A traditional breakfast nook is a great addition to a classic dining space, even if the kitchen or dining room offers plenty of space for a full-size table and chair set. It is typically a small space that will not hold much more than a table and chairs, but it is welcoming and stylish when appropriately furnished and beautifully decorated. It is a niche that is just the right size for light dining, but it is a great place to sit and enjoy more than just breakfast.
A home that a friend and I rented on Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas had a beautiful traditional breakfast nook. I loved gazing at the water while enjoying tea each day in this cozy part of the home. The little alcove at the front of the house is also where we ate our meals when we were not roughing it outdoors. The small bumped-out area of the kitchen did not include an ordinary table and chairs typically found in a rental on a lake. The designer and owner of the home chose something far more unique. The furnishing and decorating scheme was incredibly stylish, and I would love to include a similar design in my next home.
Consider Furnishing your Breakfast Nook with Booth Seating
The Bull Shoals breakfast nook included booth seating with comfy padded benches and a simple diner-style table. The benches with shelves along the tops were attached to the walls on two sides of the pedestal table, and they included sunny yellow cushions. The seating reminded me of a booth in a quaint cottage-style restaurant, and I absolutely loved the design. Consider this option when decorating and furnishing your traditional breakfast nook. It can feel like the very best seat in your favorite restaurant.
Decorating the Walls with Vibrant Color
A morning filled with sunshine is a great way to start any day. When seeking eye-catching ways of decorating and furnishing a breakfast nook, coat the walls with a warm vibrant hue. The walls of the traditional breakfast nook in my favorite home away from home were painted sunny yellow, and although I do not favor yellow walls they looked spectacular in this comfy kitchen niche. The walls matched the cushions beautifully. When furnishing and decorating your traditional breakfast nook, match the walls to chair pads or cushions for a stylish combination.
Furnishing your Dining Niche with Natural Light
A traditional breakfast nook is generally illuminated by natural light. The breakfast nook that inspired plans for my next home offered lighting with an incredible view. It had windows from floor to ceiling at the end of the table and smaller windows above the booth seating. For privacy reasons they were covered with white wood blinds, but the window treatments did not detract from the decorating scheme of the niche. An adjustable window furnishing makes it easy to adjust the amount of light coming in while blocking the view of passersby. The white wood-slat blinds were ideal window treatments for the space.
Let the light shine in on your traditional breakfast nook when decorating and furnishing your home. Make it as cheerful as possible. Consider a skylight in addition to an array of beautiful windows when designing, furnishing and decorating a dining alcove. The windows and other options you choose can turn an ordinary kitchen niche into a favorite space for dining, relaxing, reading and more.
Source: Personal and Professional Decorating and Design Experience