When you begin to furnish your breakfast nook, it is important to consider how many people you want to accommodate and how much space you have available. Another consideration is the style or personality you want the room to have and what will fit well with your kitchen design. Still more, you need to consider the comfort of the people who will enjoy the space.

One way to provide more seating than chairs is to utilize benches. You can typically fit four to six chairs around a table. Benches will provide seating for more people while taking up less room. If you do not mind sitting close, you can fit as many as eight to nine around a table.

One popular seating configuration is the L-shaped bench. This set-up usually consists of an L-shaped bench pushed into a corner with a rectangular table pushed up to it and then either another bench, or chairs around the rest of the perimeter. Where you can fit two chairs, a bench in the same space will hold three people.

If space is a consideration for you, then benches have another plus, the storage they provide under the seats. Many benches are equipped with storage compartments that you can use for small kitchen appliances, kitchen linens, games, or art supplies for your kids to play. If counter top or cabinet space is limited in your kitchen, the extra storage could help.

The second consideration when deciding between benches and chairs is the image they portray. Benches, perhaps because of their similarity to picnic tables, give a country feel to a room. You will not see a contemporary home or formal dining room with benches.

If your kitchen has all stainless steel appliances and sleek cabinets and marble in black then perhaps the wooden benches would be out of place. If you use country themes, have wooden cabinets, or have family pictures or the artwork of small children around your home then the wooden benches will fit nicely. As with all decorating, it is important to be consistent.

A possible down side to using benches is that they can be uncomfortable. If only your family gathers in your breakfast nook, then the close seating arrangements forced by benches should not be a problem. However, if you entertain people in this are of your house they might find the close courters uncomfortable. It is very intimate to sit with your legs touching and that is a distinct possibility when you sit on benches. It might be a good idea to use a combination of the L-shaped bench and chairs if this is a concern for you.

In addition, benches can be uncomfortable for people of larger size. The surface area of a chair is much larger than that of a bench. If a larger person is sitting at your table, they will definitely be more comfortable in a chair. Again, the combination of benches and chairs should keep all your guests comfortable without denying you of the extra storage or accommodations.

Malisa Holderbaum grew up knowing that corner nooks will save a ton of space in your kitchen. She also thinks that decorating her breakfast nook is a satisfying hobby.

There are many things to consider when picking out your kitchen furniture. First, you must consider how many people will be sitting at the table and how much room you have. Second, the interior design of your home and kitchen specifically should be considered. Thirdly, you want to make sure that your choice is comfortable so that people will want to spend time there.

If you choose chairs for seating, then your will be able to accommodate four to six people. An alternative seating arrangement is benches that easily can hold eight to nine people if you sit close. Another benefit of the bench option is that they take up less room than chairs.

The L-shaped bench is a very common option. The L-shaped bench is just as it sounds. An L-shaped bench sits in a corner with the table moved up to it. You can then fill in the rest of the seating with additional benches, or chairs in any combination. Using additional benches will provide more seating space because you can fit a bench for three in the same space occupied by two chairs.

If space is a consideration for you, then benches have another plus, the storage they provide under the seats. Many benches are equipped with storage compartments that you can use for small kitchen appliances, kitchen linens, games, or art supplies for your kids to play. If counter top or cabinet space is limited in your kitchen, the extra storage could help.

If you choose to use the L-shaped or parallel benches then you want to consider the image they portray. Benches are usually made of wood and have a country feel to the room. Perhaps this is because of the similarity to picnic tables and benches. Whatever the reason, benches are not very formal or contemporary.

If your kitchen has all stainless steel appliances and sleek cabinets and marble in black then perhaps the wooden benches would be out of place. If you use country themes, have wooden cabinets, or have family pictures or the artwork of small children around your home then the wooden benches will fit nicely. As with all decorating, it is important to be consistent.

One down side to benches is the comfort level. Benches do require you to get close. If you mainly will be using the breakfast nook for family meals, then sitting close should not be much of an issue. However, if you plan to entertain, then benches might presume an intimacy that is not present with all who will occupy the space. Having some chairs around the table in combination with the benches is a good compromise.

In addition, benches can be uncomfortable for people of larger size. The surface area of a chair is much larger than that of a bench. If a larger person is sitting at your table, they will definitely be more comfortable in a chair. Again, the combination of benches and chairs should keep all your guests comfortable without denying you of the extra storage or accommodations.