When I think about bedroom seating, my mind goes straight to the usual suspects – an ottoman at the foot of the bed, maybe a pair of pretty accent chairs if you have the space. But clearly, I haven't been thinking outside the box enough.
So when I spotted how Shea McGee styled this dreamy yet rustic bedroom with rather unexpected banquette seating tucked into the corner, it completely shifted how I think about bedroom seating possibilities.
The best part is, a banquette in the bedroom isn’t just pretty, it’s also incredibly functional. It's chic, it's cozy, and it's totally perfect for sitting down with your morning coffee. Here's why I'm so sold.
'Who says bedroom seating has to be predictable?' asks Shea in the caption shared to Instagram this week. 'We swapped the usual bench for vintage chairs and added a cozy linen banquette in the corner. It’s giving charm, texture, and all the comfy vibes.'
Those stylish armchairs aside, it was the banquette seat that caught my eye from this Utah-based Studio McGee project. Long associated with dining or kitchen seating to create a stylish and comfortable breakfast nook, but in a bedroom, they take on a totally new personality.
Adding a banquette as an alternative to traditional bedroom furniture makes the space feel more curated and versatile, as though you’ve created a private little retreat within the space.
Plus, it helps to zone your bedroom layout in a much more practical way – providing a spot for lounging, reading, or even working from your own tucked-away, comfy corner.
If you’re tempted to try this look, styling really makes the difference.
You want to treat it like you would your bed, and style it up with comfortable throw pillows and blankets that speak to the existing color scheme to make your bedroom banquette feel like a natural extension of the room, rather than an afterthought.
While typically in a dining nook, a banquette might be styled with a dining table and laid for hosting, instead, Shea has paired this relaxed linen seat with a low-profile stone table and floor lamp to create a much more inviting ambiance, reminiscent of a reading nook.
Placement matters, too. Of course, a free corner is ideal for a real cozy feel, but under a window can be just as charming.
This chic, antique-style settee has been designed by Shea with oatmeal and ivory striped upholstery and finished with a playful fringe trim to create a real statement.
Of course, this is a design idea that requires a relatively large bedroom footprint to not only fit the banquette but also create that sense of luxury.
And for the most cohesive look, a custom design like the one created by Studio McGee is going to tuck seamlessly into your intended space and can even be designed to match with your headboard or drapes for a pattern drenching moment.
In a small bedroom, however, you could try to achieve a similar vibe with an armless settee in an unused corner or even at the foot of the bed, styled with a tiny table and a table lamp.
Shop ready-made banquette seats
Below, I've hunted down a few off-the-shelf banquette and bench settees that bring the same charm and comfort as Shea's design. Whether you're looking to fill a sunny corner, beneath a window nook, or simply looking for an alternative to an ottoman, these bedroom seat options are some of the chicest around.
With its relaxed skirted slipcover and block print floral print, this settee brings effortless charm to a bedroom. It’s the perfect mix of tailored and cozy, and comes made-to-order in a variety of patterns and colors to choose from.
For a sleeker design, this down-filled bench can be bought in a multitude of configurations for a full corner fit-out or a simple armless bench, all covered in a removable performance fabric cover, making it a super versatile choice.
This slipcovered Target dining bench is styled and versatile enough to be used throughout your home if you get creative. It's been made with comfort in mind, and is also available in a dozen vintage-inspired prints.
I never would have thought to add a banquette to a bedroom, but now I can’t stop imagining all the cozy possibilities for my empty bedroom corner. It’s proof that sometimes the most unexpected choices are the ones that make a home feel truly unique. As Shea McGee showed so beautifully, a simple swap can transform an unused space into the kind of spot you’ll want to retreat to every day.
