How to Install a Breakfast Nook

Draw the kitchen to scale on graph paper and plan the breakfast nook. Be sure to include windows and doors. Place the breakfast nook away from the flow of traffic in the room, such as the path between the refrigerator and the kitchen entrance. The traditional placement for a breakfast nook is under a window.
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Decide on the shape of the breakfast nook. To accommodate your needs and to fit in with the rest of the kitchen, you may select a curved, rounded, U-shaped or L-shaped banquette. Design a cabinet height of about 15 inches, shorter than the standard 18 inch height to accommodate a four- or five-inch cushion. The standard height will take a two-inch cushion, which is not as comfortable and inviting as a thicker sofa-like cushion.

Make the seats about 20 inches deep. While you do not want them too deep so diners will have a hard time reaching the table, you want to leave enough space for the cushions that support their backs. The seat back height can vary according to your preference. The typical size range for the seat back of a breakfast nook is up to around 48 inches. Select cushion fabric colors and texture that blend with the style of the kitchen. The fabrics should be easy to clean, or better yet, place removable cushions and washable slipcovers in your breakfast nook.

Add drawers to the seat box for extra storage and make the job easier by purchasing prefabricated drawer fronts. Screw the seat box into the wall studs with shims to make sure it will not pull away from the wall when it is in use. Trim the unit with decorative crown molding.