You expect to see a banquette on a terrace or in a bar but, for some reason, not so much in someone’s home. Individual armchairs and sofas or couches are usually preferred over banquette seating but, at the end of the day, it’s all just a matter of preference and optimization of a space. In a way, you could say that a banquette is just a hybrid between a chair and a sofa and based on that there are lots of cases when they’re the ideal design option for a particular space or style.

A banquette can be very practical in the dining area, especially when it occupies the space between the table and a wall. Individual chairs would be more difficult to fit in there. At the same time, a banquette makes the space look neat and cozy.

Although we agree that banquettes can be a good fit for dining areas of various types, we suggest only having one, placed on one side of the table while chairs are used on the other side. This is to avoid a boxed-in look and an atmosphere that makes the space feel less comfortable by not offering enough freedom and flexibility. Also, symmetry doesn’t always look good.

Combining a bench with armchairs in a dining area is good for the diversity of the decor. Nevertheless, that doesn’t meant you can’t have a matching set of furniture. In fact, this can help maintain a cohesive and comfortable ambiance in the room.

But even if you choose a matching furniture set that includes a banquette and several armchairs that doesn’t mean everything about them should be identical. For example, consider combining two contrasting color as suggested with this stylish dining area.

Cohesion can be maintained in a room in various different ways. Take for instance this decor. The banquette coordinates nicely with the gray accent wall, the curtains the area rug and, of course, the chairs while its wooden base matches the table and some of the furniture.

Banquettes are not very well defined, although they have some well-established characteristics. However, a lot of variations are possible. For instance, if you want to combine the comfort of a bench/ sofa with the privacy of an individual seat, you could opt for a hybrid similar to what you see here.

A nice thing about a banquette is the fact that it can accommodate a varying number of people, as opposed to chairs which are designed to only be used by one person at a time. It can be practical to have a banquette if you usually entertain a lot or if you think the number of people seated at a table can vary.

There’s a difference between a bench and a banquette and it has to do with the present or absence of the backrest. This could be catalogued as a bench rather than a banquette.

Some consider banquettes to be cozier and more comfortable than dining chairs simply because they allow people to sit closer together and to interact more easily. Others prefer a well-defined personal space so I guess the best thing to do would be to combine these elements in order to have a well-balanced dining area that makes everyone feel comfortable.

Most banquettes are straight, with linear designs and that only makes them suitable for rectangular dining tables. A round table required a curved banquette and that can be a bit more difficult to find, with fewer design options and styles to choose from. It’s something to think about before furnishing a dining room.

If you want to create an airy and open feel in the room, consider a backless banquette or a bench and stools instead of armchairs. They’ll look less robust and they’ll allow the room to seem larger and brighter.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide which type of seating is best suited for your dining area. The same thing goes for the style and the decor of the room. Every detail matters.