Emily wrote in and said, “…I need to create a space in my home for better dining access. How do you feel about creative eat in kitchens? I would love any tips you have…” I’ve been thinking about elements that make a kitchen space truly unique, and why we love these cozy eating nooks so much. There’s just something about gathering around a table – no matter what they look like – that make them so loved. So today, we’re sharing tips for a smart eat-in kitchen!
1. Tips for a Smart Eat-In Kitchen: Alternative Seating
Benches and storage and leaves, oh my! When it comes to an eat-in kitchen space, the key is really making it flexible, especially if it’s your main dining area. A lot of newer homes are skipping the dining room all together, so it’s good to have flexible options when it comes to that main gathering space. Here, we took a space that wasn’t really serving the family all that well, and made it into a great dining space, right next to their kitchen. This table extends for more seating options, and includes L-bench with storage underneath for more options. Because we all know that with a growing family, the more options the better.
Check out this entire colorful kitchen makeover here!
Here’s another example of that great bench, with a board and batten backing. Bonus points for storage!
2. Tips for a Smart Eat-In Kitchen: Put my thing down flip it and reverse it.
Yes, I did just channel some Missy Elliott. Shhh. Sometimes, there’s no space for that eat-in kitchen area, but the home does include a dining room. {Basically the opposite of what we presented with our first tip, above.} This home has made their dining room makeover their main space to gather and entertain. The family couldn’t be happier with game nights, dinners, parties and more!
Check out more of this space here.
3. Tips for a Smart Eat-In Kitchen: Make it Intentional
With home revamps, we truly work with what we’ve been given, and sometimes that means coloring outside the lines. Literally. This space was currently inhabited by renters, and the owners were ready to revamp home with a new look. So we knocked down the main wall to include it as part of their kitchen, but in doing so lost any divide between the dining room space and kitchen. The original kitchen had absolutely no room for an eat-in area anyway, so this one just really made sense. The solution called for moving a door to the outside entry, and expanding additional cabinetry to the dining area.
Tada! Done. Add a small alcove to make it part of the space. here
This is another example of no eat-in space! While we definitely kept the walls here, sprucing up the eating space definitely helped once we spiffed up that kitchen. We love the before and afters, here!
4. Tips for a Smart Eat-In Kitchen: Modern, but Timeless.
These sweet clients were ready for a more modern take on their home, with cleaner lines and colors. In the end, it helped to mix styles so that the new look had a solution that’ll never get old. It keeps things interesting to bring in various styles and those one of a kind pieces that really make a house a home.
See more here.
5. Tips for a Smart Eat-In Kitchen: Anchor The Space
Our number one go-to is always good lighting and rugs. While we don’t recommend it for every floor plan, lots of older homes are tearing down the divide in favor of more space. The home below is a great example of pulling all together. The right rugs and lighting to anchor the space really makes all the difference.
This one was so drastic, it was a real game changer for their family. See more here.
6. Tips for a Smart Eat-In Kitchen: The Case for Art
We love a good nook before and after. Add color + art to make it interesting! This adorable home is the perfect example. And another bench for bonus points with storage, and more.
See more before and afters of their gorgeous kitchen, here.
7. Tips for a Smart Eat-In Kitchen: Mix it.
I guess you could say we stated our case in the first point above. We can’t emphasize it enough though. Since not every space is meant for that bench life, we say you can always give your chairs a nice mix to keep it fresh. We love a good contrasting combo, and this one is no exception. See more of this one here.
This whole space made such a big change. Incorporating the old dining room into part of the new kitchen made a case for rethinking the layout of an older home.
These are some of our very best tips for a smart eat-in kitchen. What are some of your favorite elements of a good eat-in kitchen area that works hard? We’d love to hear!
Have an inspired day!
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