Booth and Banquette Seating

Banquette, booth and bench seating are the terms often used interchangeably for a specific type of seat system. They all mark modular or/and custom-built pieces of furniture that can be designed and arranged in a multitude of ways. There are, however, some fundamental differences between them: 

• Banquette seating: A long run of upholstered, modular seating units, usually built in a wall.
• Boot seating: Two or more modular seating units arranged to create an intimate dining area with a table in the middle.
• Bench: One or more modular seating units arranged in a straight or curved row to resemble a long sofa.

Banquette seating is a space-savvy solution with a distinctive appeal. Booths are a good and popular seating choice for cafes. They provide customers with a quiet and comfortable space to enjoy coffee or a meal and have a conversation or do some work.

• Restaurant banquette seating helps establish efficient layouts, eliminating the need for servers to walk around the whole table. By releasing more floor space for foot traffic, it also secures minimum disruption to service. 
• Banquette seating can stretch along the entire length of the wall, making a perfect option for crowded dining spaces. A horseshoe, round or U-shape dining booth can easily cater to larger groups and families, maximising both seating and table space.
• Booth chairs provide flexibility of use and can be arranged in a number of ways, both as a booth or banquette seating. Different setups help divide a room or create versatile dining zones. 
• Banquette seating can be custom-built for a particular layout, with added custom features such as bench storage, shelves, bookcases and similar, to enhance the functionality and aesthetic value of the environment. Furthermore, the design can be simple and practical or lush and luxurious. 
• Booth seating offers customers more privacy.

The classic, clean-lined design is ideal for blending in with different decors. It typically features one chase of colour on the seat and back, without additional embellishments. It’s a cost-effective solution easy to maintain and refresh. 

Button-tufted design is a timeless classic, with float button, deep button, or square stitched button back. Its sumptuous, comfortable aesthetics is a good option for luxurious restaurants and other upscale venues. Button back adds texture and tactile quality to the design, while breaking up the straight lines of a banquette enhances visual dynamics. 

The channel back booth chairs can come with three, six or twelve vertical channels, boasting a modern look fit for minimalist interiors. 

Fan back seats are suitable for central positions, due to their attractively curved back which makes a good focal point, 

Characterised by a “V” section in the back, accentuated with different upholstery, these booths provide a classic diner appeal. 

The back of these booth seats can come in a three, six, or twelve horizontal channel design to add rustic flair to the environment. 

Backless booth bench seating provides additional seating space while enhancing the visual dynamics of the arrangement. 

• Settee-style boxes can feature padded or unpadded arms to provide more intimate, enclosed vibes to banquette seating. 
• A solid panel arm serves to form a barrier between adjacent booths and/or neatly end a run of a linear banquette. It’s typically made of wood, in various finishes. 

Booth seating is rarely upholstered all the way to the bottom, to avoid damaging the lower section by maintenance. Plinths make a popular solution to raise the covered edge from the floor, avoid dust accumulating, and achieve a unified, tidy appeal. 

Legs provide a lighter, more open feel than plinths, including turned, square and tapering styles in a variety of finishes.

Upholstery is one of the essential features of banquette seating, as it can upscale or downgrade the appeal of the whole setting. Plain, long runs of fabric can sometimes appeal dull and lifeless so, unless the venue’s style is utterly minimalist, it’s good to consider more dimensions. Buttoned backs, two-toned fabrics, fluted or piped upholstery can enhance the tactile quality and visual interest of the interior. 

Restaurant environments unavoidably experience food and drink spoils, so it’s good to choose upholstery material that is easy to clean and maintain, such as faux leather and engineered textile fabrics.

Unless creating a linear banquette seating raw fixed to the wall, it’s good to know how many persons each booth can receive. 

• A single booth comprises one booth bench that can host up to two persons sitting side by side.  
• The double booth takes up to four people, two of each back-to-back.
• A half-circle booth can accommodate up to four people around one restaurant table.
• A standard three-quarter-circle booth can seat six people.
• Wall benches are available in various lengths, and the number of persons they can host is limited by the floor space. They can be combines with other features such as various restaurant chairs and short barstools. 

Installation is important, and the banquette seating is only as good as the fitting quality when it is installed. It’s advised to employ highly trained professional joiners and use only commercial-grade features.

If you need assistance to find the right booth and banquette seating for your home or office, ArchiPro provides a connection to the various professionals, ready to assist with all requirements and questions. Simply click "Contact supplier" on the product's page, or visit the supplier's website directly from the product's page.