space-smart, this built-in bench seat takes up less room than arranging chairs around all sides of the table.
Features
Stylish and space-smart, this built-in bench seat takes up less room than arranging chairs around all sides of the table.
27. Location: London, UK
Features
Sleek and subtle, the raised backrest of this banquette creates a cloistered huddle for quiet conversations within an open-plan area.
Features
Sleek and subtle, the raised backrest of this banquette creates a cloistered huddle for quiet conversations within an open-plan area.
28. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Mr. Mitchell
Features
The space-age banquette in this 1960s apartment stands loud and proud.
Designer: Mr. Mitchell
Features
The space-age banquette in this 1960s apartment stands loud and proud.
29. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features
A quiet escape in a private corner.
Features
A quiet escape in a private corner.
30. Location: Leicestershire, UK
Features
Part banquette, part-window seat, wholly chic. It’s also refreshing to see a bench seat sans upholstery.
Features
Part banquette, part-window seat, wholly chic. It’s also refreshing to see a bench seat sans upholstery.
32. Location: Seattle, USA
Features
Sleek and sophisticated, this elongated bench seat makes seating 10 easy.
Features
Sleek and sophisticated, this elongated bench seat makes seating 10 easy.
33. Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Designer: Donna Guyler Design
Features
A custom banquette rising up on tippy-toes. Now why haven’t we seen more banquettes on little feet?
Read more:
10 Tricks to Style a Small Dining Area
Tell us:
Which built-in banquette or bench seat would you like to be relaxing at right now? Tell us your favourite in the Comments below.
Designer: Donna Guyler Design
Features
A custom banquette rising up on tippy-toes. Now why haven’t we seen more banquettes on little feet?
Read more:
10 Tricks to Style a Small Dining Area
Tell us:
Which built-in banquette or bench seat would you like to be relaxing at right now? Tell us your favourite in the Comments below.
Designer
Luigi Rosselli Architects
Features
The curves in this banquette are a sight for sore eyes, from the sculpted foam stuffing and the double curving at the ends of the upholstery, to the subtly rounded corners of the joinery and table.