Dining Room Seating – I’ve been eyeing the choices for dining room seating as I plan for our next house. As I’ve mentioned previously, we’re fighting against the tide to keep this home’s footprint small. (It’s crazy how these things grow on their own!) That means I’m looking for ways to save space in our casual dining area.

Built-in banquette seems like a good option, because it is streamlined, easy on the eye, and cozy at the same time. Can’t beat that combination!

Built-in Banquettes

Just like the banquettes in all these spaces, we’ll have a bank of windows behind the table, so I’m looking at photos with big, pretty windows behind the seating.

Love the cushions and pillows on this one! And of course, I’m gaga over those beautiful black steel windows as the backdrop.

Love this blue and white combination. But I’m struck by how uncomfortable it would be for the people sitting there against those windows – where do they lean? Against the cold glass? Not conducive to enjoying a meal and a nice long conversation.

Ahh. This is a little better. This one has nice back support which means even the people against the windows will be comfortable.

Love how custom this looks with that trim detail, which you could, of course, tie into the trim details in the rest of the home.

Upholstered Settees

OR, I could go with a long upholstered settee against the window wall to achieve a similar look.

I’m loving how these look as well – they’re comfortable and stylish, plus they have the added benefit of keeping things a little more flexible.

And, it seems like a settee might be a little more comfortable, too. (No leaning against the glass…)

It would be important to check out the seating height of the settee you plan on using, though, to make sure that it’s a comfortable height for eating at the table.

And, it would need to either be leather, vinyl, or a slipcovered piece that could be washed as needed.

So – lots to think about when making this choice…

What do you think? Would you consider using a built-in banquette or an upholstered settee for your dining room seating?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!