10 Ways to Add a Dining Space to Your Kitchen
Whether you are enjoying a cup of coffee or hosting a formal dinner party, you can easily create the perfect eatery in your kitchen
The formal dining room is becoming less and less common, especially in modern open-plan homes where it is replaced by more casual kitchen dining. The most obvious option for this is the island bench with breakfast bar; these create a social hub for family and friends to gather around while they sit to eat, drink and chat.
Not every kitchen is large enough to have an island with seating, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t incorporate a different kind of dining area into your space instead. Check out these 10 ways you can incorporate an eatery into even the smallest of kitchens.
Not every kitchen is large enough to have an island with seating, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t incorporate a different kind of dining area into your space instead. Check out these 10 ways you can incorporate an eatery into even the smallest of kitchens.
2. Wrap around extension
To create a more social seating arrangement at your island while dining, consider having your benchtop extend at both the back of the bench and at and one end of the island, to create a return or an ‘L’ shape. Here, the diners can converse more easily, almost as they would while sitting at a dining table.
Has the formal dining room left the building?
To create a more social seating arrangement at your island while dining, consider having your benchtop extend at both the back of the bench and at and one end of the island, to create a return or an ‘L’ shape. Here, the diners can converse more easily, almost as they would while sitting at a dining table.
Has the formal dining room left the building?
3. Peninsula breakfast bar
If you don’t have enough space in your kitchen for an island then having a peninsula return at the end of a run of kitchen cabinets is not only a great way to add extra storage and bench space, it also gives you the opportunity to create space for some extra seating.
Here, the peninsula benchtop overhangs the cabinets by 300 millimetres at the back, the same as you would do with an island. The stools can be easily pushed in under the bench when they are not in use, ensuring the space stays clutter-free.
If you don’t have enough space in your kitchen for an island then having a peninsula return at the end of a run of kitchen cabinets is not only a great way to add extra storage and bench space, it also gives you the opportunity to create space for some extra seating.
Here, the peninsula benchtop overhangs the cabinets by 300 millimetres at the back, the same as you would do with an island. The stools can be easily pushed in under the bench when they are not in use, ensuring the space stays clutter-free.
4. Cosy space for two
Even in the cosiest of kitchens it’s generally possible to add some casual dining space. Here, a kitchen benchtop has been extended past the cabinets to create a small and intimate dining area at its end. Positioning one stool at the front and one on the end optimises the use of the dining space. When not in use as a dining area, this extra benchtop can be used as work space to prepare food.
Even in the cosiest of kitchens it’s generally possible to add some casual dining space. Here, a kitchen benchtop has been extended past the cabinets to create a small and intimate dining area at its end. Positioning one stool at the front and one on the end optimises the use of the dining space. When not in use as a dining area, this extra benchtop can be used as work space to prepare food.
5. Long island extension
This is a great option if you have a long room, or if the dimensions of your room don’t allow enough space for stools to be pulled out at the back of the island without obstructing a pathway.
Extend the benchtop to the desired length and support it underneath with legs that match the style of your kitchen. With no cabinets underneath, diners can comfortably sit on both sides of extension.
See another selection of eat-in kitchens
This is a great option if you have a long room, or if the dimensions of your room don’t allow enough space for stools to be pulled out at the back of the island without obstructing a pathway.
Extend the benchtop to the desired length and support it underneath with legs that match the style of your kitchen. With no cabinets underneath, diners can comfortably sit on both sides of extension.
See another selection of eat-in kitchens
6. Table-height island dining
If you would like to keep your dining space in the middle of the kitchen where all the action is, but you are not a fan of sitting on a high bar stool at an island bench, then this may be the answer for you.
Here, a dining tabletop is attached to the end of the island, creating an integrated look. The benchtop area being used for dining has been positioned at dining-table height (usually about 750 millimetres) as opposed to island height (somewhere around 900 millimetres). This allows you to use dining chairs in place of bar stools for more family-friendly seating.
If you would like to keep your dining space in the middle of the kitchen where all the action is, but you are not a fan of sitting on a high bar stool at an island bench, then this may be the answer for you.
Here, a dining tabletop is attached to the end of the island, creating an integrated look. The benchtop area being used for dining has been positioned at dining-table height (usually about 750 millimetres) as opposed to island height (somewhere around 900 millimetres). This allows you to use dining chairs in place of bar stools for more family-friendly seating.
7. Dining table centrepiece
If you don’t have space for both a dining table and an island in your kitchen, and you can’t bear to get rid of your dining table, then why not position it in the centre of the kitchen. This creates a very homey and family oriented atmosphere. Plus, the table can double as an island bench when it’s not being used for meals.
If you don’t have space for both a dining table and an island in your kitchen, and you can’t bear to get rid of your dining table, then why not position it in the centre of the kitchen. This creates a very homey and family oriented atmosphere. Plus, the table can double as an island bench when it’s not being used for meals.
8. The best of both worlds
In a larger, open-plan space it may be possible to have both a large kitchen island and a separate dining table. This option offers flexibility and a choice of dining options for meals at different times of the day.
The dining table can be reserved for formal dining and family dinners, while a breakfast bar at the back of the island can be used during the day for quick breakfasts and a cup of coffee while you mull over the mail.
16 clever ways to create zones in open-plan spaces
In a larger, open-plan space it may be possible to have both a large kitchen island and a separate dining table. This option offers flexibility and a choice of dining options for meals at different times of the day.
The dining table can be reserved for formal dining and family dinners, while a breakfast bar at the back of the island can be used during the day for quick breakfasts and a cup of coffee while you mull over the mail.
16 clever ways to create zones in open-plan spaces
9. Bench seat
Building a bench seat into a window space or against the wall in a corner of your kitchen creates a cosy and relaxed area that can be used for dining or just chilling out.
Use the bench seat in lieu of conventional dining chairs on one side, and possibly also one end, of your dining table. Have some storage built into the bench seat in the form of drawers underneath or a lift-up top beneath a seat cushion.
Building a bench seat into a window space or against the wall in a corner of your kitchen creates a cosy and relaxed area that can be used for dining or just chilling out.
Use the bench seat in lieu of conventional dining chairs on one side, and possibly also one end, of your dining table. Have some storage built into the bench seat in the form of drawers underneath or a lift-up top beneath a seat cushion.
10. Cafe dining in the round
This round cafe-style table creates a dining space in a kitchen where there really isn’t much space at all, proving that there are always possibilities. Choosing a round table means that less floor space is taken up and its easier for traffic to move around.
TELL US
How does your family gather to dine? Do you prefer island or table dining? Share your stories with us in the Comments.
MORE
10 Colourful and Creative Eat-in Kitchens
Forever Furniture: A Buyer’s Guide to ‘The Dining Table’
Gather Round: 12 Breakfast Nooks Cool Enough for a Dinner Party
This round cafe-style table creates a dining space in a kitchen where there really isn’t much space at all, proving that there are always possibilities. Choosing a round table means that less floor space is taken up and its easier for traffic to move around.
TELL US
How does your family gather to dine? Do you prefer island or table dining? Share your stories with us in the Comments.
MORE
10 Colourful and Creative Eat-in Kitchens
Forever Furniture: A Buyer’s Guide to ‘The Dining Table’
Gather Round: 12 Breakfast Nooks Cool Enough for a Dinner Party
This is perhaps the most common method of incorporating a dining space into a kitchen design. An island bench is the perfect spot to enjoy anything from a quick cup of coffee to a complete meal with family and friends as it creates a social atmosphere, particularly while cooking.
Have your island benchtop overhang your cabinets by 300 millimetres at the back of the island. This will create sufficient room for you to sit comfortably at the bench with plenty of leg room below.