Breakfast nooks are sometimes built in.
A breakfast nook is a small, casual dining area in or near the kitchen. It is more formal than a kitchen island or snack bar but less so than your dining room. It provides an intimate space for family members to catch up over a meal, a spot to do homework and menu-planning or just relax with a second cup of coffee and the newspaper.
Walls
If your breakfast nook is on the small side, consider painting the walls white or a pastel shade to make it appear larger. A color the same or a shade lighter than the rest of the kitchen adds flow, drawing the eye from one space to the next. A larger room lends itself to more definition. If your kitchen walls are painted, clad the walls in the breakfast nook with beadboard paneling painted a couple of shades darker than the rest of the kitchen. The breakfast nook will stand out while still retaining its cozy nature. Trim the space with bright white molding for even more definition.
Ceilings
If your breakfast nook features high ceilings, cozy it up by painting them a darker shade than the walls to visually lower them. How you finish the ceiling depends on the decorating style of the rest of the home. If the d cor is rustic, consider adding beams or cladding the ceiling with beadboard. Adding crown molding to a plain plastered ceiling gives the room a traditional flair, while covering it with tin panels evokes a Victorian-style home.
Floors
If you want your breakfast nook to stand out from the rest of the kitchen, choose a different type of floor. If the kitchen floor is tile, warm up the breakfast nook with wood. Increase flow from space to space by keeping the floor the same throughout. An area rug anchoring the table adds warmth. Painting a wood floor with a checkerboard design lends itself to country or cottage decor. A linoleum floor is the perfect choice for a "green" home.
Windows
Breakfast nooks are often designed with windows or French or sliding glass doors to add natural light and visually bring the outside in. If your windows frame a nice view, dress them simply in blinds that can be rolled up or curtains you can pull aside to take create a focal point. If privacy is an issue, layer drapes over sheer curtains. When the drapes are opened, the sheers are left closed to provide privacy while filtering natural light. Add a valance for a casual touch.
Furniture
A bistro set is perfect for a small breakfast nook serving a small family. For larger spaces, go retro with a restaurant-style booth or built-in benches coupled with a free standing table. A round vintage table surrounded with mismatched chairs works with shabby-chic d cor while a sleek black counter-height table and high stools fits a more contemporary design.
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