Your kitchen should be one of the comfiest places in your home, and it often becomes a hangout space for your friends and family. Building a cozy breakfast nook is one of the best ways to make your kitchen a welcoming space. If you want a few tips on how to do that, have a look at this article to see a guide to adding the perfect breakfast nook to your kitchen.
What is a breakfast nook?
A breakfast nook is an area of your home that is smaller than a dining room but large enough to eat a meal. It can be anywhere in the home but the most popular spots are near the kitchen or outside. Have a look at a step-by-step guide to figuring out the right breakfast nook for your space.
1) Figure out your space
Breakfast nooks are often done in corners, so you can take advantage of both sides of the walls. If you have multiple areas, then try and look for a space that is facing the incoming morning light, as this will likely be the time in the day the nook is used the most. This is one of the best ways to give yourself a natural wake-up, and it’s also a great way to save on energy costs.
Once you have figured out the perfect area, then it is time to start making some plans. There are so many different options for seating, and it all depends on whether you are looking to make your breakfast nook a permanent thing or something you can move around. If you are planning on buying some furniture, make sure you measure the area you are putting it in before you go shopping so you can make sure the furniture isn’t too large or small for the area.
2) Make a plan
Once you have established the area you are looking to place your breakfast, nook, it’s time to start planning it. There are so many different ways you can make your nook look cozy and welcoming. Let’s take a look at a few different options so you can see the best way to get started.
Bench Seat Style
If you want to build something permanent, then you should look into what it takes to DIY it. There are plenty of great tutorials online that give you step-by-step instructions, along with building supply lists so you can attempt them yourself. There is plenty of breakfast look inspiration online so try Pinterest if you are looking for some other styles to try.
For those who want to create a space like this but prefer something a little easier, try and find some furniture that can do some of the jobs for you. Benches with flattened backs are perfect for corners, and they can be found at many furniture stores. You can also look into using some shelves as the base so you can store items underneath.
Bistro Style
If you are short on space, then you might want to think about creating a small nook that is made for fewer people. You can use a small table and chair set to make the space seem warm and intimate, or you can cut down the chairs and go with two for a clever couple table.
By adding some small touches like a centerpiece or some wall art, you can create a scene that gives off the same vibes as a breakfast nook but in a less traditional way. Make sure your table isn’t too large, or it will start to look like you’re just stuffing in an extra dining room. Bistro-style furniture should be small but not undersized, so find a set that is comfortable for everyone.
Bar Style
A breakfast nook doesn’t always have to be in the corner, and many people have started to use their countertops as a bar for eating and drinking in the mornings. Some homes have been designed with a lip that goes over one side to create a ledge, and this is a great spot to add some stools and create a morning space.
Make sure that the stools are the correct height for sitting and tucking underneath the counters so that you aren’t running into them all of the time. You can also create a removable “breakfast zone” using a Lazy Susan. This way, you can keep all of the breakfast necessities (coffee/tea add-ins, breakfast condiments, napkins, etc.) in a removable place so you can transform the counter back into its regular self when breakfast is done.
Combo Style
Another great option combines Bistro and Bench Seat style into a combination that includes both chairs and bench seats. These are perfect for larger families who need more space than a traditional bench seat provides, and they can be done in so many clever ways.
If you don’t want the chairs to be out and about all of the time, look for seats that can be easily slid under the table when they aren’t being used. You can go a step further and look for some comfortable folding chairs that can be hidden underneath the bench seats when they aren’t being used so you can keep the room nice and tidy.
Booth Style
Most booth style layout features bench seats on both sides, but others have an extra bench seat that’s located on one side of the table to form a U shape with the seating. This is definitely the best choice for anyone who has a small family that prefers to eat their breakfast together.
These require quite a bit of space, and they usually need to be planned out before they are built, but you can often transform an area near the kitchen to be a great breakfast nook. These are so cute for family homes, and they can become a big selling point for your home.
3) Figure Out the Design Theme
Now that you have your seating picked out look at going with a style theme that ties your breakfast nook in with the rest of the room. Let’s look at a few ways you can adjust your breakfast nook to match the existing kitchen decor.
Fabric Choices
Choosing a fabric that goes along with your kitchen is a great way to make the room flow. If you don’t have any existing fabric to go off of, look at the colours of the room to figure out the best choice when it comes to texture and colour.
If you have a rustic theme, then you can look for something like a light plaid in cotton fabric, but if you have a more modern kitchen, you can get away with something sleek like faux leather. The possibilities are endless, but you should try and stick to a fabric that is easy to clean so you can make sure any mealtime messes don’t get too far.
Material Choice
You should also choose a material for your breakfast nook based on the aesthetic of your kitchen. If you’re going with metal, try and match the existing hardware to keep it cohesive. If you choose to use wood, then you can either repaint it to go along with the same colours or leave it as is if you already have some areas in the kitchen that have exposed wood accents.
Accents
Sometimes you can create the illusion of a breakfast nook by adding some bright accents to the area to make it seem like a different space. You can think about painting the walls around the breakfast nook a striking accent colour to give it a bit of definition. This is a fantastic way to make the space look fun and inviting.
You should also look at adding some decor to the area to create a cohesive look. You can use the corner to add a high shelf for some plants or place some artwork along the walls to give the space some personality. You can also look at the table and think about adding a nice-looking centerpiece that will bring the whole area together.
Function
If you choose a bench or booth-style seat for your breakfast nook, consider using the seats as storage. You can find many different ottoman-style benches that you can pair with a headboard to create a fun and functional area. This is a great place to store things for the kitchen that aren’t used often (like that old fondue set!).
A breakfast nook is one of the best ways to create a usable space, and it can be an easy thing to DIY if you have the time, money and skills. If you don’t, you can always contact a local contractor or interior designer to come to help you figure out the best way to add a fun nook to your kitchen. These can be great places for families to bond and communicate together, and you will love having a great place to enjoy your breakfast.
There are so many ways you can make your breakfast nook look exciting and welcoming for everyone. It’s a great way to create a cozy space for your friends or family in your home. Breakfast nooks have become so popular over the last few years, and many people have started to see them as major selling points in their homes, so it’s a good idea to create one in your space.
