Designing A Dreamy Kitchen Nook That Brings Everyone Closer Together
Kitchens get a lot of attention + rightfully so but hold the phone, my love… let’s not forget the small but oh so mighty kitchen nook!
Kitchen nooks are typically one of the most versatile spaces in our home.
While a dining room is ideal for larger gatherings, a kitchen nook is an intimate place for you to sit down + comfortably enjoy a quick snack or a routine meal (like breakfast, lunch or dinner) with those you love + adore the most.
It’s a space that encourages conversation not only over food but as space for our family to sit + do homework, create rainy day art projects, play board games or even curl up with a good book.
Okay, let’s be real… it’s also the perfect place to scroll Instagram or thumb through TikTok videos :)
Because the kitchen nook plays such a pivotal role at home, we want this space designed in a way that’s just as functional as it is comfortable + inviting. But considering how often this cozy little nook will be used, we also need it to be everyday durable + long-lasting. Not to mention, if we’ve got kids or pets we need for it to be friendly to those loving little beasts *wink*
Curious how we make this all happen?
Here are a handful of design-savvy fundamentals that we take into consideration each time we’re designing a kitchen nook… which is quite often wink
Assess First, Plan A Functional Layout Second
Real talk, you simply can’t get into your happy zone if you’re breakfast nook has chairs that are uncomfortable or a table that’s so difficult to clean that the moment you sit down you’re greeted with leftover crumbs + sticky areas *yikes!*
When it comes to little inconveniences, it’s easy to push them aside. They’re not the end of the world, right? BUT, happiness is an “inside job”. Once you recognize how you’re interacting, or fighting, with your home, you can pour creative juices into curating solutions!
At Elegant Simplicity, we’re all about considering what activities happen in your home + determining a layout for a space based upon those routines + habits.
If you’re doing this alone, think not merely about “what” would be in a kitchen nook but how “you” actually use yours.
Why Is A Kitchen Nook Necessary For Your Family?
Most people jump to “what” they need before assessing “why” they need it.
Is it for every meal + you’ll rarely use the dining room in your home? Or do you plan on eating specific meals here, like say, breakfast?
Perhaps, it’s not for eating at all but really for conversation with others while they’re cooking/cleaning in the kitchen.
When we begin to understand why a kitchen nook is necessary, specifically for your family + how you live, then we can begin to curate “what” your kitchen nook should look like.
But there’s one more thing to do…
Declutter + Organize
Before you start designing the most incredible breakfast nook of all time, it's important to start with a clean slate.
After all, clutter can create chaos and stress in our homes.
Start by getting rid of items that no longer serve you or that you haven't used in awhile. You can recycle, donate or sell them to make room for not just “new” things but “better” things. Things in your home that further empower you to reach your higher self.
And of course, you not only want to declutter but you want to organize your home.
We’ve written all about how organizing impacts our physical, mental, and emotional health. Simply by considering new organizing systems + setting up storage solutions that work with your habits + routines you will be well on your way to designing + organizing a wonderful kitchen nook.
Determining A Functional Layout For Your Kitchen Nook
The key to layout is to understand functionality first. Based upon how you’ll use the kitchen nook + who will use the kitchen, does it make more sense to have a table and chairs or a table and benches? What about a combination of benches + chairs with your table?
If you’re intending for people to sit for long periods of time, let’s say to play a family game together, then you might opt for cushioned seating vs wood. Or you may opt to consider adding a few pillows to a bench/banquet.
Even if we're all a little alike — for everyone their kitchen nook is a bit different. *wink*
Taking the time, at every step of the way, to consider these is a part of creating a home that’s everything you need + nothing more®.
Curating Your Furniture Selections Wisely
From built-in benches to a simple table + chairs, there are a lot of ways to make a kitchen nook swoon-worthy. But the most important thing to realize is that it isn’t all about good looks. Ding, ding, ding... yep, you heard that one correctly.
As an interior design firm, we’re all about the swoon-worthy aesthetics of a space but when it comes to the wear + tear of everyday life, our focus is all about marrying beautiful interiors with functional living.
And this my friend, is why durability matters!
As a nook in the kitchen, it’s likely going to see a ton of wear + tear.
Kids sliding in + out, sticky fingerprints all across the table, spilled snacks + crumbs getting ground into the upholstered cushions –– starting to catch our drift? And to think, we haven’t even touched on homework or those beloved arts + craft projects, gulp! Oh, boy.
So, what’s a wildly-ambitious mom or dad like yourself to do?
Think about the finishes being used in this space.
Is the table wood, metal, or veneer? Do you have a glass top for protecting it?
What about the chairs? Do they have cushions + if so how easy are the fabrics to clean?
Making Your Kitchen Nook Look Cozy
Let’s dive into how this cozy kitchen nook of yours can look cozy too.
Kitchen Nooks Perfect For A Built-in Bench
If you’re lucky, you’ve got the perfect space in your kitchen for a built-in bench to live. In which case, one way to liven things up is to create depth + dimension by simply adding an upholstered bench cushion.
Not only is this a great way to layer in the comfort but you’ll be patting yourself on the back when that wonderful bench cushion of yours can easily be removed + cleaned as needed. Win-win!
On the other hand, if you don’t have a bench cushion, you don’t like the idea of one or it’s simply not functional you can go the route of tossing a few decorative throw pillows into your kitchen nook on a wood bench for some added personality. Psst.. don’t be afraid to mix + match color, texture + pattern in this space.
But what if you don’t have a built-in kitchen nook? Not to worry.
Kitchen Nooks Perfect For Chairs
While we’re all about large, communal, family-style gatherings, imagine coming home + sitting down at an enormously long dining table every night for dinner –– with everyone hovered at one end with the rest of the table going unused –– long story short, this sounds anything but heart-warming.
Instead, in a kitchen nook opt for a smaller table with a few comfy chairs (space permitting of course) to create an intimate space, that’s just the right size, for your family to connect each and every day.
Certainly, when it comes to seating, solid wood or metal chairs will do. However, think about your kitchen this way. When it comes to the kitchen + all the hard surfaces that make up this area –– it can very easily feel cold. Which is why, adding a layer of warmth with upholstered chairs is an excellent way to create that perfect cozy kitchen nook.
Maximize Natural Light In Your Kitchen Nook
To be fair, we want to maximize the natural light in just about every room of your home.
It’s better to have too much natural light than not enough but especially in the kitchen nook where you’re likely to have a lot going on from a functionality standpoint. From baking to art projects, homework or even simple conversation with the family, natural light in the kitchen nook creates the illusion of a larger space. Larger spaces, with less boundaries, even if simply an illusion, intuitively feel more comfortable to us as human beings.
Pssst….if you don’t have a ton of natural light in your kitchen that’s ok, keep your wall colors bright + neutral. This way, you create that illusion of space + any furniture at the kitchen nook will feel like it has plenty of room to breathe.
Choose An Interesting Light
Perhaps your kitchen nook doesn’t have great lighting or maybe you just feel like it is underwhelming?
Consider adding a stunning, stop you in your tracks, overhead light fixture.
While it can provide you with some seriously needed task lighting, when taking into consideration all of the other influencing elements, it has the ability to steal the show.
Imagine a kitchen nook with a light overhead that says, “hello, gorgeous” when you walk into the room. Swapping out lights is a powerful thing in design because it can immediately affect the mood of a space. If you’ve been around Elegant Simplicity for a while, you likely desire a calm sense of harmony throughout your home.
And choosing an interesting light can do just that :)
Balance Is Key When Selecting A Light For Your Kitchen Nook
Balance here is key, though. So, if you already have pendants hanging over your kitchen island then choose a complimentary light that won’t be a focal point.
Generally speaking friend, adding interesting lights to your home is no different than picking jewelry that makes an outfit look divine –– it can make even the most “plain jane” feel unique or they can effortlessly tie it all together.
Look at you go, pro! *wink*
Bring The Outdoors In To Your Kitchen Nook
Last but not least, don’t be afraid to introduce the outdoors to your kitchen.
Your kitchen is made up of a lot of manufactured materials that fulfill a specific utilitarian need.
They need to be functional, durable + easy to clean which in the end, means we’re left with lots of hard sterile surfaces in the kitchen.
If this is how you intuitively feel, try introducing a few natural elements. Whether it’s by way of greenery, through a warm natural wood finish, woven furniture or even through home decor accessories –– creating a cozy kitchen nook is all about layering in a little bit of Mother Natures’ secret sauce.
Lucky for you, we’ve written an entire article about how to achieve this in your home.
Truthfully boo, we know you want a home that feels like the ultimate guilty pleasure. A home that makes your heart smile with pleasure when you walk in the front door + are reminded of those precious moments in your life.
If this is something you feel you can’t go it alone on, not to worry friend — we’re here. If you haven’t already, check out our 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home and when you’re ready to begin your transformational journey — let’s chat.