Does your kitchen have a forgotten corner? You know the one. It’s that spot with a plain table and a few chairs, but it has no real personality. It’s a place to eat, but it isn’t a place you love to be. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. So many of us dream of having a cozy, inviting breakfast nook, but we worry it’s too expensive or too hard to build.
Well, I’m here to tell you that you can create the breakfast nook of your dreams, and it’s easier than you think. As a senior decor guide, I’ve seen it all, and I’m about to share one of my favorite projects with you.
This guide will walk you through a complete dining nook makeover. We’ll cover everything from painting an accent wall to the ultimate secret for affordable DIY breakfast nook bench seating. Get ready to turn that boring corner into the coziest spot in your home!
Your Game Plan for a Dreamy Dining Nook
Before we start swinging a hammer or opening a can of paint, let’s talk about a plan. A great makeover starts with a great idea. Look around your kitchen. What colors and textures do you already have?
Instead of fighting your existing style, let’s embrace it. If you have warm wood countertops, let’s pull that warmth into the nook. If you see beautiful green trees outside your window, let’s bring that color inside. This project is all about creating a space that feels balanced and connected to the rest of your kitchen.
Our goal is to create a true breakfast nook feel, with all the features we love: soft pillows, a beautiful round table, and most importantly, comfy bench seating.
Step 1: Set the Mood with a DIY Accent Wall
An accent wall is the perfect way to define your new nook and add a pop of personality. It acts as a backdrop for your beautiful bench seating. But you don’t have to paint the whole wall. A half-painted wall can feel even more intimate and custom.
For a calm and natural feel, a color like sage green is a wonderful choice. It balances the greenery from outside and makes the space feel complete.
A great tip is to come about 60-65 inches up from the floor and paint a straight line across. This creates a cozy, contained feeling for your cozy breakfast nook.
| Pro Painting Tip for Textured Walls |
|---|
| Do you have bumpy or “orange peel” textured walls? Getting a perfectly straight paint line can be tricky. Here’s a simple trick: After you apply your painter’s tape, run a thin line of clear, paintable caulk along the edge of the tape you’ll be painting. Smooth it with your finger. This seals the edge so no paint can sneak underneath. Once you peel the tape away, you’ll have a perfect, crisp line! |
Step 2: The Secret to DIY Breakfast Nook Bench Seating
Here it is—the part you’ve been waiting for! Custom built-in benches can cost thousands of dollars. But we have a secret weapon: IKEA. This amazing IKEA bench hack is the key to getting that high-end look for a fraction of the price.
The perfect solution is hiding in the kids’ section. We used two IKEA toy storage benches (like the SMÅSTAD / PLATSA series). These are perfect because they are deep, sturdy, and have a huge drawer for extra storage. You can hide away blankets, seasonal decor, or extra kitchen supplies.
For a long wall, simply get two benches and place them side-by-side. This simple step forms the base of your incredible DIY breakfast nook bench seating.
How to Make Your IKEA Bench Look Custom
Right now, the benches look like they came from IKEA. Our goal is to make them look like expensive, custom-built furniture that has always been a part of your kitchen. A little bit of paint is all it takes.
To start, try to color-match your kitchen cabinets. You can take a cabinet door to the hardware store to get a perfect match. A warm, creamy white often works well to tie everything together.
Here is a simple table to guide you through the painting process. This is the most important part for making your IKEA bench hack a success.
| Painting Step | Why It’s Important | Product to Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prime First | IKEA furniture has a smooth, shiny surface. Primer helps the paint stick so it won’t chip or peel. This step is a must! | Use a sticky, bonding primer like Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3. |
| 2. Paint a Few Coats | Use a foam roller for a smooth finish. Flat paint is a good choice because it sticks well, and we’ll add a protective top coat later. | Your color-matched latex paint (a flat or eggshell finish works well). |
| 3. Seal for Durability | Your bench will get a lot of use. A clear top coat protects it from spills and scratches, making it easy to wipe clean. | A water-based polycrylic in a satin finish gives a slight shine. |
After these steps, your benches will no longer look like separate pieces of furniture. They will look like a single, beautiful built-in that elevates your entire kitchen.
Step 3: Add Layers of Comfort and Style
With your bench seating in place, it’s time to make it cozy. One long, custom cushion can be very expensive. The affordable solution is to use individual seat cushions. Look for square cushions that have a grippy material on the bottom so they don’t slide around. It’s amazing how five simple seat pads placed side-by-side can look just as good as one custom piece!
Next, bring in lots of pillows. This is where you can play with colors and textures. Look for pillows in shades that match your accent wall and your countertops, like greens and tans.
To complete the dining area, swap out a square table for a round one. A round table makes it easier for people to get in and out of the bench. It also makes conversation feel more open and welcoming. Finally, ground the whole space with a nice area rug. A 5×8 rug is often the perfect size for a dining nook makeover.
Step 4: The Finishing Touches
It’s the little details that will make your breakfast nook truly special.
First, let’s add some light. You don’t need an electrician to add beautiful wall sconces. You can use a “magic light trick” instead. Simply hang any sconce you like, and instead of wiring it, pop in a battery-powered puck light. You can turn it on and off with a remote control! It gives you that soft, warm glow with none of the work.
Next, look at your windows. If you have old vertical blinds, taking them down can change the entire room. Replace them with soft, light-filtering curtains. A great designer trick is to hang the curtain rod much wider than the window, extending it all the way to the corner of the wall. This makes the room and the window feel much bigger.
FAQs
What is Ikea’s secret DIY website?
IKEA does not have an official secret website. Instead, creative fans create these “IKEA hacks.” They share their smart ideas on blogs. Pinterest and sites like IKEA Hackers are great places to look.
What is the best height for a breakfast nook bench?
The best height for a bench is about 18 inches. This measurement should include the cushion. This height works perfectly with a standard dining table. It leaves plenty of room for your legs.
How can I make my IKEA kitchen look expensive?
You can make an IKEA kitchen look expensive. Start by painting the cabinets. Always use a good primer first. Swap out the standard knobs and pulls. New hardware makes a huge difference. You can also add custom trim or molding.
Can banquette seating be added to a corner?
Yes. A corner is a perfect spot for banquette seating. It is a very popular way to create a cozy nook. This design is often called an L-shaped banquette. It makes great use of an empty corner.
What is the IKEA Pax hack?
The IKEA PAX hack is a famous DIY project. It uses IKEA’s PAX wardrobe system. People use it to create custom-looking closets. They add trim and paint around the wardrobes. This makes them look like expensive built-ins.
You Can Create Your Dream Breakfast Nook!
Creating a beautiful space in your home doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. As you can see, a few smart choices and fun DIY projects can completely transform a room. This project turned a boring corner into the most popular spot in the house.
From the beautiful green accent wall to the amazing DIY breakfast nook bench seating, every step worked together to create a cozy and inviting space. The best part is, you can do it too.
What do you think of this breakfast nook makeover? Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions or are ready to start your own project