L Shaped Dining Bench With Storage ~ Elkins Top Interior

L Shaped Dining Bench With Storage

Since sharing that I used an IKEA bookcase to make banquette seating in my sister's kitchen, I've gotten SO many requests to make a tutorial. This is it! What I love about this project is that you can take something super affordable and use it in a new way that looks custom and expensive and is super functional. Ready for the IKEA hack banquette seating?!

how to IKEA hack banquette seating

Let's start with the video tutorial so you get an overview on what I did. Then, I'll dive in with more details below:

If the video doesn't work here, you can watch it on YouTube here. P.s. I'm trying to build that page up, so if you'd subscribe, I'd really appreciate that!

UPDATE- I made a more detailed video that will hopefully also be helpful!

SUPPLIES

2 Kallax Bookcase $49 each
2 Piano Hinges $12 each
1/2″ Plywood cut to 16 1/2″ x 57 7/8″ (for one bench). $45. Or 1/2″ MDF would also work nicely (and save some money)
Baseboard trim that matches the rest of the room
Caulk
White Paint

tools

Brad Nailer
Nails for the Brad Nailer
Table Saw
Miter Saw
Drill

I estimate that I spent $270 in supplies to make this L shaped bench. I had some things on hand (like the screws and paint) and already owned all the tools.

step 1

Start by building the Kallax Bookcases and lay them horizontally on their backs. You could also lay them on their sides so the storage is in the font. We liked the idea of having hidden storage.

These are a little over 16″ high which is perfect for dining seating! Especially when a cushion is added to the top.

bright yellow wall with blinds over the windows. A white IKEA bookcase is laid on it's side against the wall. There are two bookcases set in the shape of an L. The floor has construction paper over it. The wall is beat up. The room is under construction.

For this project, we're using two of the IKEA bookcases and arranging them in the shape of an L since this whole area will be for dining. Later I'll show you how we'll deal with the blank space in the corner.

obstacles

At this point, there may be two issues you'll have to deal with. First off, if there's an outlet where the bench is going, the bookcase will need to be notched out. I how how to deal with an outlet where the banquette seating will go here.

what if you have a heater vent on the floor where you want the bench? If you're fancy, you can extend the duct and put the vent in front of the bench. See this blog post for a tutorial. I had this issue in my last house and the solution I found was to use an open bottom bench so the heat still comes out the base.

By using the bookcases for the base it saves SO much time! Sure, you could buy wood and build your own base, but this saves money too (thick wood would cost as much or more than the bookcase).

Bonus, using a ready to go bookcase also makes it an easier project so that even a novice DIYer can build this too.

step 2

Next, I used the anti-tip brackets that Ikea includes with the bench to secure the bench to the wall. I used long screws to anchor the bench to the wall with the bracket. I didn't attach the bench to the floor, but you can if you'd like.

After that, add the piano hinges to the bookcase. These are what will hold on the wood top and make it so it can open and close for hidden storage.

Mark the center of the bookcase and then line up the middle of the hinge onto the mark. Use the screws that came with the hinge to attach the piano hinge to the bookcase.

Cut wood and attach it to the top. 1/2″ MDF was used for this project. I think the MDF was a little too heavy for this project and prefer to use plywood since it weighs less and looks better.

Cut one piece to exactly fit on top of the bookcase (16 1/2″ x 57 7/8″). The second piece was cut approximately 12″ longer so the corner is covered as well.I needed to cut a longer piece since I'm doing an L shaped bench.

This measurement is based on the room, so make sure to measure and cut it to fit your space.

Use a drill to attach the wood to the piano hinge.

Paint the top and the side of the wood white to match the base. This way, when you open the bench there's a nicely painted surface. It's one more way to make the bench look professional!

step 3

And now, if you're doing an L shaped bench, add two support brackets to the corner. We did this by drilling pieces of a 2×4 into the wall. They're installed at the same height as the bench. That way, when the wood closes, it supports the lid and someone can sit in the corner.

step 4

Finally, add in baseboard that trim out the wall and the base of the banquette seating. This'll help it look (and actually be) a built in bench.

Last, use caulk to fill in any gaps along the back of the bench and on the baseboards.

Once the caulk is dry, paint the baseboards white to match the bench. We used the same white as the rest of the trim in the room.

Note, do you want a printable version of this tutorial? Scroll to the bottom of the post to access one!

after

You probably saw the big reveal of the kitchen, but if not, how great did the banquette seating turn out?! It looks so beautiful in front of that blue and white wallpaper. You can order it through that link (though it ships from England).

For some similar looking wallpapers, I rounded up a bunch here.

I love how high end it looks while just being IKEA bookcases! Plus all of the storage is super nice too! I love that bench or banquette seating saves so much room. By having the bench right against the wall and built in, it means that the kitchen could be extended for more cabinet space.

faq

How to make this rental friendly? If this was for a rental, I'd skip the step of adding baseboards and push it as close to the wall as possible. I think it'd still look and work great!

How much weight can this hold? I estimate that this can hold up to 300-400 lbs easily. My husband & I sit on it together (we probably weigh 300 together) and it's still super sturdy. I've stood on it s I've done construction in here. Of course, I can't guarantee that a DIY will support a certain amount of weight, but wanted to add my thoughts since I get that question a lot.

bench cushion

We added custom made cushions covered in this P Kauffman Buffalo Check fabric in Lagoon.

If you're wanting to buy a cushion from a store, I found some that should work nicely. Some of these you can buy in a 57″x16″ size which should be perfect. Other of these cushions come in a 60″x19″ size. If you go with the bigger cushion, I'd suggest buying the cushion first and see if you like how it fits over the Kalax bookcase.

1 green / 2 oatmeal / 3 gray with contrast welt / 4 ivory / 5 blue tufted / 6 ivory tufted square (you'd need three of these per bench) / 7 polka dot bench cushion

You can also click on these images to shop for bench cushions that'll fit this IKEA hack-

dining table

If you love this dining table (I do too), I'm sorry to say that it's a family antique. You can see how I refinished it here (it used to be painted). But there's lots of similar tables available to purchase online!

1. rounded pedestal table. I think this one is the most similar to the table / 2. scroll / 3. angled / 4. white base / 5. simple rounded / 6. stacked / 7. rounded supports / 8. brown grey traditional

What do you think about this Ikea bench seating hack? Easy enough, right?!

**Update**- I've gotten lots of in-depth questions about this tutorial. So I added bench seating in my house. Have questions? I probably answer them here! Plus, you can see how the banquette seating looks with one bookcase.

printable tutorial

Prep Time 20 minutes

Active Time 5 hours

Total Time 5 hours 20 minutes

Difficulty Medium

Instructions

Step 1- build and put the bookcases in place

Start by building the Kallax Bookcases and lay them horizontally on their backs.

These are a little over 16″ high which is perfect for dining seating! Especially when a cushion is added to the top.

For this project, we're using two of the IKEA bookcases and arranging them in the shape of an L

Next, I used the anti-tip brackets that Ikea includes with the bench to secure the bench to the wall.

Step 2- put the tops on the benches

To attach the pinao hinges, mark the center of the bookcase and then line up the middle of the hinge onto the mark. Use the screws that came with the hinge to attach the piano hinge to the bookcase.

Cut wood and attach it to the top. Cut one piece to exactly fit on top of the bookcase (16 1/2″ x 57 7/8″). The second piece was cut approximately 12″ longer so the corner of the L shaped bench is covered as well.

This measurement is based on the room, so make sure to measure and cut it to fit your space.

Then use a drill and the rest of the piano hinge screws to attach the wood to the bookcase base.

Paint the top and the side of the wood top white to match the base.

Step 3- build a support for the corner of the L shaped bench

And now, if you're doing an L shaped bench, add two support brackets to the corner.

We did this by drilling pieces of a 2×4 into the wall. They're installed at the same height as the bench. That way, when the top closes, it supports the lid and someone can sit in the corner.

Step 4- finishing touches

Finally, add in baseboard that trim out the wall and the base of the banquette seating. This'll help it look (and actually be) a built in bench.

Use caulk to fill in any gaps along the back of the bench and on the baseboards.

Once the caulk is dry, paint the baseboards white to match the bench. We used the same white as the rest of the trim in the room.