Shop the Room: A Modern Breakfast Nook

A patterned area rug helps ground and define the space. Since this area is prone to  occasional spills, choose a low-pile indoor/outdoor rug that’s stain-resistant and easy to clean. A rug with a busy pattern also helps disguise stains. Choose a rug that’s big enough to fill the area and fits at least the front legs of your dining chairs and bench. A rug that’s too small will make the area look smaller. Check out our area rug buying guide for more sizing tips.

A round dining table gives you the most seating without taking up a ton of space. The curved lines of a round dining table also adds visual interest against the square corner of the room. Go with a small kitchen dining table with a light wood finish for a soft natural look that brightens up even the darkest corner of your home.

Two strategically placed upholstered benches mimic the look of a custom bench seat but keeps the design light and airy since you can see the flooring under the legs of the benches. Individual benches also have the added benefit of being moveable. This is helpful if you’re entertaining and need to adjust for more seating or need to use the benches elsewhere in your house for the occasion. Extra storage inside these benches make them perfect for a small kitchen.

The wicker backrest on these woven dining chairs is the perfect complement to the more modern finishes in the room. Match the wood frame of the chairs with your dining table to give the appearance of a coordinating set while being able to customize the number of chairs you need. Individual chairs are great if you have small children eating at the table since you can easily push them closer to the table.

Make a statement with a large rattan pendant light right over the dining table. This helps define the space while adding style and lighting. No one wants to eat in the dark, so bright light is important. Combining more modern touches with natural, boho elements gives the nook a layered look that won’t go out of style.

Add neutral throw pillows to the benches to not only make the seating more comfortable, but also warm up the nook. Choose throw pillows with removeable covers to make cleaning them a breeze. Now you don’t have to worry if they get touched with messy fingers. You want this to be an area where life can happen and not be paranoid about keeping things clean during every meal.

If the area you’re turning into your dining nook has windows, light-filtering curtains are crucial. You can block out harsh sunlight while keeping the area bright. Nothing is worse than trying to enjoy a meal as the sun beams into your eyes. If you want even more privacy, add faux-wood blinds behind the curtains for maximum control.

No room is complete without greenery. A large potted plant, like a fiddle leaf fig, in the back corner of your breakfast nook fills the empty space behind your benches and acts as a decorative focal point. Best grown near a bright window, fiddle leaf figs are surprisingly easy to care for under the right conditions. Don’t have a window in the room? Opt for a faux version instead.

Keep your tabletop simple since this breakfast nook is likely visible from the rest of your home. A decorative vase filled with a few sprigs of faux grass completes the look of your breakfast nook table. It’s easy to move out of the way when you’re eating, and you don’t have to worry about changing the water in the vase.