How to Build a Banquette

Measure out your area. Once you decide on a space, use a tape measure from the back of the wall to the front of the seating surface, and then measure from the same wall to the end point of the base of the banquette to determine the length. Mark it off with tape on the floor and the wall. If your seating surface will overlap your base, make sure you measure the exact width of the seating surface.

Attach braces. Use corner braces on the back corners of the banquette for a solid attachment to the wall. Measure and cut two lengths of 2-by-4 plywood for the length and width of the bottom of the base. Now drill starter holes along the wall for studs deep enough for 5 inch or longer wood screws. Make sure you have enough holes to securely fasten your braces to the wall. Drill through the 2-by-4s for starter holes and attach two braces, top and bottom, for the length, and two each for the width of your banquette.

Construct your frame. A basic frame can be made by nailing a 2-by-4 along the front length of the base, and attaching a second coming out from the wall at the end of the base. Both of these will attach to the braces you have already secured. Depending on the length of your seating, attach 2-by-4s vertically along the front, the same height as the brace on the back wall. This is the structure that will hold the front and seating panels.

Fasten front and seating panel. Using wood screws or nails, attach the front paneling of the banquette to the 2-by-4s along the front, and also on the side if your banquette is not flush against the wall. Nail your seating board to the top, affixing the back to the braces along the back and sides, and the tops of the 2-by-4s in the front. Now that you have a basic banquette and you can choose to add molding along the edges for a more finished look.