10 breakfast nook ideas, from morning coffee to nightcap
Design: Time & Place Interiors
Those of us used to living in New York apartments know that dining space can be limited. Many folks in this city have just a small breakfast nook — to be used whether they’re catching a bite on their own or hosting friends for dinner. And post-pandemic, the little breakfast area has become another work-from-home spot. So this little space gets a lot of use.
Even if you have the tiniest dining area, there’s room for creativity in making it stylish. Think of the small space as an opportunity to make a big design statement. A well-designed breakfast nook will give you enjoyment throughout the day, from your morning coffee, all the way to winding down for an intimate after-dinner drink.
So, how do you design the perfect breakfast nook?
Hang a beautiful pendant light centered above the dining area’s table. The lower it’s hung, the more it creates an intimate glow.
If you can fit just a couple of chairs in your breakfast nook, pick interesting ones. They could be vintage cafe chairs or contemporary stools with a sculptural quality. Mismatched chairs are great too.
Don’t forget the decor. A small breakfast nook is the perfect place to be intentional with custom cushions and accessories. Hang good art, or a mirror to make the small dining space appear bigger.
I’ve rounded up 10 breakfast nook ideas for your inspiration. Grab a cup of coffee, take a seat, and savor these pretty small space designs.
A custom banquette upholstered in wool becomes a pseudo "built-in" dining area for a small studio apartment in the West Village. Vitsoe wall shelving takes advantage of vertical space. Design: Common Bond Design / Photo: Mark Weinberg
The eat-in kitchen portion of a Pre War Manhattan apartment has vintage furniture and oversized original art to make a big statement. Design: Timothy Brown / Photo: Richard Powers
Natural materials, muted tones, and sculptural shapes are a classy combo in this moody breakfast nook. Design: Bungalowe / Photo: Shade Degges
A vintage chrome table and matching Gio Ponti chairs punch up the style factor in this Manhattan apartment’s breakfast nook. Design: Ryan Lawson / Photo: Ori Harpaz
Small can be sweet. In this mini dining spot, a 1950s marble table and Italian vintage chairs provide a unique take on cafe style. Design: Melissa Tingley / Photo: Tim Hirschmann
This Greewich Village breakfast nook has vintage all the way, from the furniture, to the lighting, and even the 20th Century original art. Design: Bachman-Brown / Photo: Eric Petschek
The chairs of a breakfast nook can be functional sculpture. Take a lesson from the Pierre Chapo beauties in this muted West Village dining space. Design: Sebastian Zuchowicki / Photo: William Jess Laird
Mid Century is the name of the game in this vibrant breakfast area, with a smoked lucite dining set, a Sonneman lamp, vintage cookbooks, and Turkish rug. Design: Deborah Gleiberman / Photo: Jenna Peffley
A simple Brooklyn dining nook gets the mod treatment with a pair of mismatched sculptural chairs. Design: Joshua Itiola / Photo: Max Burkhalter
There’s no space too small for antiques. Gustavian chairs reupholstered in Pierre Frey fabric add nuance to a modern New York breakfast nook. Design: Carlos David / Photo: Douglas Friedman
Ready to make the best of your breakfast nook?
Time & Place Interiors is a New York-based design studio mixes vintage and modern decor to create beautiful, personalized spaces for busy young New Yorkers. Founder Ksenya Malina can help you maximize the design and function of your space, even if it’s a tiny breakfast nook . Use the link below to schedule a free 20-minute information call with Ksenya:
