This Banquette Upgrade Made Our Dining Space So Much Better

I wouldn’t call myself a banquette bro, but there’s no denying at this point that I’m a big fan of adding a cute little breakfast nook to a lonely dining wall. We’ve now built them in two different homes, trading a traditional dining area for a banquette, and we’re getting ready to build a third.

Each space has been completely different, but we keep coming back to banquettes because they make better use of the space we actually have. Our last house was probably the best example of that.

Custom Breakfast Nook Build Plans

How a Banquette Made Our Small Dining Area More Functional

If you’ve read any of our other blog posts, or followed us on Instagram or TikTok, you’ll quickly learn we don’t really do things just because it’s the norm or it’s how things have always been done.

A traditional table and chairs just wasn’t the setup that worked for our home or our family’s needs. After opening up the kitchen/dining/living area into one big space, there was no longer a formal dining space. The room was also a walkway to the playroom, which meant pulling chairs in and out constantly blocked an already busy path through the house.

So we created our own solution.

The dining nook provided so many solutions. It was storage for bulky or seasonal items we didn’t use day-to-day. It provided a feature furniture piece in a corner of the house that was otherwise pretty… bleh. The banquette added more character and made the space feel custom.

It also gave us plenty of space for friends and family to sit when they visited.

It also improved traffic flow and eliminated chairs sticking into walkways. There’s now a defined dining zone within the open floor plan.

The Pros and Cons of Banquette Seating

Before you go all in swapping a traditional dining area for a banquette, give it some thought. It’s not a very advanced DIY, but it is still a big project to undertake if you’re on the fence.

So, here are some of my biggest pros and cons of swapping a traditional dining area for a banquette:

Pros

• Adds hidden storage.
• Makes awkward corners useful
• Improves traffic flow
• Fits more people
• Defines an open dining area
• Adds character and charm
• Can be customized to fit or feature drawers or flip-top.
• Creates a cozy gathering spot
• Is a vibe (that’s the technical term)

Cons

• Getting in and out can be awkward
• Custom builds can get expensive (but we have an inexpensive guide to help you out).
• It’s more permanent than regular furniture
• You can’t really rearrange it
• You lose a formal dining table and seating for events like Thanksgiving or Christmas

Renovation Roadmap — DIY Project Planning Guide

Would I Choose Banquette Seating Again?

Absolutely! In fact, we just finished a kitchen remodel in our current house and are now about to build another banquette. This will be our third consecutive home with this dining area setup.

A banquette in a traditional dining space definitely isn’t for everyone. And that’s okay. If you made it through this entire post you’re probably thinking we’re some kind of breakfast nook freaks.

We’re definitely not banquette ride-or-dies. But as long as it makes sense for our family’s needs, and just as importantly fits with the vibes and flow of the house we’re in, then I don’t see any issues swapping a traditional dining area for a banquette.

Enjoy the home you’ve got!

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