If you’re renovating and wondering how to make a small kitchen feel more inviting, a built-in banquette might be the answer.
Designing Our Built-In Banquette Seating
When we renovated our home, there was one space I was determined to get right — the kitchen. Our London terrace has a relatively small footprint, so every inch had to work hard. Looking back, the best decision we made was creating a built-in banquette seating area — it’s completely transformed how we use the space.
Here's how we use the space
The banquette sits in a 3-metre by 2-metre corner of the kitchen and comfortably seats up to eight people around a 6ft table made from old scaffolding pine planks. The table brings warmth and character to the room, while the benches — built from simple MDF panelling painted in Raven by Papers and Paints — give the area a tailored feel. The rich, dark navy blue grounds the space and adds a lovely sense of depth.
If you’re looking for banquette seating ideas, consider incorporating practical details like chest storage beneath the bench — we added hidden compartments for all the things that don’t need to be on show, with lift-up lids for easy access.
Creating a Functional Yet Cosy Kitchen Corner
Above the table hang vintage factory pendants on antique chain, casting a soft, moody light in the evenings. A painted curtain pole above the window holds a few hanging plants, adding texture and a touch of
green to the corner.
The space is naturally bright during the day, thanks to a skylight above and windows that open onto the garden. In summer, with the windows wide open, the kitchen dining nook feels seamlessly connected to the outdoors — one of the things I love most about it.
Here's how we did it
Styling a Banquette Table for Everyday Living
To make it truly comfortable, I added our sheepskin bench pads and seat pads, which instantly soften the wooden seating and make them a place where we want to linger over lengthy meals and conversations. I’ve paired them with sheepskin cushions to carry through the same natural texture and make the corner feel wonderfully cosy. I love how our clay pink slubby cushions look against the dark navy blue woodwork — the contrast feels calm but uplifting, and the colours work together perfectly — while a textured spiral cushion in warm mocha adds depth and a tactile finish.
If you’re exploring banquette styling tips or how to style a kitchen table, think about combining textures rather than colours alone. Natural sheepskin, linen, and wool always feel inviting, especially against painted wood and reclaimed timber.
When evening falls, we like to dim the lighting and light lots of hand-dipped candles. I mix our hand-dipped beeswax candles — with their warm, sweet natural scent — with our Rouge Noir candles in this season’s deep burgundy colour. The combination feels both comforting and a little dramatic, especially against the dark walls and wooden tones. The gentle flicker of
candlelight gives the whole area a soft, cocooning atmosphere — it’s where I most
like to slow down at the end of the day.
Why a Banquette Works So Well in a Small Kitchen
This little corner has become our cosy dining nook — a small space transformed with built-in bench seating, natural materials, and handmade details. It’s now the most used spot in the house — where we eat, work, chat, and gather with friends.
For a relatively compact area, it’s made an enormous difference. If you’re planning a renovation, I’d wholeheartedly recommend considering a built-in banquette. It’s practical, space-saving, and, with a few soft layers, becomes the heart of the home.
You can find the handmade pieces featured here — from our sheepskin pads to hand-dipped candles — in The Small Home collection.
Leave a comment