As your children grow they will be inviting more and more friends to dinner and you are going to need room for everyone at the table where you take most of your meals. The breakfast table is not only for breakfast these days. In fact, most families eat almost all of their meals there. In order to spend quality time together, you want the whole family to be able to sit at one table with whatever guests they might bring along. Benches might help you increase the number of people that can fit around your table because you can typically fit one and a half people on a bench that takes up the same amount of room as one chair.

Family time is very important and many families might use the breakfast nook set as a place to gather for family meetings or family game night. Your kids and guests alike will be less likely to run out on you if the seating is comfortable. No matter what the material of construction is for your breakfast nook chairs or benches, chair or bench cushions can make the seating more relaxing. You can buy chair cushions in a variety of colors and patterns to match almost any kitchen. Bench cushions are not quite as popular, but they are available. If you cannot find anything to match the size of your cushion exactly then you can have something custom made.

While this will probably not be available with breakfast nook chairs, breakfast nook benches often come equipped with under the seat storage compartments. You can use this extra storage space for various purposes such as extra table linens, small kitchen appliances, or games and art supplies for family time. No matter what you use it for, extra storage is always welcome in any household. Typically the storage is under the seat and can be accessed by lifting the seat like a lid. However, there are some instances where the storage might be slightly different. For example, I have seen breakfast nook benches with drawers that pull out of the upright back of the bench. These small drawers can be used for magazine racks, spice racks, or anything that can fit into a tight space.

It is important when picking breakfast nook furniture that you stay true to the design and decorating style of the kitchen and the rest of the home. For example, if you have a modern kitchen then it would be completely inappropriate to choose a wooden breakfast nook table with breakfast nook bench seating. The two style just do not match. Instead, you should choose a breakfast nook seating that matches the decorating style. A modern kitchen might mean angular chairs with leather upholstery. A more traditional kitchen might be the perfect opportunity for a corner breakfast nook bench arrangement.

First, benches can accommodate more people than chairs. Generally, you can fit one and a half people in the space taken up by one chair if you have a bench there instead. That means that a bench along the side of a rectangular table that usually has two chair will actually sit three people. If you put benches on both sides, then you get seating for six rather than four. If you have a large family, or you entertain a lot of your children’s friends, then bench seating is probably a good fit for your breakfast nook or eat in kitchen.

Another reason breakfast nook benches are so popular is that they often come with under the seat storage compartments. Every homeowner can use a little bit of extra storage space. It is fantastic when you can get that storage from a piece of furniture that is going to be there already. Breakfast nook benches with storage are great for hiding table linens, small kitchen appliances, art and school supplies, or board games.

If you change your placemats, napkins, and table cloth often then you probably have a large supply of linens and keeping under your breakfast nook bench is the perfect place for them because they are close at hand, but not taking up valuable kitchen storage space.

There are several kitchen gadgets and small appliances that I love having, but that I do not like taking up counter space. Until I got breakfast nook storage benches, the only option was to store these items on a shelf in the garage. When I did that, I needed to clean the appliance before I used it every time. It is much more convenient to just open up the breakfast nook bench and take out the appliance I need. I know they will stay clean and protected in there. Things like my bread maker, rice cooker, pasta maker, ice cream maker, etc. have found their way into this storage place.

If your kids gather around the kitchen table to do homework or play while you are getting dinner ready then it might be a good idea to keep some art supplies and school supplies in the breakfast nook storage area so that the supplies they need are close at hand. Some families also gather in the kitchen for family nights and some board games or cards in the breakfast nook bench are handy to have around. You are much more likely to coax everyone into staying for a game if the supplies are at your finger tips.

Even though there are advantages to breakfast nook benches, there are also some drawbacks. For example, bench seating is typically a little more shallow than what you get with individual chairs. That means that sitting on a bench could be uncomfortable for some people if they need a more substantial seat. In addition, bench seating encourages closeness because there are not clear boundaries for personal space. If you entertain often, then you might want to consider having some chairs so that your guests will be more comfortable.

First, a breakfast nook bench often comes with extra storage space. I think you would be hard pressed to find a homeowner who does not need more storage areas. There never seems to be enough room, especially in the kitchen to store all of the things that a person needs close by. The result is that you cabinets get cluttered and your counter tops get crowded. Some of the things that you might want to store in your breakfast nook bench storage are table linens, kitchen linens, small kitchen appliances, extra or special china, art supplies for the kids, board games, and much more.

I have table cloths and placemats for every season and holiday. As you can imagine, they take up a lot of room. I used to store them in a bin in my basement, but it was inconvenient to go down and get them when I wanted to change the look of my breakfast nook. Now, with these items stored right under the seats, I can easily change my décor any time I please. I also keep extra kitchen towels, oven mits, and pot holders in my corner breakfast nook seats.

Another reason that benches have become more popular in the breakfast nook is because people want to be able to seat more people in a limited amount of space. A general rule of thumb is that you can fit one and a half people in the same amount of space that one chair will take up if you use bench seating. That means that instead of two chairs along the long side of a table, you can have a bench and seat three people. As people tend to spend more of their time in the kitchen for meals and less time in the dining room, the need for more seats gets greater.

Along the same lines, if you purchase a corner breakfast nook set, you will be able to fit a larger table and have more seating in your breakfast nook than you might otherwise have had. Corner sets are usually equipped with an L-shaped bench that fits into the corner. Yes, you will have to slide in and out of the bench or booth, but you will be able to fit more people around the table for meals.

Even though some people consider a bench too informal for inside the home, you can find more space for people to sit, the ability to have a larger table, and extra storage space if you decide to go with breakfast nook benches.

Really, a breakfast nook’s purpose is not merely a place to eat your first morning meal, it’s about a focal point where a family and friends can gather. We eat ninety nine percent of our meals here. At night, this is where we play board games or discuss the goings on of the world over a cup of coffee. Our children fill in their coloring books, or do their homework, or take a break from playing to eat a snack at the table. In the end, this site’s purpose will be about the furniture, decorating ideas, and activities that will enhance your breakfast nook and by extension maybe make your family life a bit better, if only just a bit.

Breakfast Nook Furniture

The most important part of all breakfast nooks is the furniture. Since this is usually a small room there is not a lot of space for a lot of pieces so the few that you choose are very important. In addition, this room is extremely utilitarian and you must consider how it will be used when picking out the furniture. Aesthetics are not the only thing that is important. The two most critical pieces of furniture for the breakfast nook are the table and chairs. My ideal breakfast nook is most importantly comfortable. It is, after all, meant as a place in your house to serve a causal meal or snack. I have a hard time picturing people snacking in a formal dining room. That means nice, but not necessarily expensive, furniture.

Breakfast Nook Tables

Since it is the largest object in the room the breakfast nook table is automatically the focal point. There are a few things to consider when picking out the right table for your eat-in kitchen. First of all, you want to pick a table that is as large as will comfortably fit in the space. Even if you have a small family now, you never know how it may grow in the future and you always want to make sure there is room for guests. That being said, make sure that there will be adequate room for the seating. Secondly, make sure the table matches your kitchen in decorating style. If you have a country kitchen with wooden cabinets and checkered curtains than a wooden table would be appropriate. In contrast, a modern kitchen with black marble counter tops, stainless steel appliances, and very straight lines might be complimented nicely by a glass table with metal legs. The material and look for the table should fit in. Yet another reason to consider the material your table is constructed out of is how easy or not easy it will be to clean and its durability. Especially if you have children, you will have to clean up messes often and you know that kids can be hard on furniture. Make sure the table is made of something durable and is easy to wipe off. Tables that need special cleaners are inconvenient when you are in a hurry so you should consider that when purchasing a breakfast nook table.

Breakfast Nook Chairs

Once you have chosen the piece of furniture you will sit around, the next step is to choose what you will sit on. There are two main categories of breakfast nook seating. The first is chairs and the second is a breakfast nook bench. It is quite common for there to be a combination of the two around a table as well.

The benefits of using chairs are that they are sometimes more comfortable. If you are a person of large size then it is more comfortable for you to sit on a seat that supports your entire bottom rather than a bench that might only support part. Another advantage to chairs is that they give the occupants personal space. If you are going to be entertaining at all, then you might want to allow your guests the option of sitting in their own personal seat. Benches require a certain amount of intimacy and closeness that not everyone would be comfortable with. Thirdly, it is easier to pull out a single chair to sit on than an entire bench. If only one person wants to sit down, it is awkward to pull out the whole bench by yourself. If you try to only move one end then you end up sitting at a strange angle. Chairs make it easier for individuals to find their place at the table. Finally, choosing to use chairs means that you can be more flexible when choosing your breakfast nook set. If you decide on a modern style then you are much more likely to find a set of furniture that includes chairs than benches. Benches are typically used in very specific styles. Chairs give you a wider range of possibilities. If you end up going with chairs consider picking up a set of breakfast nook cushions.

However, there are pluses to using benches as well. Benches can accommodate more people in the same amount of space taken up by chairs. If you have a large family then benches could be the key to making more of the limited amount of space that you have. In addition to seating more people, they can help maximize your space in the entire breakfast nook. Corner breakfast nooks are great space savers. If you put a bench in the corner of the room and then put a rectangular table right up to the benches you can have a larger table in your room than you could if you had to pull chairs in and out on all four sides of the table. One final advantage is that benches are often equipped with storage underneath the seating area. You can use this space to store anything from kitchen linens or small kitchen appliances that take up space in cabinets or on countertops to art supplies or games that are used often in the room. Everyone can agree that extra storage is always good and that you can always find something to put in it.

Other Furniture

There are many different breakfast nook designs and depending on which one you choose, you might be able to fit in additional pieces of furniture. My mother has a small table sitting under one window that is only about one foot wide and about four feet long. She uses it to hold small plants and knick-knacks. If your kitchen does not have a lot of windows and natural light, you might have to compensate by adding a floor lamp, ceiling light fixture, or maybe even a simple chandelier. Since most people want to accommodate as many people at the table as possible there usually is not much room for other furniture. But, if you have the room make sure that the theme of the room is continued in any piece you add.

Decorating Your Breakfast Nook

As I have said before, the breakfast nook is not a large room. But, that does not mean that you can not decorate it tastefully and add character to the space. There are many ways to add color and personality to the room. One way is with the breakfast nook cushions. The chairs and/or benches should have some cushioning to them.  It might be nice to able to sit up at the table so don’t go overboard with the cushioning. Whatever padding you choose, make sure that the color compliments some color in the kitchen like in the counters or cabinet hardware. Another way to add color and continue your decorating theme is with the window coverings. There are an incredibly large number of styles and colors to choose from when picking out blinds or curtains. This is a great opportunity to use a utilitarian element to make an influential decorating statement. Whatever you breakfast nook plans are, you have plenty of other opportunities to add decorating elements like the lighting fixtures, place mats, center pieces, wall art, and even accents in the table or chairs such as tile borders or painted stenciling.