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Roger Davies

46 Breakfast Nook Design Ideas for a Stylish Start to Every Day

Make it a good morning in the happiest spot in your home.

By Amy MitchellPublished: Aug 12, 2024

Let’s face it—mornings aren’t everyone’s cup of tea (or coffee!). In fact, sometimes they are just downright hard. But waking up to a delicious breakfast enjoyed in a sunny, happy breakfast nook might just turn the crankiest sleepyhead into a bright-eyed morning person. To help you start your day on the right foot, we’ve rounded up the most charming breakfast nook design ideas for kitchens of every size and style.

When you think about how to create a breakfast nook in a small space, it really doesn’t take much—a round bistro table and a chair or two will do just fine. But these cozy and cute breakfast nook ideas are truly next-level with their clever problem-solving ideas for awkward spaces, smart storage ideas such as drawers beneath bench seating, and, of course, lots of ideas for incorporating quintessential farmhouse charm.

While most of these rooms feature classic country designs, modern breakfast nook ideas respectfully break the mold by incorporating cool midcentury furniture and vintage finds. Built-in breakfast nook ideas range from DIY (you do OK with a drill, right?) to custom (put that contractor on speed-dial!).

So whether you need a table for two or you want an in-kitchen dining area where you can seat a crowd, make it a good morning (noon, and night!) in what’s sure to be the happiest spot in your home. Browse these pretty breakfast nook decor ideas to start your day just right.

Here are more ways to decorate your kitchen and dining spaces:

Keep It Country

breakfast nook with blue farm table and built in bench with blue and white striped cushion

Kirsten Francis

When it comes to quintessential country style, this breakfast nook has it all—a farm table with a chippy blue base, blue-and-white plates on the wall, a collection of baskets creatively displayed, and, of course, a vase full of flowers from the garden and freshly baked bread. Dressmaker details on the striped bench cushion and scalloped edges on the rug bring a feminine, but not fussy, quality.

Display Prized Collections

white breakfast room with bistro table and chairs and etagere piled with dishes

Read McKendree

Thanks to an expert curation of collectibles, a cozy corner in this Rhode Island cottage is chock-full of charm. Gingham café curtains frame a bistro table, while a tall 19th-century étagere holds prized antique tableware, salt-and-pepper shakers, and blue-and-white vases.

Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: Seapearl by Benjamin Moore
Floor Paint Color: Cedar Key by Benjamin Moore

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Select Easy-to-Clean Upholstery

a dining nook with a navy leather banquette and collection of camp themed finds hanging above

Adam Albright, styling by Kelly Ryan Kegans

For this Wisconsin lake cabin, homeowner Sarah Anderson worked with an upholsterer to design the diner-like channel-back banquette covered in a family-friendly faux leather fabric. The creative gallery wall above came together with a collection of thrifted finds including game boards, paddles, and nautical knickknacks.

Squeeze In Storage

breakfast nook with a built in bench with blue cushions and a horse painting above

Haris Kenjar

Smart and chic, this mini banquette's base includes two drawers for storing dining essentials such as linens and placemats. The dark blue seat and back cushions make for stylish and comfortable bench seating.

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Cozy Up to the Fire

a seating area in front of a stone fireplace

Chaunté Vaughn

Facing benches make for an intimate spot to cozy up to the fire on a cool morning. Pillows in an eclectic mix of fabrics bring color and texture. Note the open space beneath the benches—perfect for keeping baskets and footstools handy but hidden.

Pull Up a Settee

white dining nook with yellow midcentury chairs and sconce

ALI HARPER

A vintage settee and a pair of sleek midcentury modern chairs pull up to a space-saving Saarinen “Tulip” table for the most adorable tucked-in eating area. A beautifully worn Turkish rug, bold settee fabric (Citrus Garden by Schumacher), and a vintage French swing-arm sconce round out the cool vibe.

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Seat a Crowd

breakfast nook with built in bench banquette and black windsor chairs

Roger Davies

Thanks to a wraparound built-in bench, this seven-and-a-half-foot-long trestle table can accommodate a crowd in this California beach house. Bench cushions on the spacious banquette are made of camel-colored leather that will age beautifully. Powder-coated aluminum Windsor chairs hold up to daily use as well.

Take On a Tailored Look

window wrapped breakfast nook with brown wood pedestal table and blue and white upholstered slipper chairs

David Hillegas

A Chippendale-style settee and skirted dining chairs lend a tailored feel to this window-wrapped breakfast nook designed by Heather Chadduck Hillegas. Matchstick blinds allow the morning light to shine through.

Get the Look:
Ceiling Paint Color: Lullaby by Sherwin-Williams

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Incorporate Meaningful Finds

a breakfast nook with a quilt on the table

MARTA XOCHILT PEREZ; Styling by JENNIFER DECLEENE

This little corner of Abby and Joe Albers’s Michigan lake cabin is built around sentimental items. The two vintage Herman Miller shell chairs—purchased for only $50 each!—especially hold a special place in the couple’s hearts. “I bought them from Hope College, which is where Joe and I met. They were raising money by selling the old dining hall chairs to alumni. We thought, ‘How cool would it be to have these chairs we used in college?’”

Consider Performance Fabric

breakfast nook with checkered painted floors

Even though this kitchen space is relatively small, the young family found a way to carve out a breakfast area with a petite antique pedestal table. The star here is the scalloped banquette, smartly upholstered in performance fabric to keep inevitable spills and drips at bay.

Get the Look:
Banquette: “Regina Banquette” by One Kings Lane
Sconces: “Vendome” Sconce by Visual Comfort

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Mix Old and New

breakfast nook with wood banquette topped with leather cushions

David A. Land

This character-rich Nantucket cottage is a beautiful example of marrying history with modern amenities. Here, handsome reclaimed beams were installed to mimic those found in other areas of the home, while faux leather cushions are a more modern pick and allow for easy cleanup.

Hang a Gallery Wall

breakfast nook with blue chairs and lots of art on the wall

Christopher Dibble

A vintage map, farmstand signs, framed bird needlepoints, and chippy furniture come together for a cozy, casual, and collected breakfast nook in designer Max Humphrey’s home. Pattern plays a big role here too, with the plaid cushion, folded quilt, and soft Moroccan boucherouite rug.

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Embrace Flea-Market Finds

a breakfast nook with a wooden table and chairs

Max Kim-Bee

Simple wood furniture is a country staple. In the kitchen of this historical Catskills home, an oak table and mismatched chairs that were picked up at flea markets create a welcoming spot for meals. The sweet turn-of-the-century high chair is a hand-me-down from a family friend.

Hang a Wall Cushion

breakfast nook decorated for christmas with dog

Brie Williams, styling by Rachel Rivers

For extra comfort in their corner breakfast nook, Victoria and Marcus Ford used handmade leather straps to install a hanging back cushion. A striped bottom cushion and piled-on pillows provide plenty of sink-in coziness.

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Build a Bar

a farmhouse kitchen with a little boy grabbing toast

David A. Land

This small kitchen makes genius use of wall space with a floating counter in front of the window that can be used for a breakfast bar. A petite chippy wood table brings farmhouse character to the all-white space and offers another spot to grab a snack.

Mix It Up

Dylan Chandler

For this happy, sun-filled breakfast nook, the reclaimed wood dining table was a perfect fit. Mismatched chippy white chairs and a bench provide enough seating for the whole family. Tip: When hunting for non-matching chairs, make sure the seat heights are the same.

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Keep It Light and Bright

white breakfast nook with a wood bench and bistro style table

Annie Schlechter

In stylist Matthew Gleason’s Cape Cod home, a clean-lined bench fits just under the window and adds ample seating without taking up too much space. Natural light and neutral paint keep things bright and sunny. Linoleum tiles in a diagonal checkerboard pattern add visual interest.

Do Double Duty

dining area with blue persian style rug and barley leg dining table

DAVID TSAY, styling by Janna Lufkin

Designer Caitlin Wilson layered a Persian-style flatweave rug, rush seat dining chairs, and an antique gate-leg table for this game room that can also be used for snacks and smaller meal gatherings.

Get the Look:
Rug: “Soleil” by Caitlin Wilson

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Transform an Unused Corner

David Tsay

Once an underutilized space, this cozy corner in the home of style expert Liz Marie Galvan is now a useful breakfast nook for two. Collections of canisters, breadboards, and other accessories fill the open shelves. A pretty schoolhouse pendant crowns the bistro-style table.

Take It Outside

an outdoor breakfast table with a chicken on it

Rikki Snyder

If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with nice weather all year round, a covered outdoor space is a great place to take your morning coffee. (Chicken not included!) A patterned tablecloth brings fitting color to this tropical setting.