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Original poster

Banquette style dining area

13 replies

oneproudmumma · 25/02/2023 10:38

Has anyone got a banquette (bench) dining area similar to the one below.

I'm tempted to do this for our new kitchen diner.

I'd like to know pros and cons please - and if you'd have the same thing again or just a normal dining table next time? 🙏 thanks

OP posts:

LightGreenDot · 26/02/2023 10:29

I also want to do something like this. I think it would make better use of the space, flexibility to fit more people in and avoid walls getting bashed by pushing chairs back.

The cons I imagine are access to all the seats if you have guests (not an issue for me day-to-day as there's only three of us and we sit round the end). Also would it be comfortable enough? Would you be close enough to the table? I think lots of cushions might be needed which would need to be kept clean.

So I probably won't end up going for it... but interested to hear opinions too.

Katrinawaves · 26/02/2023 10:49

We have something similar in our kitchen but there is no back on our bench. That enables people to get up and down from the table without everyone on the bench having to move to let them out. I would say that it’s not as comfortable as having one of the dining chairs and I would always gravitate to the side of the table with chairs given a choice.

googledidnthelp · 26/02/2023 11:19

We recently moved and selling our gorgeous benches and tables was the hardest thing to part with more so than the house.

We are in buying again this year but hopefully our forever home and it's really important to me that we have the space to create that same dining experience

Original poster

oneproudmumma · 26/02/2023 15:11

One of my friends has something similar and says it's very comfortable but I wonder if it'll be as comfortable as a dining chair too!

It would be a brilliant use of space though. We have 3 DC so handy for them too.

My husband isn't keen at all though, even though he loves a "booth" style seat when we dine out!!

OP posts:

LividNC · 27/02/2023 08:09

My sister has one and tbh I hate it. Really hard to get the table far enough out to squeeze in and close enough to eat when you sit on the banquette side.

Ifulikepinacoladas · 27/02/2023 08:19

When we did our kitchen we really wanted to get fixed banquette seating but basically chickened out in the end. I couldnt commit to something fixed to the walls etc. We got something similar to this:
Then we have a bench without a back in the other side. It's all so much more comfortable than chairs and you can squeeze more people in. We also have an 'emergency bench' for the end of the table.
It's a little annoying having to get people to move if you want to get in/out but it's honestly not a problem at all, it really doesn't happen very often.

WednesdaysPlaits · 27/02/2023 08:24

I have one. It’s far more comfortable than dining chairs and most evenings we just stay sat at the table rather than decamping to the sofas. However, getting in and out is a bit of a pain. There are recommended distances on websites but it’s still awkward along the back stretch and if you increase the gap it isn’t comfortable to eat. It looks great though.

WednesdaysPlaits · 27/02/2023 08:25

Mine isn’t fixed to the wall, it backs onto the island

DisplayPurposesOnly · 27/02/2023 08:31

I hate it when eating out, I don't see why I'd like it any better in a house.

My feet don't reach the floor. No back support. Have to pull the table in to reach comfortably. Can't get out if you're the middle person.

buddhasbelly · 27/02/2023 08:35

We have this in a sort of diy version (small space. We have storage underneath the benches where we store boardgames that we play at the table.

we’re not a big household though. This approach basically let us have a dining area where there wouldn’t really have been the space. And gave us extra storage!

bingoitsadingo · 27/02/2023 15:12

Unless you're really pushed for space I wouldn't.

I find benches really annoying - have to slide in and out, it's hard to get up to help/refill water/go to the loo/etc, you can never pull them in quite close enough to the table, they're never as comfortable as chairs (especially if you go for one without a back).

You can get chairs that aren't too wide that let you fit as many people round the table.

Treetopviews · 27/02/2023 15:18

My grandparents have this, I’d really not recommend it, it means folks sliding in and out and is far from convenient seating. You also can’t adjust your own chair as you see fit, so unless you skew the table everyone is sitting the same distance from it. Which can be too far away for a small person and too close for a larger one. So one has to sit right back and another perched on end of their seat.

it makes best use of the space, but that’s it’s only benefit.

redspottedmug · 27/02/2023 15:27

Not a built in - we have a wonderful old pine church pew, which fits perfectly in the space, and has just the right depth of seat and backrest height.
Plus a pine table and chairs for the ends and opposite side.

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