Whether you’re sliding up to a stack of pancakes with everyone in pyjamas or enjoying a solitary cup of tea, there’s something warm and comforting about a breakfast nook. From charming corner banquettes to modern eat-in kitchen tables, get inspired with these cozy breakfast nooks.
Scroll down to see 60+ of our favorites to cozy up in during the chilly season!
A secluded nook is this kitchen was the perfect spot for a banquette which gets great views of the backyard. An upholstered bench in vinyl is a functional fabric choice for any breakfast room.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home April 2021
Shades of pink bring a soft and inviting feel to this sunny breakfast nook, where Andrew Zimmerman art ties in with fresh florals and a blush banquette.
Photographer: Max Kim-Bee
Designer: Lisa Tharp Design
The dining nook in this bright sunroom lets the homeowner’s get some Vitamin D while sitting down to breakfast. Extra-deep seat cushions with lively pillows give it a welcoming feel.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home April 2021
Designer: Meghan Carter
Who says you need a corner to have a breakfast nook? This happy and bright banquette features an oval table to save on space. A Serge Mouille–style ceiling fixture creates a cohesive look.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home March 2021
Designer: Jordy Fagan & Alana Firestone, Collective Studio
This vibrant eat-in banquette exudes Southern charm. An l-shaped bench with buffalo plaid fabric combined with rattan chairs brings old-world style to this comforting corner.
Photographer: Patrick Biller
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Tommy Smythe & Lindsay Mens Craig, Sarah Richardson Design
This modern farmhouse breakfast nook is all about understated details. A shiplap pantry flows effortlessly into the banquette, where a long two-tone pillow adds comfort and instant style.
Photographer: Ema Peter
Source: House & Home December 2020
Designer: Sophie Burke; Architecture by Robert Blaney
A light blue upholstered banquette with a vintage table is exactly where we’d want to begin any chilly day. Bonus points if there’s hot coffee and a spectacular view of the water (not pictured).
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Philip Mitchell
The breakfast nook in this Scandinavian-style farmhouse feels extra cozy against the painted shiplap walls. Neutral toned pillows scattered along the l-shaped bench add to the overall feel.
Photographer: Robin Stubbert
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Shannon Vosters
The whimsical pattern of this black and white banquette adds character to this quaint breakfast corner. The original brick wall behind it was painted white to accentuate the window’s curve.
Photographer: Lauren Miller
Source: House & Home March 2021
Designer: Shauna Walton
Forever a fan of banquettes, designer Brian Gluckstein paired bench seating with a smoked glass trumpet table in the 2020 Princess Margaret Showhome . The table ties in nicely with the kitchen’s black metal detailing.
Photographer: Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
Source: House & Home October 2020
Designer: Brian Gluckstein, Architecture by Richard Wengle
Designer Philip Mitchell framed this charming seating area in his Chester, Nova Scotia, kitchen with a dramatic arch — all the better to highlight a view of the magnificent harbor.
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Philip Mitchell
A cozy banquette turns into a major design moment with a black and white photo of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.
Photographer: Kiely Ramos
Designer: Collective Studio
Powder blue trellis fabric and a sculptural stone table (that looks like it belongs on a patio) creates a garden-like, airy effect in this kitchen corner. The built-in area sits adjacent to the kitchen; behind it is the mudroom, with storage for shoes cleverly hidden in the back of the banquette.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home April 2011
Designer: Anne Hepfer
For this kitchen makeover, designers Cameron MacNeil and Stacey Smithers used the reverse side of a bold fabric for subtler-looking drapes, and created a banquette by fitting an upholstered cushion to low kitchen cabinets, to provide storage as well as seating.
Photographer: Ashley Capp
Source: House & Home October 2012
Designer: Cameron MacNeil & Stacey Smithers
H&H’s Kai Ethier created a soothing spot to start the mornings in her Toronto kitchen, playing off the patterned floor tiles with a solid bench. A floating shelf, bentwood chairs and a mercury glass pendant exude a bistro feel.
Photographer: Ashley Capp
Source: House & Home September 2016
Designer: Kai Ethier, Sarah Hartill & Cameron MacNeil
Designer Danielle Nicholas Bryk added some edge to her family’s open-concept breakfast nook with striking artwork, black chairs and contrast piping on the banquette’s chinoiserie-style fabric.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home October 2014
Designer: Danielle Nicholas Bryk
This Upstate New York weekend home has a welcoming, communal gathering place for weekend guests, nestled between a fireplace and views of the countryside.
Photographer: Jane Beiles
Source: House & Home October 2014
Designer: Selina van der Geest
This mod nook gets a space-age spin from a far-out light fixture and Lucite chairs. A gaggle of pillows and gallery wall give the contemporary corner some eclectic flair. The oversized pendant accentuates the ceiling height, while the shapely Saarinen pedestal table and modern classic Ghost chairs keep the corner from feeling crowded.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home September 2011
Designer: Sarah Callanan
During his Victorian home renovation , designer Joel Bray created a banquette with tufting and Queen Anne-style legs for the kitchen. The on-trend green velvet upholstery takes it up a notch!
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home April 2018
Designer: Joel Bray
In this elegant Calgary kitchen, designer James McIntyre brought in a long, curvy sofa and sculptural pedestal table for the banquette-style breakfast area. The effect is equal parts chic and comfortable.
Photographer: Colin Way
Source: House & Home October 2016
Designer: James McIntyre
To maximize seating in her petite Toronto apartment , Whitney Keeley commissioned a custom table to fit the dining area alcove perfectly so it can comfortably accommodate four. Contrasting backs make chairs more artful in the small, open-concept space.
Photographer: Robin Stubbert
Source: House & Home September 2017
Designer: Whitney Keeley, Absolutely Inc.
In this West Coast kitchen , designer Ami McKay removed the peninsula blocking the view of the backyard, replacing it with a stylish floating breakfast bar and enlarged the back window. The view of the green space beyond is now unobstructed.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home March 2019
Designer: Ami McKay, Pure Design Inc.
Designer Alexandra Hutchison didn’t want to contemplate a criss-crossing sea of table and chair legs. So, she opted for a restaurant-style banquette in her tiny 640-square-foot Toronto semi, which doubles as storage with a drawer under the seat for bulky items. Wood panelling, velvet upholstery and arresting art make this a sophisticated, intimate place to sip morning coffee.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home August 2013
Designer: Alexandra Hutchison
Designer Sam Sacks made the most of the bay window in this light-filled kitchen, having a bench custom-built to fit the niche. Creating a banquette-like dining area is simple for the young family: just remove a couple of chairs and shift the table toward the bench.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home November 2015
Designer: Sam Sacks, Chapi Chapo Design
Simple cabinets from Ikea are dressed up with lots of playful pillows and ocelot-print blinds. Drawers along the base keep special-occasion linens, seasonal accents and serving pieces neatly tucked away.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home October 2013
Designer: Sarah Hartill
In this charming Quebec country home, a light-filled breakfast nook overlooking the forest doubles as bookshelves, where dog-eared titles are tucked away in niches under open benches.
Photographer: Jean Longpré
Source: Maison & Demeure August 2014
Designer: Carl Lapointe
A generous U-shaped banquette by designer Joel Bray’s is lined with juicy green velvet cushions to accommodate a crowd. The leafy hue and dark wood ties into the trees outside.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home October 2016
Designer: Joel Bray
This kitchen nook has a softly romantic French look, with creamy painted panelling that lets the grain show through, a black and white tiled floor and wicker chairs.
Photographer: Jean Longpré
Source: House & Home April 2013
Designer: Rollande Vachon
Designer Sarah Hartill’s original home had a separate dining room, but this didn’t suit her family’s casual approach to entertaining. The new open plan incorporates a laid-back nook, which also offered Sarah an opportunity to layer in pattern — and add even more storage.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home February 2014
Designer: Sarah Hartill
This petite breakfast nook in a Manhattan apartment is loaded with thoughtful detail, such as a built-in mirror that visually expands the space and a cherry-red sconce shade to spice things up.
Photographer: Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home October 2016
Designer: Garrow Kedigian
Aside from hosting family dinner, a spacious banquette is the perfect place to do homework. Tufting and a glossy finish feel luxe, while also being easily wipeable when spills inevitably happen.
See more of this grand new-build on H&H TV .
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home April 2019
Designer: Erin Feasby & Cindy Bleeks, Feasby & Bleeks Design
There’s something so timeless yet graphic about black and wood, as seen in this family-friendly nook banquette . Bentwood chairs feel light and breezy, especially when paired with a whimsical painting.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home October 2019
Designer: Jackie Di Cara
Fit for a young family, this rustic eating area has plenty of room for messy meals. Plus, custom glazed ceramic pendants — designed by Kyla Bidgood and Kris Hageland — tie the whole look together.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home March 2019
Designer: Kyla Bidgood & Kris Hageland, Bidgood + Co
The star of this restaurant-inspired kitchen is the antique church pew which doubles as a banquette. Pops of cobalt blue and bubblegum pink suit the young homeowners’ energetic vibe.
Photographer: Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home June 2019
At first glance, this minimalist dining area seems simple, but take a closer look, and you’ll notice curved marble detailing on the chairs, vintage ceramics decorating the table and a playful Pick Up Stick chandelier.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home January 2020
Designer: Architecture by Superkül
This breakfast nook exudes French bistro flair thanks to the pair of handsome cabinets swathed in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue and timeless striped upholstery on the custom built-in banquette.
Tour this European-inspired kitchen on H&H TV .
Photographer: Sian Richards
Source: House & Home November 2019
Designer: Emily Griffin
In this bold blue eat-in kitchen , red oak herringbone floors contrast beautifully with the cool-toned elements of the space: rich denim blue walls and hints of Tiffany blue in the storage unit and light pendant.
Photographer: Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home April 2019
Designer: Jean Stéphane Beauchamp
“Everyone loves a window seat so, during the renovation, we pushed out the window and created one,” says designer Gillian Gillies . She brought the antique pine drop-leaf table home from Edinburgh to reminder her of home.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home February 2019
Designer: Gillian Gillies
What makes this breakfast nook so unique is the built-in planter, which will have you dreaming of sunny spring days even in the depths of winter.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home February 2020
Designer: Jodi & Andrew Batay-Csorba
A collection of saturated chairs and an abstract painting inject youthful energy into this cool and contemporary nook. The built-in wood bench blends seamlessly with the oak floors.
Photographer: Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home February 2020
Designer: Cuisines Steam
A sunny yellow banquette is a welcome site in the morning, and brings an element of playfulness to the modern walnut cabinetry and a sleek white table in this functional, family-friendly breakfast nook.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home October 2017
Designer: Alison Milne
An olive green upholstered banquette gives this eclectic kitchen a gastro-pub vibe. The custom seating and long wooden table are ideal for hosting a big family breakfast.
Tour this kitchen on H&H TV.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home October 2017
Designer: Erin Feasby & Cindy Bleeks, Feasby & Bleeks Design
In this West Coast home, a built-in banquette offers ample space for family and friends to gather around. A contrasting statement wall, geometric light fixture and statement artwork add drama.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home April 2018
Designer: Colette Soros
Homeowner Andrea Armstrong selected the polypropylene chairs and leather-look vinyl banquette in the breakfast nook for their modern lines and resilience to spilled food.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home January 2016
Designer: Samantha Farjo
A sofa-style olive banquette that hugs the island doubles as a cozy hangout during the colder months. Grey-green panelling and an array of eclectic antique picture frames gives this corner a timeless bistro feel.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home October 2015
Designer: Philippe Beauparlant
This nook is glamorous enough for any soirée. Add a dash of luxury to your kitchen alcove by opting for shapely upholstered seating and a jewelry-like light fixture.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home April 2018
Designer: Stacey Cohen
Oak wood finishes and a petite café table make this charming kitchen feel very of-the-moment, while highlighting the apartment’s historical roots.
Photographer: Gaelle Le Boulicaut
Source: House & Home January 2017
In this breezy eating nook, a vintage brass beehive chandelier was a natural fit. The grouping gets its edge from the mix of woven chairs, a mid-century modern Saarinen table and an upholstered banquette.
Photographer: Jessica Glynn
Source: House & Home May 2016
Designer: Ashley Waddell & Courtney Whatley, Olivia O’Bryan Design
This petite dining area is a haven of vintage furniture. Eclectic wallpaper, antique photos and quirky extras give this 1890s New York loft an eccentric feel.
Photographer: John Gruen
Source: House & Home October 2016
This quiet corner calls for a cup of tea and a book in hand during the cold winter months. “The enclosed feeling makes it much cozier than if I’d just used furniture,” says designer James Davie.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home February 2017
Designer: James Davie
The graphic pattern by Jonathan Adler on this banquette makes the dining area the focal point of this kitchen.
Photographer: Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home March 2018
Designer: Karen Brojde
A diner-inspired tufted banquette in a rich cognac hue provides ample seating around this custom-made table, topped with reclaimed hemlock. The white subway tile walls and bistro-like lighting only add to the nook’s charm.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home March 2017
This airy breakfast nook is located just off the kitchen in this sleek Calgary home. Mirrors on facing walls reflect light and give the illusion of depth.
Photographer: Gary Campbell
Source: House & Home October 2017
Designer: James McIntyre
This spacious round table is an ideal gathering spot for adults and children alike. The dining set fits perfectly into the bay window for a sweeping view of the snow-topped trees.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home December 2015
Designer: Silvana D'Addazio
“The banquette has become the ideal spot to eat, hang out, do homework and chat while enjoying the view of the backyard,” says designer Olivia Botrie of the breakfast nook in this stunning sage kitchen. A vintage table adds a dash of country charm to the small space.
Tour this kitchen on H&H TV.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home October 2017
Designer: Olivia Botrie
It’s no surprise that designer Brian Gluckstein is a fan of breakfast nooks, so the 2017 Princess Margaret Showhome wouldn’t be complete without one. This sleek seating niche offers the best views of the backyard.
Tour the rest of this space on H&H TV.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home December 2017
Designer: Brian Gluckstein
This bright and light nook is framed by huge windows, giving the space a strong indoor-outdoor connection. Ample pillows make the spot cozy for lingering breakfasts, homework or after-school crafts.
Photographer: Tracey Ayton
Source: House & Home July 2015
Designer: Kenny & Michelle Gemmill, Kits Construction
This space-saving built-in banquette can easily host a holiday dinner, as well as an intimate brunch for two. The hints of navy, cream and burnt orange tie in the artwork and rich walnut cabinetry.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home September 2016
Designer: Erika Floysvik, Fia & Company
A modern cluster pendant light has pride of place over this breakfast nook’s wood table and upholstered chairs. The simple wreath adds a festive touch for the holiday season.
Photographer: Kim Christie
Source: House & Home December 2015
Author: Wendy Jacob & Victoria Christie & Talia Hart