How to Make a DIY Banquette Seating for Small Spaces

THE BEFORE PICTURE OF THE TABLE AND CHAIRS: This is what the table looked like when we inherited it way back in 2006. The chairs started to go and we had to bracket them so the back would stay attached. See below how we modified it and moved it to our three-season room.

I assemble the 3 ClosetMaid cubbies as per the boxes. Do not add the tape or the cushions yet. You will do that later.

I cover the MDF with brick style  peel and stick wallpaper. I used it because it matched the gray on the cubbies. You only need to cover the areas shown, like the back and the top part in the front near the cushions on the MDF and the ends of the cubbies. I also covered the sides of the storage bench to match the back.

Lay the front cubby on a clean surface so that the back is up. Then, place the finished outside MDF boards on top. Ensure that one side of the MDF is overhanging about 1 foot or the other cubby's depth. It should be lined up with the bottom too. If you have a thick carpet, raise the MDF a little so it does not crack when you move the bench. Then, using the screws with washers, screw around the edges of the top back and sides of the bench to adhere the MDF to the back of the seating. Do this with the other one too. The MDF should hangover to cover the depth of the other bench when you make the corner.

Here's another image below that shows where we placed the screws.

I had a third bench storage seating to give more seating on one side of the table. I did not add another MDF because not many people would be sitting on the last bench past the MDF board we used.

If you want to continue and add it to the third bench, just measure and cut it down to the remaining bench length. Then, and add a peel and stick wallpaper to it. And, then screw the MDF to the back of the last bench.

Tip: the more screws the better to keep the MDF from detaching from the bench, especially in the center when people sit on it.

I had a third bench storage seating to give more seating on one side of the table. I did not add another MDF because not many people would be sitting on the last bench past the MDF board we used.

Pick a corner of your favorite small room. Put the cubbies and attached MDF board and put in place. You will see that the two MDF boards will match up really close in the corner when it comes together.

NOTE: these benches are not as deep as a banquette seating premade. This helped us greatly in our small three-season room.

This is a close up of the two benches. The gap is hidden behind the pillows. If I wanted to take these benches apart and use them for something else, I can easily do that without too much damage to the benches.

Here's what it looks like after we added the two benches on one side and added the fabric bins.

Add the tape for the bench. Then add the cushions. They are removable and can be washed. I washed them a few times already, and they clean up great.

Here is the way the other bench looks up against the two benches.

We added the peel and stick wallpaper to the side of the bench to match the MDF board. And, I added these pillows.

Here's what it looks like with the chairs and table in place.