What is a bench: its purpose, types, materials for manufacturing

Banquette for the bedroom - 68 photos of the best ways to create a cozy arrangement

A banquette is usually called a small bench with a soft seat, which is used as an additional piece of furniture for the living room, bedroom and other rooms in the house.

By definition, a bench usually does not have a back, but there are exceptions.

The banquette appeared in the aristocratic houses of Western Europe quite a long time ago. Many researchers consider its predecessor to be the “kline” bench used in Ancient Greece.

Be that as it may, the banquette appeared in Russia about three hundred years ago. An item that was originally intended only for the rich, with the development of the furniture industry, became available to everyone.

As a universal product, the banquette is useful both for practical purposes and as a design element. It is selected for the bedroom, guided by the general concept of creating the interior of the room.

Bench-pouf

This model is also suitable for small bedrooms. A bench for a bedroom with a soft seat works perfectly as a pouf. A round or square seat can also hide a storage box. Poufs-banquets are placed both at the foot of the bed and at the dressing table.

The filling of modern poufs and banquettes for the bedroom is made of padding polyester, rubber, latex or foam rubber. The upholstery can be made of natural or synthetic fabrics.

Why do you need a banquette in the bedroom?

The versatility of such a piece of furniture as a banquette is undeniable. It can perform many functions precisely because it is small in size, easy to carry and use as you please.

Among other things, a banquette is:

an object on which you can sit, relax, unwind;
if there are niches and drawers - a device for storing household or personal items;
part of the interior that can play a significant role in the implementation of design ideas;
an object that takes up little space, it does not interfere, but can always be useful.

Manufacturers produce a wide range of banquettes, all of them differ in size, shape, materials used in production, and application.

Classic. A small soft bench (there is no backrest in this version), installed at the bottom of the bed. You can put something on it, place a tray of food, a laptop, or sit down.

The style should match the style of the bed.

With a backrest. Usually this is a classic piece of furniture, specially made for the bedroom. The presence of a backrest means that the bench can be installed against a wall or near a window.

With niches and drawers. The design of such a bench can be anything, the main thing here is functionality. The presence of places to store various household or personal items and bed linen is an important advantage for small spaces.

Bench pouffe. A small piece of furniture, without unnecessary parts (backrest, armrests), intended specifically for sitting. Typically, such banquettes are made round or square, comfortable for a person.

DIY bench

If there is no soft bench on sale that would fit perfectly into the existing interior of the room, then you can make this piece of furniture with your own hands. To make it we will need the following materials and tools:

screw-in legs from an old chair;
stain;
foam;
plywood;
hot gun;
leather for upholstery;
buttons;
stapler with staples;
scissors;
saw;
drill.

The banquette for the hallway will be made in the following sequence:

Preparing the legs. We clean each leg with sandpaper and cover it with stain.
We cut foam rubber and plywood. Choose the dimensions of the future banquette at your discretion, based on the fact that each person should have at least 50 cm of future seating. We lay the cut sheet of plywood on the foam rubber and cut it, leaving allowances of 2-3 cm on all sides.
Using a hot gun, glue the foam rubber to the plywood along the entire perimeter.
We mark on the plywood the places where the buttons will be located.
Using a drill, we drill holes at these points, making sure not to damage the foam.
We cut the upholstery to the size of the seat, leaving an allowance of 2-3 cm.
We sew all its parts together. We sew a special border along the edges over the seams.
We attach the edges of the trim from the bottom of the seat to the plywood using staples.
We sew on the buttons by first inserting the needle into the button and then threading the thread through the hole drilled in the plywood.
If desired, you can cover the back of the seat with fabric, although this step can be skipped to reduce the cost of the product.
We screw the legs to the seat, our banquette is ready.

Design and styles

Like the rest of the furniture, the banquette can be made in one of many styles. The main thing is that it harmoniously combines with the decor of the bedroom and does not fall out of the design concept. Each style of furniture has its own banquette.

The style is classic. For such a set of furniture, a banquette with upholstery fabric in muted tones is suitable. The legs should be made in the same style as the bed.

Provence. This style provides sophistication, expensive wood, rich upholstery and, most importantly, light, pastel colors.

This is a luxury item, the legs of which are turned by real craftsmen, and the upholstery is selected by a specialist who has a good sense of the Provence style.

Modern. A more modern banquette with freer shapes is suitable for this style. Forged legs and back, upholstery with images of flowers or leaves, eye-catching patterns - these are the features of a banquette for the Art Nouveau style.

Ecostyle. This is a style that has no clear restrictions, except for one thing: furniture design must resonate with nature. We are talking not only about the external similarity to something that was not created by man, but also about the use of simple, poorly processed materials.

Style restrictions are relative. All modern interiors are built not so much within the framework of some design direction, but rather within the framework of cooperation between the designer and the customer. Therefore, you can choose the one that you like best, which seems more practical and reliable.

Banquette design

It is very important that the banquette fits harmoniously into the interior design of any room. You can choose a classic model or an ultra-modern one, made in subdued colors or bright, which will be a color accent in the room. The main thing is that the designer banquette does not stand out from the overall design, but only emphasizes its style.

Classic bench

A comfortable bench with a soft seat and armrests (or without them) will be an excellent addition that will emphasize the solemn and luxurious atmosphere of the room. Classic-style banquettes for the hallway or bedroom, dining room or living room are distinguished by smooth lines, graceful legs and rich decor. Upholstery made of leather, velvet, velor can be designed in both calm light shades and noble dark tones.

Loft bench

Nowadays, the loft style, which is characterized by simplicity combined with sophistication, is becoming increasingly popular. This bench for the hallway is elegant, but without unnecessary curves and details. The finishing of loft benches is dominated by natural and artificial leather in monochrome shades. A simple rectangular sofa will be ideal for a loft-style kitchen, and in the living room a hard model can be used as a coffee table or coffee table.

Banquette minimalism

The modern minimalist style is characterized by thoughtful functionality, simplicity of design and a complete absence of luxury. A banquette with a seat in the hallway, living room or kitchen will be an excellent addition to the interior in a minimalist style. For a small room, the best option would be a compact model of a banquette with harmonious proportions, which will save space and decorate the room.

Art Deco banquette

A soft chair in a glamorous art deco style will be chosen by true aesthetes and lovers of modern works of art. Products made from expensive wood are designed to emphasize the luxury of the furnishings, designed in this highly artistic style. Beautiful and practical forged banquettes look massive, but are light, elegant and durable. They will harmonize perfectly with mirrors in the same frame, bookcases or wall shelves.

Banquette Provence

This sofa will be a great addition to a bedroom decorated in French Provence style. The upholstery of a soft bench can match the color of the bedspread on the bed or the curtains on the windows. Another original option could be a banquette with a soft seat for the hallway in this style. Its frame is made of openwork forged metal. Such a piece of furniture will emphasize the simplicity and, at the same time, airiness of the interior.

Banquette in Scandinavian style

The discreetly elegant and simple Scandinavian style allows you to use a variety of furniture elements in the interior, including banquettes. They often have light upholstery, and their frames are painted white or made of light wood. A banquette for a hallway, bedroom or living room should have legs, which will emphasize the airiness of the style.

Banquette for the bedroom: photo, review, selection tips, reviews

When choosing bedroom furniture, you must be guided by the principles of convenience, comfort and functionality. It is important that there is free space for movement. A bed must be installed in the room. The remaining items of the set are selected taking into account the needs and taste of the owners. Increasingly, a banquette takes pride of place in the bedroom, but sometimes the variety of designs baffles the average person. If you want to install this piece of furniture at home, then you need to familiarize yourself with the functions it performs, understand why the bench is needed, and choose the most suitable one for your needs.

What is a banquette for?

The first and most obvious use of these pieces of furniture is the purchase of a banquette for the hallway in Kirov. This solution allows you to put on your shoes with much greater comfort than standing. In addition, their small height distinguishes them favorably from ordinary chairs, if we talk specifically about solving this problem.

However, the hallway is far from the only place where banquettes can be used. There are several varieties of them, which one way or another can be used for other purposes.

Boudoir ones are designed for a more convenient location in front of the dressing table in the bedroom. Of course, outside of this time it is quite possible to sit on them.
Kitchen ones look like poufs, but they are noticeably more rigid. At the same time, they also have a compartment inside that can be used to store various utensils or household appliances.
Guests are usually accommodated in the living room. They allow, if necessary, to sit much more comfortably in front of the coffee table.

Thus, a banquette is a very versatile piece of furniture and can be useful in a huge number of situations.

Scope of application

The bedside banquette for the bedroom has a long history. Aristocratic young ladies used furniture in their rooms back in the Middle Ages. But its purpose was more limited to tying the corset by the maids, because on a small elevation it was much easier to do this.

A modern banquette can look completely different and combine a practical and decorative role. Furniture is most often used:

for folding clothes and bedspreads before going to bed;
as a place for reading;
a bench with a drawer is suitable for storing bedding and other home textiles;
as a pouf in front of the dressing table.

However, when choosing such a piece of furniture, you need to focus not only on compliance with the style, but also on the area of the room. Otherwise, the bedroom banquette furniture will turn from a functional and practical decor into an irritating element that interferes with free passage.

Details

Upholstery

Fabric is used for upholstery, and any textile that is used for a banquette is impregnated with special compounds. The most commonly used materials are cotton, velor, velvet, chenille and others. If there is no money for genuine leather, then you can use a leather substitute, which has a lower cost. It is used in budget, inexpensive options, which are usually made from chipboard. Leatherette is characterized by ease of maintenance, cleaning, and a short service life.

But the most expensive wooden or forged models are sheathed with genuine leather. They are characterized by easy maintenance, durability, beautiful appearance, wear resistance and practicality. There is also a large selection of textures and colors. Latex can be used as a filler (for premium furniture). It has a long service life, is safe and resistant to deformation. For budget options, gas-filled plastics are used, or no upholstery is used at all.

Sizes and shapes

The size of the banquettes can be single, double, triple and even four-seater. One place is approximately 0.6 meters per person. Banquettes for 1 and 2 seats are perfect for a dacha and at home, and for waiting rooms, schools, clinics, reception rooms, courts, kindergartens, banquettes for 3 and 4 seats are ideal. They are round, rectangular, triangular and square in shape.

Varieties

There are many types that differ in shape, configuration, size, material, methods of creation and purpose. A hallway bench with a shelf for shoes is a bench with 1 to 3 shelves at the bottom.

This option is suitable for small rooms and helps save space. The seat in such models can be simple, or it can be filled with filling and covered with fabric/leather for comfort and softness. Models of banquettes with folding shelves and seats, doors, and bedside tables are available. Material: MDF, wood, steel, metal, iron, etc.

Option with bench and backrest. These benches are comfortable due to the presence of back support. They create a pleasant and warm atmosphere that gives the room a homely and cozy look. There are banquettes with a back and a drawer, a bedside table, shelves and even a table.

Most often, the back and seat are upholstered for softness. With drawers - if you are a connoisseur of comfort, beautiful appearance and versatility, then this is your choice. Boxes are used to store shoes, documents, accessories, first aid kits and other things. Such furniture helps to significantly save space, and the main materials used are chipboard and wood.

There are pouffe cabinets, and depending on the need, they can play the role of both cabinets and banquettes. They are usually equipped with several drawers, but can also be used as a stand for a telephone, vase, or intercom.

Bedroom location

A banquette in the interior is usually used in the bedroom or hallway, as mentioned earlier. In the bedroom it is located in front of the bed or used as a bedside table. It can be placed near the dressing table instead of an ottoman, and its location near the mirror is also considered advantageous.

Differences in appearance

The furniture industry offers banquettes of completely different shapes, sizes and materials. Let's look at the main types and their purpose.

Banquette with drawer. It is an elongated pouf with a spacious drawer under the seat. You can put bed linen, towels and other necessary things in it. Recommended for use in a room where there is little space to install a cabinet. Usually the bench is upholstered in thick fabric or leather. A synthetic analogue can be used.

Banquettes for the bedroom in a classic style. This is traditional furniture that was used in aristocratic families. This modification is devoid of armrests and backrest and serves as a continuation of the bed. When choosing such a piece of furniture, you should focus on the height of the sleeping bed so that their size matches.

Banquettes-poufs. They resemble soft poufs, only with a more elongated shape. Often used near the dressing table.

Model with back. The furniture resembles a small sofa, which is distinguished by rich upholstery and additional elements in the form of monograms and curls, giving an aristocratic look. This bench is recommended for installation in a bedroom designed in baroque or antique style.

For a modern bedroom, devoid of extraneous elements, it is better to choose a simple option without decoration, carvings and unnecessary decorations. However, you should rely on your taste and needs.

Kinds

There are a huge variety of different shapes, sizes, configurations, materials, manufacturing methods and purposes.

Banquette in the hallway with a shelf for shoes. They come with a bench, with one, two or three shelves at the bottom. This option is suitable for small spaces and will help save space.

The seat can be either simple or stuffed with filler and covered with fabric or leather for softness and comfort. Models of banquettes with folding shelves and seats, cabinets, and doors are available. Material: wood, MDF, metal, steel, iron and others.

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Option in the form of a bench with a back. Comfortable and convenient due to the presence of back support. Creates a warm, pleasant atmosphere, giving the room a cozy, homely look. There are banquettes with a back and drawers, cabinets, shelves, tables. Often the seat and back are upholstered to add softness.

With boxes. If you love comfort, versatility and beautiful appearance, then this is your choice. Boxes are used to store shoes and accessories, documents, first aid kits and much more. Such furniture helps to save room space. The main material is wood and chipboard.

An ottoman cabinet can be either a banquette or a side table, depending on the need. Usually equipped with several drawers. Can be used as a stand for a vase, telephone, intercom.

How to choose a banquette

A bedside banquette for a bedroom must meet the owners’ requirements for functionality and appearance. It is important to pay attention to any minor details so that the furniture does not disappoint later.

First of all, it is worth assessing the quality of execution. The upholstery should be durable, with straight seams and no protruding threads. You need to take a close look at the materials used. If coarse fabric is stitched with thin threads, or delicate silk is stitched roughly, then it is better to refuse such furniture.

If the bench is planned for a permanent seat, then it is better to choose more practical and rougher materials. It is important that the upholstery is well attached to the base. For such purposes, it is recommended to consider leather (natural or artificial). If the piece of furniture will be used more for decorative purposes, then you can consider chiffon, velvet or fur with long pile.

The desired functionality is equally important. A bench for the bedroom can act as additional storage space. To do this, you should choose an option with a spacious drawer. Nowadays forged products are becoming fashionable, but this design is not recommended for the bedroom. Their best use is on the veranda or terrace.

Metal bench

In high-tech or loft-style bedrooms, banquettes made of metal profiles look good. Since the style involves minimalism, it is better to avoid excesses in the design of the banquette.

Such furniture is not suitable for storing things, but it can become a comfortable resting place if there is a soft seat. For metal models, models of banquettes without a back are more often used.

Selecting colors

In this matter, you need to focus on your own taste. However, it is recommended that the furniture matches the main color of the walls or accessories.

You can also play with contrast. Then the banquette should not match the chosen color scheme, but be a bright spot that will support another element of the interior.

For an adult bedroom, it is better to look for a banquette with a restrained color scheme. However, such an element will find its place in a children’s room, especially if it is a girl’s bedroom. In this case, you can choose a product in bright and life-affirming colors.

Choosing the right banquette

When choosing a bench, you should pay attention to a few points so that after a short use it does not become clear that it was made of poor quality.

The quality of the stitching of the upholstery material. The seams must be made carefully, without protruding threads, and also without using different seams - it must be of the same type throughout the entire product. The lack of proper quality will also be shown by the threads: if thick and coarse threads are used on thin material or thin threads on dense material, such a product will quickly become unusable.
Practicality. If you are looking for a pouf or banquette for frequent sitting, it is better to choose upholstery made from durable materials such as leatherette, leather or eco-leather. Materials such as velvet and fur are perfect for a decorative role, as they are easily soiled and not very practical.
Purpose. You should choose a bench for the place where you will use it. For example, a banquette with a shoe box is not very suitable for a bedroom; a Provence banquette or one made of wenge wood would fit much better there. A wrought-iron bench is more suitable for a terrace than for use in a living room or dining room.
Color selection. This item, of course, is selected individually according to the main colors of the walls, furniture and even lighting. However, it is worth remembering that a banquette can be a very bright and stylish accent that does not fit, for example, with its contrast, into the calm atmosphere of the living room - the banquette can be removed if desired, or you can cling to a positive point. Single-color (white, black) or restrained colors of banquettes are perfect for office or government institutions, cheerful and bright for schools and kindergartens, entertainment centers.

Brown and gray bedside bench

Black and white high banquette

Wooden banquette in the hallway

Convenience level

Quite often a banquette is purchased for the bedroom. Whether it will be convenient or not to use depends on the configuration of the furniture. Thus, some models are equipped with a small backrest, which undoubtedly adds convenience, but makes the furniture more voluminous. Therefore, it is better to sacrifice additional comfort and choose the classic version without a backrest if the bedroom is small. Otherwise, there will be a feeling of a pile-up of unnecessary objects, and when walking, the owners of the room will constantly trip over them.

It is equally important to decide the rationale for having storage boxes. In the store you can find a wide variety of models without them and with quite spacious ones. If there is enough storage space, and the banquette is purchased as an interior decoration, then drawers are not needed. If the housewife loves order and does not accept having things in the public domain, then an additional niche will come in handy.

Banquette size and shape

Having seen a photo of a banquette in a bedroom in a magazine, many apartment owners head to a furniture showroom to make a purchase. However, before you buy a bench for your bedroom, you need to decide on its size. It all depends on where you are going to put it. If it is a classic model without a backrest, then its height and width should correspond to the size of the bed; if the banquette will stand near a window or wall, you need to take into account the width of this space.

The height of the bench should correspond to your height. It will be uncomfortable to sit on furniture that is too low or high.

Consider how many people live in the bedroom. For a family bedroom where children also look in, it is better to choose a banquette with seating for two people. For a bedroom in which one person will rest, more compact furniture is suitable.

For a children's bedroom, choose furniture with a storage system, where you can hide toys at night. Banquettes for children's rooms are presented in classic designs or complemented with images of favorite cartoon characters.

Users' opinions

Of course, the main role in the bedroom is played by the bed. But, as reviews from the owners show, it is the banquette that becomes the finishing touch. It is often used by owners as a place for a seat, a bedside table (if there are drawers) or a hanger.

Models with additional internal space were especially appreciated by the owners of small apartments, where it is problematic to place an additional wardrobe. In such furniture you can store all your bedding and use it as a sofa. The bench is quite compact, takes up little space, but has sufficient functionality. Reviews indicate that her presence is conducive to relaxation and allows you to store necessary little things. The main thing is that it matches the size of the room, matches in style and does not interfere with free movement.

Banquette design

Initially, the banquette was a bench with high legs and a wide seat. There was no backrest for the bench; the seat could be soft or hard. Modern banquettes come not only in traditional shapes, but also with a back, with a storage system, or in the form of an ottoman. Sometimes designs can be mixed.

A banquette-sofa with a back can be supplemented with a shelf for slippers under the seat or a drawer, and inside a soft ottoman there can be a large drawer for storing things or bedding. Let's talk about each type in more detail.

Banquette minimalism

Banquette Provence

Banquette upholstery

The frames of such furniture accessories can be made of chipboard, wood, and metal. Upholstery materials are used that have a pleasant texture and a varied palette of colors:

Fabrics
– velor, tapestry, jacquard, chenille, flock. They must have a protective impregnation. The material can be used to decorate a bedside or guest banquette.
Leather
- such a natural material will keep you warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. This model is suitable for a living room or office.
Leatherette
– products made from artificial leather have a lower price compared to more expensive natural materials. A banquette with leatherette upholstery is often installed in the kitchen or hallway.

banquette upholstery

Banquettes in the interior: comfortable and modern

A bench is a small soft seat without a back. This piece of furniture got its name from the word banquet - a gala dinner or lunch, when guests spend almost the entire evening sitting. The bench allows you to sit not just one person, but several, if its size allows it. In a modern interior, banquettes play the role of seats that are used every day, and if necessary, they can be easily moved.