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5 Ways to Create a Cozy Breakfast Nook in Your Kitchen

Ashley Tyler

By Ashley Tyler
Published November 4, 2022

Create a cozy breakfast nook in your kitchen whether you have the perfect spot for an L-shaped corner bench or not. Tucking your table and chairs out of the way will make a small dining area feel bigger. It’s a great option if you don’t have a separate dining room or the space for a formal table.

Kitchen with navy lower cabinets, hanging glass pendant lights and a breakfast nook and bench seat.

Stick to a Set Color Palette

Sage green and white kitchen with butcher block counter tops and corner dining nook bench.

Incorporate your breakfast nook into your kitchen by painting the corner bench seat the same shade as your cabinets. Extending the color to the other side of the room will make the space feel like a continuation rather than two separate areas. 

Choose two or three existing colors or finishes then use them to tie the kitchen and dining nook together. Bring in a wood table that mimics the tones in your butcher block countertop and a pair of black chairs that match the cabinet hardware. Keeping your colors and materials consistent throughout the kitchen and dining space allows the two areas to flow together seamlessly. 

Create Your Own Nook with a Bench

Wood and black dining table with bench seat pushed up against a dark green wall.

You don’t need a separate corner in your kitchen to create a place to eat and entertain. Just swap out two chairs for a bench. Position the bench against the wall and pull the table in close. This frees up space since you don’t need room to pull the chairs out and lends a tucked-in cozy feel. Add a pair of pillows on the bench to mirror the height of the chairs and keep the dining table looking balanced. 

If the wall behind your dining table looks too bare, consider adding wallpaper, decorative molding or a slated wood treatment to draw attention to your new favorite spot in the house.  

Mix Finishes and Textures

Navy cabinets, beige wallpaper and a rattan dining table in front of a bench seat.

One of the easiest ways to make a space feel warm and inviting is by mixing textures. Adding a woven rattan table helps warm up a space full of classic finishes. You can also incorporate texture through throw pillows, wallpaper and artwork. Texture means dimension, and dimension is what makes a space visually interesting. Having various tones, weaves and patterns in your design ensures your dining nook is full of character.

Add Pillows to the Bench Seat

White corner bench seat decorated with throw pillows and a wood dining table.

If you can’t add coziness with paint, do it with pillows instead. Add a variety of throw pillows in different sizes, shapes and colors to your bench seat. The pillows provide color, texture and comfort to your breakfast nook. They’ll also add a visual break by creating a backrest for the bench. The pillows fill in the blank spot on the wall and keep the area from looking bare. 

Bonus points if your bench seats flip up and have storage underneath. This makes it easy to put the pillows away if you have guests around the table or you’re enjoying a particularly messy meal, like chicken wings or fondue. 

Incorporate a Window Seat

Living room with navy walls, a built-in window seat bench with a round dining table in front of it.

If you’re lucky enough to have a window seat in your dining area, make it work overtime as a bench for your table. This gives you more seating without adding more furniture. You can still use the window seat as your favorite reading spot, but it’s also an ideal backdrop for your breakfast nook. 

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