21 Breakfast Nook Ideas to Start Your Day in a Beautiful Space

Small Breakfast Nook Idea

Dining area with blue couch and large artwork — Annie Schlecther

To install a breakfast nook in your kitchen without remodeling, slide a bench against one wall and add a small table. This dining area cozies up to the kitchen with an upholstered bench, bistro chairs, and a pedestal table. It can easily be rearranged if a change is needed. Colorful wall art and an overhead pendant light bring attention to the inviting area.

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Comfortable Seating Decor

breakfast nook with built-in banquette and white table — Joyelle West

Repeat colors and materials to seamlessly integrate your breakfast nook ideas for design into the rest of your kitchen and home. This banquette borrows design inspiration from the decorative trim around the windows. Bright white, watery blue accents and natural textures echo the cool, coastal look throughout the home.

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Additional Storage

dining wood table chair china dishes — James Nathan Schroder

Think vertically to incorporate storage. Here, plate racks display dishware and serving pieces while cutting boards hang from a simple peg rail. A wheeled table and lightweight chairs are convenient breakfast nook ideas because they're easy to move to access the storage areas or accommodate heavy kitchen traffic.

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Converted Unused Corner

kitchen banquette seating built-in shelves — Dave Greer

Breakfast nooks are a smart way to transform small, seemingly useless spaces. Previously an awkward corner, this space is now a cozy and convenient dining area. Not just a place to sit down and grab a bite; it also boosts storage with open shelves above and hidden drawers below.

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Bold Breakfast Nook Idea

orange dining room skirted table — Laurey Glenn

Bring in bright colors and bold patterns to distinguish your space with unique style. Here, coral walls sponged with a gold glaze set a warm, inviting tone. A large-patterned tablecloth is the room's focal point, while blue pillows add extra comfort to the breakfast nook seating.

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Eclectic and Chic

dining area antique table and hutch — Brian Anderson

Remember that all elements don't need to match perfectly when creating a unique and fresh dining space. This breakfast nook idea mixes a traditional wood table and hutch with midcentury modern chairs. The blue rug mingles with chartreuse-tiled walls and a gray-painted ceiling for an unexpected combination that works.

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In-Kitchen Breakfast Nook Idea

dining room with wooden shutters and antique table — Laurie Black

To unite your kitchen with an adjacent dining nook, use similar decor elements in both spaces, but consider treatments to make each space unique. Here, the beaded board from the island is repeated on the window bench's door panels, and rustic wood furniture matches the casual cottage feel of the room. A colorful patterned rug runs underneath the table to distinguish the area from the rest of the kitchen.

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Nook Window Seating

breakfast nook with dark windows and hanging chalkboard signs — Edmund Barr

Turning a window seat into a breakfast nook is easy—add a table! While the chairs are optional, they come in handy when guests arrive. Plush pillows along the window seat turn this into a quaint alcove. The pendant above adds definition to the space.

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Cottage Charm Nook

Simple wood chairs and a table are unified with a weathered, whitewashed finish for a cottage look. The bench is painted in a crisp white and topped with plaid pillows that act as seatbacks without obstructing the view. Accessories complete this kitchen's cozy breakfast nook idea.

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Bay Window Banquette

dining table with bench — Michael Partenio

Bay windows are the perfect breakfast nook idea, especially when there's plenty of early-morning light. A built-in bench hugs the angles of this window to provide extra seating. Consider a table with leaves in an oversized space like this one, which allows you to adjust your dining accommodations based on your seating needs.

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Casual Comfort

breakfast nook gray cushion tulip table red flowers — Annie Schlechter

A wall of windows makes this the perfect spot to grab a quick meal or lounge with a cup of coffee. A tulip table allows for additional chairs when the whole family eats together. A built-in banquette adds hidden storage.

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Small Banquette Seating

small breakfast nook pale yellow walls blue patterned wallpaper — Edmund Barr

A tiny banquette and a few chairs are tucked under the window at the end of this kitchen. This sliver of space allows dining for at least four people, which the kitchen lacked before adding this custom bench.

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Breakfast Booth

u-shaped breakfast nook banquette pillows — Werner Straube

Consider borrowing square footage from spaces adjacent to your kitchen to create a breakfast nook. A separate eating area gives diners a place to sit out of the cook's way. This banquette is the perfect place to add extra storage to the kitchen, whether through hidden compartments or open shelves above.

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Sunny and Bright

windows yellow breakfast nook tulip table bench — Richard Leo Johnson

Minimal window coverings keep this breakfast nook bright and sunny. Soft yellow cushions, pillows, and painted chairs add to the room's happy feel. The L-shaped breakfast nook makes the most of this kitchen's square footage and creates extra sitting places.

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Retro Design

eat decal breakfast nook corner tulip table — David Tsay

This sweet breakfast nook idea perfectly fits in a previously unused kitchen corner. A built-in bench wraps the corner, adding storage and lots of seating. Retro-style furniture and light fixtures add a playful, casual ambience to the eating area.

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Modern Breakfast Area

stylish modern traditional breakfast nook — Edmund Barr

A modern table-and-chair set, pendant lighting, and wall decor put a stylish spin on a traditional breakfast nook. Keeping the walls white in this space and the kitchen creates a cohesive look and ties the rooms together. In addition, the round table makes it easy to pull up extra chairs as needed.

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Timeless Traditional

neutral breakfast nook wicker breakfast — James Yochum

Natural light highlights the details in this traditional-style room. White walls and window details provide a beautiful backdrop for the dark, wicker furniture. Green seat cushions bring the green from outside to the breakfast nook's neutral color scheme.

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Breakfast Nook Storage Ideas

Create a multi-use space for your busy life with these genius ideas for a beautiful breakfast nook. By incorporating extra storage into the design, it can serve as more than a dining area. Learn how to use these functional and stylish breakfast nook ideas with our tips.

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Comfy Dining Niche

natural light comfortable bench nook — Werner Straube

This niche takes advantage of windows that provide natural light and great views. Low benches keep it casual and comfortable. The tufted upholstery and pillows make it an inviting spot to sit for a while and start the day.

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Impactful Details

simple cohesive breakfast nook pendant light — Werner Straube

It's the little things that tie this room together. The patterns on the seat cushions and rug add style to the room. A black pendant light contrasts the breakfast nook's white table and chairs. These simple details complement each other and create a cohesive look. A nearby china hutch stores overflow from the kitchen, such as infrequently used linens and dishes.

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Intimate Meals

simple breakfast nook dining chandelier — Brie Williams

A sleek white table, a dainty chandelier, and pretty fabrics transform a narrow breakfast nook into an intimate gathering spot. The beaded board on the wall of this breakfast nook links it to the adjacent kitchen. A strategically placed mirror opens up the dining area and gives the impression that the space is bigger than it is.

Dining Room Design Ideas

If you rarely use your formal dining room, you may want to consider creating a new function for it. But if you regularly eat at your dining room table, here are some design suggestions to help make it the space of your dreams.

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