*This* Will Be the No. 1 Kitchen Reno Trend for 2019

We swoon for the cozy, custom vibes of a banquette built into a window well. For this intimate configuration, Jessica McClenden of Glamour Nest recommends tables with pedestal bases because “they make the space visually cleaner while allowing for easy ins and outs.”

As seen in this polished space by Abbe Fenimore of Studio Ten 25, adding a banquette in the same hue as your cabinets can visually extend the lines of your kitchen. (Bonus: You gotta love that seamless prep-to-entertaining flow.)

Open concept floor plan? Adding a banquette in a corner is a great way to unify the room. In this cozy Santa Barbara cottage designed by Taylor Anne Interiors, a lounge-adjacent nook serves as both dining and work space. Double win.

With their cuddled up footprint, banquettes offer a great dining solution for small or otherwise awkward crannies. Example A: This snug, sophisticated dining nook by Mia Jung of Ike Kligerman Barkley.

Another pro in the banquettes > chairs debate? You can add storage drawers beneath it. (We mean, who doesn’t want more storage space?) The design team at Studio Gild recommends adding color and texture via pillows and upholstery for a feature that reads both functional and super chic.

Banquette nooks aren’t limited to dining configurations either. We love this inventive kitchen-to-coffee table setup by Tom Stringer, which looks absolutely ideal for a cocktail party.

White walls + backless benches = serenity. Designer Uma Stewart swears by the banquette setup for its ability to visually cleanse and simplify a room: “Chairs can seem busy but a banquette creates a strong visual impact by consolidating seating and working with the horizontal lines of a table,” she says.

With a built-in window seat, you have the option of totally tailoring size and scale to fit your space. At the end of this Studio Life.Style kitchen, a wall-length banquette makes a dramatic (and comfy) statement.

One of the best parts about a banquette? They hold more tushes than single chairs. Just imagine how many guests could cozy up for a dinner party in this fabulous space by Vanessa Alexander. One note: “A custom bench is a must to get the scale just right!” she insists.

Love the idea of a banquette nook placed right in the action of the kitchen? Swap a traditional island for a cozy dining area instead—à la this genius layout by designer Anne Hepfer.

If you have a clunky pony wall (aka half wall) on your hands, make lemons with that funky lemonade—and turn the walls into bench backs. Then simply add a great pendant lamp to highlight the space, as designer Elena Frampton from Frampton Co did here.