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.

Breakfast nook furniture usually consists of a table and chairs. There are lots of possibilities for both, but let’s discuss the tables first. Most breakfast tables are rectangular. The dimensions can vary but most are between 34 and 48 inches wide and 50 to 65 inches long. The typical table height is between 29 and 34 inches. Most rectangular tables have legs at all four corners. Typically the legs are connected by a trestle at each end of the table to provide extra support. There are also square or round breakfast tables. A typical size for a square or round table is 42 inches by 42 inches for a square or a 42 inch diameter for a circle. These tables, unlike rectangular ones, usually have one center leg to support the entire table. It is common for the leg to have a tripod or four prong bottom for extra support.

Breakfast tables are made of many different types of materials. Wood is probably the most common, but by no means is it the only material readily available. If you do have a wooden breakfast table, then chances are it is distressed wood. Since most breakfast nooks are less formal than dining rooms, you often find distressed wood that looks more casual. To distress the wood of a table, the edges are darkened and flattened. The corners are usually rounded so there are no sharp edges. Other than wood, you might find glass, ceramic tile, metal, plastic, Formica, or cork used as materials of construction for your breakfast table.

No matter what your table is made out of, it should be large enough to accommodate your entire family and perhaps a few guests. Try to use as much of the space as possible. There are a few ways to create extra space or make the most of the space you have available using different seating options.

The most common seating option for breakfast nook furniture is chairs. Chairs are probably most appropriate if you have a smaller family and only need to accommodate four to six people at any one time. Chairs can come in any of the same materials that the breakfast tables come in. Most likely the materials will match the material of the table. For example, if you have a wooden table then wooden chairs would be most appropriate. The matching could be less subtle, as well. For example, you might have a table with chrome legs and chairs with a leather upholstery and chrome trim.

The seating option that provides the biggest capacity for sitting and one that is very popular in breakfast nook sets is benches. You can have separate benches for each side of the table or L-shaped benches that wrap around two sides. It is quite common for the benches to have high backs. The high backs can fit into a corner with a corner breakfast nook set or they could offer a way to separate the breakfast nook area from the rest of the kitchen. Most breakfast nook benches have cushions and are quite comfortable. Another plus is that many come equipped with under the seat storage. A breakfast nook with storage is a welcome addition to any kitchen.

One final seating option is stools. These are not appropriate if you have small children because they are much easier to tip over and do not provide as stable a base. They also do not work well unless you have a higher table. High top tables are usually only made for two to three people, so if you have a large family then a breakfast nook table with stools is probably out of the question.

Everyone knows that you need to buy a breakfast table and chairs for their breakfast nook or kitchen, but what they might not know is that you can often buy all of this furniture in what is called a breakfast table set. The furniture set will come with a table and the seating arrangements for the table. There are advantages and disadvantages to buying you breakfast table and chairs this way.

One of the advantages is that you do not have to worry about matching the table and the chairs because they will already be matched. If you buy these pieces separately, it is unlikely that the stain or paint color will match appropriately. Breakfast nook sets are also a good idea if you do not have much of an eye for decorating. You may know that you want a certain style of chair or you may concentrate on matching colors, but there are many subtleties to matching pieces of furniture. The details like carvings, lines, relative sizes, and much more are important ones.

Another advantage to buying your breakfast nook table as part of a set is that you will be able to compare overall dimensions rather than trying to calculate how much room different pieces that you put together will take up. It makes shopping much simpler. Finally, the breakfast table is a piece of furniture that needs to be durable since it gets used a lot and is abused from time to time. If your table and chairs are part of a set, it will be easier to order replacements than if each piece is a one of a kind or bought at a thrift or second hand store.

Some of the disadvantages of buying your table and chairs as part of a breakfast nook set is that you are locked into the types of seating available. You may have decided that you only want chairs around your breakfast table, but many breakfast table sets come with benches or a combination of benches and chairs. Conversely, if you decide you like the bench seating because now your children are young and do not mind sliding into a booth; but later, when they grow up and move out, you want chairs for you and your guests, then you will be in trouble. Most breakfast nook sets do not come with interchangeable parts if you change your mind later.

The advantage of a corner breakfast nook set is that you will be able to use a larger table than if you placed on in the center of the room. When a table is in the middle of the room, you need to leave about three feet of space on every side so that there is room to pull chairs out. However, if you purchase a corner table with benches, there will only be about eighteen inches between the wall and the table on two sides. That gives you an additional eighteen inches of table space in both directions.

One factor to consider if you want to get a corner breakfast nook furniture set is the fact that at least some of the seating will be benches. If you have a large family and need lots of seating, that could be an advantage. Kids do not mind sliding in and out of booths and it is easy for them. You can fit more people on a booth that you could in chairs in the same amount on space. On the other hand, if you are going to be asking guests to sit at your kitchen table, then benches might not be the best choice for you. Some people are uncomfortable sitting as close to other people as you have to when sitting on a bench. In addition, some people have a hard time sliding in and out of a bench.

Another factor to consider is the two outside walls and whether or not there are windows there. If your breakfast nook literally is in the corner of your home, then there will probably be windows on those two outside walls. If the kitchen furniture that you choose has high backs on the corner benches, they could block the windows. IF you have windows on the two walls where you will be utilizing the corner for furniture, make sure that the seating arrangements do not come up high enough to block the windows. In addition, you will need to make sure that the window treatments do not interfere with the seating arrangements. You do not want long drapes that fall onto the bench seats. If there are no windows, then you have a lot more flexibility when choosing your corner breakfast nook furniture for sale.

The Santa Fe breakfast nook set is the perfect solution for a family that needs a lot of seating, but has limited space. This set consists of a table and seating for eight to nine people. The seating is a combination of benches. There is a three seat bench with no back running down one side of the table. Then, there is an L-shaped bench that wraps around two of the other sides. The L-shaped bench is made up of a corner piece, a two seat bench, and a three seat bench. There are no chairs, so if you and your family are not comfortable in booths and on benches then this set is not for you. Keep in mind that not only do the benches mean you can fit more people at the table, they also mean extra storage space. There is under the seat storage in the L-shaped bench where you can keep anything that you need to.

This breakfast nooks set is made of distressed poplar wood. The combination of the distressed stylizing and the dark stain give the Santa Fe breakfast nook set a very earthy and country feel. One way that this manufacturer has elected to keep costs down is by combining solid poplar with poplar veneer. You cannot tell the difference from the outside, but the veneer lowers the cost significantly. The other material of construction used in this furniture is slate tiles. There is a row of inlaid slate tiles along the back of the L-shaped bench. These tiles are sealed into place and give the furniture a touch of color and character. The wide variety of colors and patterns in the tile make every version of the Santa Fe breakfast nook original.

One clever feature of this furniture set is the drop leaf that fits between the wall and the corner part of the L-shaped bench. The drop leaf provides a little shelf above head level where most people put some flowers, pictures, or other decorations. Yet another good feature is the fact that the set is reversible. You can put this furniture in any corner and make it work.

The cost of the Santa Fe breakfast nook set can be anywhere from $789 to $1,035 depending on where you shop. All in all , I think it is a great value for the money.

The first positive that I see is the combination of chairs and benches. The benches allow more people to sit than would be able to if you had only chairs. In addition, the benches have under the seat storage and it is very convenient to have extra storage close to the kitchen table for table linens and other kitchen linens. On the other hand, the chairs are very nice because they are more comfortable for some people to sit in. Not everyone one likes sliding in and out of a long booth or bench.

Another positive for the Soho Delfino is the materials of construction. These high quality materials will last a long time and look good too. Chrome legs support the black tabletop. The chrome is carried over into the legs of the chairs and benches as well. The final place that you see the chrome is in bars that create open space between the bench seats and the bench backs. I like this touch because when the bench seats and bench backs are continuous, it reminds me of diner booths. The chrome separators provide a much more modern look. The fabric on the benches and chairs is a velvety microfiber that comes in five different colors: red, black, beige, eggplant, and Moroccan brown. Microfibers are known for their durability and softness.

The one down side of this breakfast nook furniture set is perhaps the cost. It is one of the more expensive sets that I have come across. I have seen it advertised for around $1,279. This might be a lot of money for someone to spend on kitchen furniture, but I think it is worth it. The furniture is of good quality and should last a long time. The modern look is a plus considering you are getting seating for eight. Usually larger breakfast nook sets are more country themed. It is hard to find modern looking furniture for a large family.

When picking out breakfast nook furniture, I like to think about the table first. It is the largest piece of furniture and it will be the biggest presence in the room. In order to utilize your breakfast nook space to the best of its ability, you want to get a table as large as possible. A good rule of thumb is to measure the dimensions of the breakfast nook and then subtract three feet from all sides. That is how big your table can be. The three feet is so that you can leave room for people to pull out chairs and sit down. Another aspect of the table to consider is the style and materials of construction. Whatever the decorating theme of your kitchen is will most likely dictate this point. If you have a modern kitchen with black countertops and glass door cabinets, a wooden table just would not look right. Something with glass or metal might work better. Remember to keep the theme going and you should be fine. The last characteristic of the table to consider is the table height. Table height can range from normal to what we call a high top. High top table require stools rather than chairs or benches. The type of breakfast nook that would be well suited to a high top table is one where you only have room for a table for two. Then, the high table is reminiscent of a café or bar.

Once you have decided on the table, the next step is to pick what you are going to sit on. As I said above, most breakfast nook sets are either chairs, benches, or a combination of the two. However, some will use stools if the situation is right. You want to balance the number of people you can sit at your table with the comfort of those individuals. Benches will allow for more seating, but they are not as comfortable as chairs. Another thing to consider is the style of the table you have chosen. You want to make sure that the style of the table lends itself well to benches or chairs. Modern looking tables do not go well with benches and high top tables do not go well with benches or chairs. One thing to keep in mind about benches is that they often come with extra under the seat storage space. Extra storage is a very good selling point, but you have to make sure it looks good too.

There is a style or technique of home decoration that goes something along these lines. You’re out shopping for a new couch for your living room when you see a dining table that would work really well in your breakfast nook. So you buy it. Sometime later, your sister has just updated her dining room furniture and offers to give you the chairs from her old set. Now you add a “new” set of chairs to the table you bought awhile back. Then one day you’re out antiquing and you spot an antique farm house bench that would just complete all the furniture in your breakfast nook. You have a new table, newish chairs from a completely different dining set, and now an antique bench. Nothing “matches,” but everything goes great together. Buying a breakfast nook table set is sort of the opposite of that, except for the everything goes great together part.

I like buying sets of furniture and I also appreciate the look that buying furniture piecemeal can bring to a home. I think the mildly obsessive compulsive aspects of my personality lead me to prefer matching sets of furniture. In fact, I can remember getting in deep trouble with my mother when I was young because I complained that the silverware she was serving for dinner didn’t match. She still reminds me of that to this day. Back to the topic at hand.

A kitchen breakfast nook set generally will have a table, a single bench without a back, and an “L” shaped bench with a high back. When a manufacturer uses the term nook, they are frequently referring to the L shaped bench part of breakfast nook dining sets. The corner shape and back are remarkably good at giving the feeling that your new breakfast corner nook set is a separate and distinct part of the house. As the name implies, you’re assured that all the pieces in your set will match. This definitely takes all the guess work out of making sure disparate pieces of furniture go together.

Prices for complete breakfast nook sets range from $300 (or less depending on quality) and go all the way up to $2000 before any delivery fees. A good value price point falls between $1000 and $1200. I’m always trying to maximize space so I tend to favor benches with built in storage compartments. These compartments are great for storing board games, toys, or art supplies. You will be surprised how much you can pack into a breakfast nook set with storage. I would not expect to pay a premium for storage functionality.

Here are a couple of breakfast nook sets that I think are a good value.

The Santa Fe Breakfast nook set comes with a corner bench with backrest, a rectangular table, and backless straight bench. This set will comfortably seat four or five adults. The contoured and smooth design plus the rich dark brown finish really give the furniture a Southwestern feel. However, the thing that makes this collection unique is the “variegated” slate inlay on the backrest of the L shaped bench. Unfortunately, the Santa Fe lacks any kind of built-in storage. All in all, this is a sharp looking set is well worth the roughly $1100 purchase price.

The Soho Delfino breakfast nook set comes with a rectangular table, two chair, two backed benches, and corner piece that connects the benches. This set features a modern design with chrome metal finish on the legs of each piece. The chairs and benches have padded cushions with stain-resistant microfiber covers. Each bench has a lift up seat that reveals a shallow storage compartment. The Soho comes in a number of colors. This collection won’t disappoint if you’re in the market for a black breakfast nook set. The microfiber cushion covers aren’t suitable as a substitute for leather, so if you have your heart set on a leather breakfast nook set, look else where.

Breakfast nook tables are a gathering place for eating meals, playing games, doing homework or paying bills, family talks, and visiting with guests. You want to make sure that your seating arrangements are comfortable so that people will not feel the need to move or get up prematurely. Seat pads can help make almost any type of seat more comfortable. They have cushions for individual chairs that are round, square, or oval depending on the shape of the seat. They also have cushions for benches. Sometimes bench pads will need to be special ordered because your bench might not be of a typical size. There are other benefits to using seat cushions other than making the seat more comfortable.

The cushions can be a fantastic decorating element in your morning room. They are the perfect opportunity to add a touch of color to the room. The table and chairs will most likely be wood, glass, or metal so there will not be much color there. The cushions can be solid colors or patterns and play off the color scheme in your kitchen or even other rooms in your home. You can choose very plush cushions for a homey feel or cushions that are thinner for a more streamlined look. Your seat padding does not have to be the same year round. You can change them depending on the season or certain holidays. For the past few years, I use dark red cushions with a velour finish during the fall and winter and then I switch to a light orange linen covered cushion in the spring and summer. If you’re in doubt about making sure everything goes well together, you can buy a breakfast nook set that comes with cushions.

Another reason that you might want to use cushions on your breakfast nook seats is that they help to protect the chairs. Especially if you have children, chairs can become worn and marked up with time. Kids sit on their knees and their shoes are scratching the seat with every movement. Every time you have to clean the surface of your chair with a harsh cleaner to clear away food that your children might have spilled there, you tarnish the surface a bit. If you use cushions the seats or benches will be protected from the worst of the scratching and falling food. If you want to maximize this benefit be sure to get cushions that are washable so that it is easy to clean them up. No matter what your motivation, breakfast nook cushions are a nice addition to any kitchen.

Chairs are going to be your traditional, safe bet and my personal preference given my family situation.  The prices for chairs can start from cheap and non-durable over a few short years and go all the way up to absurdly expensive where you’re basically paying for the label.  I tend to shoot for the best value.  Which means I look for the lowest priced chairs that will give me a usable product for many years.  We have a wide selection of materials to chose from for our chairs.  There is the standard stained wood, painted wood, or painted wood with a distressed finish if you’re going for a country feel to your kitchen.  Perhaps a more modern look is more in tune with your style.  In that case, you can also chose chairs constructed out of metal.  For example you can buy aluminum chairs, chrome chairs, or wrought iron chairs.  Wrought iron chairs might damage hard-wood floors so be careful.

Stools are a nice change of pace.  They can provide a livelier, more social feel to a kitchen at a reasonable price.  I have stayed away from stools mostly because I have young children.  They have fallen off of or knocked over our wide based chairs more times than I can count.  The problem would be an order of magnitude worse with stools.  When my kids get a little older, say in two or three years, I might consider low, metal stools with a chrome finish.  I think that would give our kitchen a nice classic 50s soda fountain feel.  We’ll have to see what’s in style at that point.  You might also be considering the taller bar stools.  I think tall bar stools are a great fit for a game room or kitchen counter, but I personally feel like a breakfast nook should have a medium height table.  Medium height tables render taller stools inappropriate.

Benches are a staple of “breakfast nook sets.” Breakfast nook sets frequently feature a rectangular table with one or two high-backed benches and one or two benches without backs.  The high-backed benches provide the suggestion of an area separate from the rest of the kitchen even if the set is inside the same four walls as the kitchen.  Many sets will also feature an L-shaped bench. Bench materials consist of the usual suspects, including wood and metal.  Although, benches are most often made out of wood.  Wood is common because it can readily be distressed to provide a rustic or country element to a kitchen.