How to Build a Corner Banquette

Use a pry bar and screwdriver to remove the baseboard and any outlet covers on the walls where you want to position an L-shaped banquette.

Measure your long wall length. Subtract 12 inches and make sure the remaining length divides evenly by 3 inches. This is so that you can use a standard-width cabinet later. Reduce your long wall length measurement so that it meets your requirement. Use your adjusted length and cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch board with a table saw. Measure the depth of your upper cabinet base, subtract 5 inches from your length and cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch board with a table saw..

Stand the two long boards on their 2-inch length, parallel to each other with the ends lined up. Stand the two short boards in the same way, and insert a short board between the long boards at each end. Align the corners. Nail through the side of the long board into the ends of the short board with two nails on each end. Repeat for the remaining three corners. Place this frame in the corner against the wall.

Measure your short wall length from the outside facing edge of your built frame. Make sure your length divides evenly by 3. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch board to this measurement with a table saw. Measure the depth of your upper cabinet base and subtract 5 inches. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch board to this length. Make a second frame the same way you made the first frame. Position the second frame against the face of the first frame, against the wall. Nail the two frames together where they touch with a nail every 6 inches. You should have an L-shaped corner frame.

Measure the length of your banquette from the inside frame corner to the long side corner. This is the upper cabinet width for your long section. Cabinets are sold in 3-inch width increments. Measure the length of the banquette from the inside frame corner to the short side corner. This is the upper cabinet width for your short side. Order and assemble your cabinets to fit.

Position your long cabinet over the long frame so that it is even with the outside edge and the inside corner. Position your short cabinet over the shorter end of the frame so that it is even with the outside edge and the inside corner. Butt the corners tight. Attach corner brackets from inside the corner cavity to attach the two cabinets together. Use screws through the L-brackets.

Move a stud finder along the walls where the cabinets will mount. Draw vertical level lines at the location of each stud. Screw the cabinets to the wall using long wood screws and a screwdriver. Use your stud lines to guide your screw placement. Use two screws for each stud.

Measure the top of the banquette. Transfer your measurements to three-quarter-inch plywood. Add one inch to the plywood where it will overhang the front of the cabinets. Cut out a plywood top for the banquette. Position the plywood over the cabinets. Screw the plywood to the cabinets from inside the cabinets. Use short screws that will not penetrate the plywood and screw through the corner braces of the cabinets. Use one screw for each cabinet corner.

Router the edge of the plywood and sand it smooth with an orbital sander. Measure, cut and nail a kick plate cover over the boards under the cabinet.