30 Cozy Breakfast Nook Ideas for Every Size Kitchen

A yellow banquette cushion sets the mood in the cheerful breakfast nook in photographer Donna Dotan’s New Jersey home, designed by Rob Stuart. Rattan accents give it a refined, coastal style, and built-in drawers add hidden storage.

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Add a corkboard above a breakfast nook and it becomes the ideal place to display the work of hyperlocal artists—the ones who live in the home. While designing this family home in San Francisco, “I had a vision for this breakfast nook with the cork wall,” says Emilie Munroe of Studio Munroe. “I absolutely love a cork wall. Like wood, it brings a natural element into the vertical space.”

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The corner banquette in this sprawling California home designed by Lindye Galloway sits between double islands in the kitchen and a dining area outside. No matter where you sit, you can be part of the action.

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With purple plaid cushions, fruit-covered drapes, and a denim-like accent chair, this sunny kitchen looks like the set of your favorite feel-good movie. Dane Austin designed this corner nook in a 19th-century home for the owners to enjoy meals with a view—and the peaceful vibe of a more elegant era. “An antique brass faux bois chandelier and a live-edge craftsman-style breakfast table further the naturalist touches of an English countryside estate,” says Austin.

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Yes, an apartment kitchen can have a breakfast nook! Consider the glossy black-tiled kitchen nook designer Nannette Brown created for this moody galley kitchen in a New York apartment. Tempted to follow her lead? Note that tiles are super easy to clean, an added bonus points for messy eaters or families with kids.

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Use your green thumb to bring leafy greens into your kitchen. To play up this home’s period features, designer Francesca Grace gave the interiors a cosmetic refresh with wallpaper, vintage items, light fixtures, and accessories. She added florals in the wallpaper, in a bouquet on the table, and in a hanging planter—a great solution if you love the look (and health benefits) of house plants, but don’t have tons of room). We love how the fun hanging fruit basket also serves a practical purpose: keeping the countertops clear.

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Schedule a breakfast meeting with yourself. Here’s proof that you can make your own breakfast/office nook into a productivity-boosting (and stylish) command station. Get inspired by this desk area designed by Elizabeth Roberts and use your extra space to enjoy a cup of coffee while you answer emails.

If you never met a stripe you didn’t like, add them into your breakfast nook with upholstered cushions and backrests. You can change out the color depending on the season. This space designed by Tamsin Johnson is such a refreshing mix of styles too, from the moody and provocative framed photographs to the casual rattan table, modern walls, and playful yet classic upholstery.

Cameron Schwabenton’s update of a 1770s guesthouse in Charleston makes clever use of the under–the-stairs gap with a breakfast nook that’s a testament to the power of preservation. Walls were stripped down to the original brick and plaster, the table is reclaimed pine, and the custom banquette is in Prince of Wales plaid fabric by de Le Cuona.

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In this New York kitchen by Lilse McKenna, the designer wanted to nod to the garden outside the window—but also the city skyline. The solution? Covering the walls in Pierre Frey’s iconic Espalier pattern (with a few windowsill topiaries to match!).

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Designed by Tiffany Brooks for the House Beautiful 2020 Whole Home, this nook carves out a place for houseguests to eat in their very own little apartment within the larger home. Pink upholstery on the banquette ties in nicely with the window treatments and accents throughout, such as the chair cushions.

Custom back cushions that match the seats create both cohesion and comfort. The wooden wall paneling warms up the darker elements and also reflects the more casual chairs across the table in this breakfast nook designed by Studio Shamshiri.

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How could you possibly not have a good morning in this sun-drenched breakfast nook? Designer and occupant Fitz Pullins removed the French doors connecting the kitchen to this bonus space, enhancing flow and sunlight the bright yet neutral and calming colors along with the laid-back materials that reflect the warmth of the Florida landscape. And the best part? No building necessary—the banquette seating here is just the right-sized sofa.

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It’s always well-advised to set up your dining nook by a large window so you can enjoy that bright morning light. This Emily Henderson–designed breakfast nook is perfect for families, thanks to the ample seating and comfortable and durable materials.

If you want a space that’s fun for your kids but cool enough for you, this one designed by Chango & Co. is the ultimate inspiration. From the oversize drum pendant to the cheerful wall art, it’s chic but approachable.

Interior designer Erin Shakoor doubled the seating in this dining nook with a banquette. “A banquette allows you to sit longer, more comfortably—and with more people,” she tells us.

This color combo in a breakfast nook designed by Nicole Hollis Studio feels glam without being gaudy in the slightest. The cushy channeled sofa is a nice contrast to the angular wooden chairs and hardwood chairs. The lone pendant light and dramatic artwork top things off.

Rattan furniture and upholstery in navy and white with splashes of pink make for an energizing breakfast nook—just what we all need first thing in the morning. Designed by Cameron Ruppert Interiors, the built-in seating also features smart storage.