Tips for Creating the Perfect Breakfast Nook

It’s always important to start your day out on the right foot. And for many of us, that involves having a hot cup of coffee to wake us up in the morning. Instead of drinking your coffee on the go, imagine taking the time to drink your cup of coffee while sitting in a comfortable breakfast nook situated in the corner of your kitchen. That same space then transitions into a workstation for your children as they finish up their homework after school, and shortly after becomes the area where your family sits down to enjoy a meal together. When designed well, a breakfast nook can add a functional area to your existing kitchen.

However, creating a breakfast nook isn’t as simple as purchasing a table and set of chairs. To make the design process a bit easier, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite kitchen nook ideas that will allow you to create the perfect breakfast nook no matter the kitchen shape or size. Here are a few different design elements to consider.

Utilize a Corner

There are a variety of styles of breakfast nooks, but the classic style (and our favorite!) uses the corner of your kitchen to create a comfortable seating area for your family. Using the 90° angle of the walls to your benefit helps create a more comforting environment that is still enclosed while also being part of the surrounding kitchen. You can elevate your corner breakfast nook by adding a window to the area, allowing natural light to flood in and illuminate the space. A major advantage of a corner breakfast nook is that you can customize it to your liking, introducing a mix of bench seating and chair, only chairs, a round table, or a square table — whatever your vision, you can make it happen in a corner breakfast nook!

Complement the Kitchen

Although you want your breakfast nook to be seen as a separate space in your home, you should also want it to blend in with the existing space. If the overall theme and colors conflict with your kitchen, it’s going to make the vibe of the area feel extremely jumbled and disorganized. Tie in colors and shapes that complement your existing kitchen and kitchen bar so the areas flow together beautifully. If you have a kitchen boasting white cabinets and black hardware, you may want to install a white table and chairs with black accents, such as your statement light fixture. Does your kitchen incorporate archways or does it have a more linear design? Use the existing architecture to help narrow down the ideal table shape that will complement your kitchen.

Comfort Is Key

One of the most enticing reasons for installing a breakfast nook is for the added comfort it provides. Sure, it creates additional seating for your family. However, it also creates a warm and inviting space where you can enjoy your early morning cup of coffee or your children can eat an afternoon snack while completing their homework. Add an assortment of cushions and pillows to your breakfast nook, ensuring that anyone who sits there will be comfortable (and never want to get up from the table!). Not only do they add an extra level of comfort, but they can help tie the entire home together by incorporating different textures, colors, and fabrics used in other rooms. Keep in mind that these cushions and pillows will reside in the kitchen so you will want to invest in options that have stain-resistant fabrics and can withstand any mess you throw their way!

Pick a Statement Light Fixture

Even if your breakfast nook gets a lot of natural light from a nearby window, you’ll want to incorporate lighting that will illuminate the area no matter the time of the day. But your light fixture’s purpose isn’t only to provide lighting to the space, it also plays an important role in denoting the breakfast nook as separate from the rest of the space. Look for a light fixture that matches the vibe of your kitchen but stands out and creates a statement of its own. You can play with funky shapes, varying sizes, or a variety of other factors to make the space your own. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you don’t want to overdo it with the size and the light fixture should run about 3/4 the width of your table.

Find Ways to Include Storage

The longer you’re in your home, the more random things we seem to accumulate over time — and that seems to happen a lot quicker in the kitchen! If you always seem to be running out of storage space in the kitchen, you may be skeptical about installing a breakfast nook that takes up some of the much-needed square footage. However, just because you’re adding a breakfast nook doesn’t mean you need to give up storage space. You may be able to double or triple your storage space if you are strategic about it! When designing your breakfast nook, consider the different ways you can create additional storage. Whether you add eye-catching shelving on the wall above the nook or use the bench seating to hold less-used kitchen items such as linens, cookware, or small appliances, the options are endless.

Use Your Kitchen Island

Just because a kitchen corner is the most common area for a breakfast nook doesn’t mean that’s where you need to install it! If you don’t have a corner available in your kitchen, you may want to consider building the breakfast nook off of your island. This allows you to maximize your space — maintaining a workstation to prepare food that seamlessly transitions into a kitchen table for your friends and family to enjoy a home-cooked meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big should a kitchen nook be?

The size of your kitchen nook will depend on the square footage you have to work within your existing kitchen. In most cases, a small breakfast nook for 2 to 4 people should at least have an area of 4 by 4 feet.

Does my breakfast nook need to be in a corner?

No! Although a breakfast nook is most commonly placed in a corner, it does not have to be. A breakfast nook is often designed with a built-in table and seats — so it can be installed where you think it is best suited in your space! You can build a breakfast nook off of your kitchen island or create a booth that is set between the kitchen counters.

Do breakfast nooks add value to my home?

When designed well, a breakfast nook can add value to your home. It creates a perfect transitional space between your kitchen and the living space where your family can hang out and eat meals. It can also add extra storage to a kitchen which is a major factor that prospective buyers often consider.

Is a kitchen bar a good alternative for a breakfast nook?

If you don’t have a free corner in your kitchen or the square footage elsewhere, your space may not be able to comfortably accommodate a breakfast nook. That doesn’t mean you need to give up on the idea of adding additional seating to your kitchen. Instead, you can opt for a smaller area such as a kitchen bar.