We Answer Wednesday - Best Kitchen Table Ideas

“I love my kitchen but the breakfast area is very small. I would love to have a table in this space but I don’t want something intrusive. What are my best options for a small breakfast nook?”

Great question! This is a reality for so many people, especially condo living. Many homes have an area in the kitchen that’s great for a table for breakfast or kids doing homework etc. but don’t know how to use the square footage properly. There are functional and stylish options for every home – sometimes we have to be inventive and creative!

Its important to be realistic about how your going to use this space. If your not going to use this table with other people, is having 6 chairs a necessity? Probably not. If you are using this as your only dining space, maybe so. In that case, here are some suggestions for the best tables for your small kitchen. If this is your only dining space and you want it to look more formal you can still keep the size and scale proportional but look for some chairs that have a more elegant style and add a beautiful dining light fixture above the table

For small spaces, our first recommendation is always glass. The great thing about glass is that it is clear (I mean duh, right?) but because of that, it is non-intrusive. Because it is clear, it almost camouflages to a space. The transparency is truly a great option for making a space seem larger than it is.

Round tables are definitely most ideal for small kitchen spaces because they promote conversation and can accommodate more seats than a rectangular table. Square tables are also a good option. There are only four sides to this so having 6 seats will be challenging. Depending how you will be using the table – 4 seats may be more than you even need anyways. Also if building in a bench (with piano hinge for additional storage) is possible it's a great space saver if you have a Bay window.  It's casual and comfy seating and it looks great with a round table.

Often a smaller base is easier to cram people around, it seems more spacious than having four legs. A single pedestal is much less intrusive. Depending how large the legs are and the shape of the table will determine its functionality in terms of seating. Be mindful of that.

Pub tables are a great option for a small space. Depending on how you use this table, having a higher pub table sometimes makes a space seem larger. Having additional height often makes the room seems larger, instead of having more seating width wise, we’ve added height.

Positioning of your table is also something that can really impact your space. Let’s face it, sometimes there just isn’t a lot of space. In a perfect world, our kitchens would have a beautiful space for a breakfast nook with a bay window and built in bench. That’s not always a reality. Sometimes your furniture placement is limited. Don’t be afraid to push the table against the wall. Or the kitchen cabinets. As long as there is a decent traffic pattern(2 feet is ideal) than use your space in a functional way.

We Answer Wednesday - Kitchen accessories

“I’m looking to add more colour to my kitchen without breaking the bank? What do you suggest??”

Great Question! There are so many accessory options and various forms of décor that can make a world of difference in a space. Sometimes a fresh colour palette is all your home needs!

Adding a pop of colour is a fantastic idea.. make sure when choosing that pop of colour it is something that flows nicely with your current décor and colour -scheme. Small colourful updates are a fantastic facelift but look best when they complement the existing décor. If you have a very neutral palette your options are endless! If you are locked into a certain colour, I suggest finding a colour that balances your room. If you are having trouble with that, typically a dark kitchen could use some lighter pieces and vice versa. If you have a kitchen that has lots of colour in the cabinetry, or countertop, choose a great neutral accent to tone down the existing colour palette. 

 

1. STOVE: Add a pop of colour by adding a new teapot/ kettle to your stove. This is a budget friendly find that you can buy in ANY colour. Plus that adds some interest to your stove. Adding new hand towels in various colours and patterns is an instant refresh. 

2. Add cookbooks in a corner in a stacked pile to add variety. Choose something with an interesting title, or a nice cover that balances your style.

 

3. ColourfulUtensils: a yellow spatula? Red spoon? Update the jar that you keep the tools in. These are inexpensive updates that will make big difference. 

4. Stools: This one is a larger ticket item, but if you shop around, finding a new stool set is a great update to modernize a space or even add a new texture such as wood or leather.

 

5. Add a few beautiful accessories such as candles, small sculptures, soap dispensers, any small item that is ‘new’ to your space will make a difference. Jars for sugar, coffee etc are small items that are easy to add as well.

Beautiful items, or else buy a set of 4 glasses, plates and bowls to use as ‘art’ for your cabinets.

6. Greenery is a nice addition to a kitchen, fresh flowers brighten a space without committing to a colour. If you’re undecided on what palette you’d like to incorporate, start by adding colourful fresh flowers to see how the colours are accent your kitchen. Putting them in a nice vase doesn’t hurt either.

7. If you have a glass cabinet, try updating a few glasses or plates. If all your cabinets are glass, I don’t suggest doing this necessarily, but if there is one that you can emphasize, use this as a display cabinet and showcase your most show-worthy pieces.