Kitchens Come to Life with a Bar or Breakfast Nook

Okay, so “breakfast nook” sounds super cutesy, but all the term really means is a casual place to eat. It might mean built-in benches with a small table, or a bistro table in just the right spot. However it’s constructed, a breakfast nook gives you a place to sit and enjoy a small meal before you head out the door. In the cabin, nooks and bars make perfect sense—they make a quiet place to enjoy that first cup of coffee and piece of toast, and they give you a place to stop and eat before you hit the trail or the water.

So how exactly do you make a welcoming, casual eating area? Here are a few ideas.

• If you have a corner in your kitchen or dining area that you’re not sure what to do with, it might be the perfect place for a breakfast nook. Simply arranging benches into an L shape and adding a dinette table might be all you need to do. Or you could add a bistro table and chairs, or even a patio dining set might be perfect if it goes with the rest of your décor.
• Think accessories. The right rug can, er, tie your breakfast nook together and group the table and chairs you’ve chosen in a neat, appealing way. Or add ample throw pillows to your benches to make them comfier and more inviting.
• You can also tie things together using color. Coordinating colors in your table and chairs will make your little eating nook stand out against the rest of the room, or blend in, if that’s what you’d prefer.
• Pay attention to lighting. A pendant light just above your bistro table will give the space a separateness—and provide light for your meal. Or employ the natural light from windows to make for a cheery morning dining experience.
• Make the most of your kitchen’s bar with rustic barstools and welcoming accessories—a vase of flowers, interesting placemats and fun dinnerware. Little touches can make breakfast time enjoyable and welcoming.

See, creating a breakfast nook can be fun and simple. With a little creativity, you could have a delightful little place to enjoy a small meal with someone you love. And that’s worth dedicating space to.