25 Inspiring Breakfast Bar Ideas For Tiny Kitchens That You Should Pin Now

Well, hello my fellow kitchen space maximizers.

With this post, I wanted to show you how you can elevate your kitchen by getting a little creative with your space and adding a little breakfast bar area to your kitchen.

It’s ok to use the space so don’t feel guilty because it may feel a bit unconventional.

These can be lovely little spaces never thought possible. With sunlight, enough legroom, and a place for people we care for to hang out.

Even if your kitchen is very small, you can still have everything necessary there, including eating and drinking 😉 space.

There are a couple of ways I’ll propose that we utilize this space. As it could feature a small overhanging, or utilizing a windowsill to use as a breakfast nook.

Surprisingly they can be put together rather easily with just the addition of materials you have lying around.

I believe that all elements should be in seamless harmony extending their natural function to our everyday lives.

If you’re puzzling over organizing a breakfast bar or a tiny meal space, here are some ingenious ideas. Let’s get into the details…

Windowsill Breakfast Bars

A windowsill can be used for storage or turned into a breakfast or drink bar.

Go for a wider and thicker windowsill to make it comfier, think of attaching it higher than usual to make it comfy for sitting at it.

Add a couple of stools and you’ll get a comfy and lively eating space with lots of natural light. Easy-peasy.

Effortless Industrial Stools

This is a super effortless setup composed of a thin windowsill breakfast bar with metal industrial stools. If you got that slab of quartz laying around and a trip to get the bar stools at your local Target and you got a small space with a chic touch of urban flare. Of course, this setup features a compact dining area with your trendy industrial charm. Imagine sitting there sipping your coffee and looking out of the window or standing and smashing your next task on your next WHM day.

Wicker Delight

This breakfast, wicker chairs, coffee, and the beautiful lush views, just give me the vibes. Can we just talk about the wicker chairs for a sec? They make the space look organic and are generally supportive with a coolness that gives a sensation of comfort and relaxation. I particularly like that the mantel is repurposed and installed about midway on a larger window. This intimate setup seamlessly marries the natural wicker texture with the rustic elegance of a wooden bar top.

Slim Still Eats

Here is a good example of what I consider function over form as they effortlessly blend innovation and space-saving motifs. Imagine a cleverly crafted windowsill hugging the window’s edge, held up gracefully with two legs. It just works with the flow of traffic into this space. The pièce de résistance? A brilliant leaf setup, allows the tabletop to smoothly retract and extend along the window, granting you the freedom to adapt the space to your needs.

Social Sill

Step into a realm where design meets functionality. A wood counter ingeniously placed under the window transforms the unused space into a social gathering spot. In addition, this cozy enclave accommodates four modern stools, thoughtfully equipped with short lumbar support for ergonomic bliss. The Roman shades gently filter the sunlight creating an inviting ambiance for a great start of the day. The drop shelf adds a touch of convenience as the timeless brass and dark ascetics offer a timeless, sophisticated design. Do you smell the dark-roast brewing?

Elevated Eats

A chic high-rise apartment calls for a chic, wide, and all-white windowsill that happily invites us to sit on the comfortable stools and look at the city views at stunning heights. These stools feature leather tops and footrests reminiscent of modern now retro space age 60-70’s barstools. The windowsill is wide enough to accommodate its patrons as it makes us feel invited with a delightful array of plants and vintage bottles. Amidst the mostly white kitchen, a striking blue accent wall serves as a dynamic backdrop, infusing a refreshing burst of energy.

Timber Fusion

I am just in awe over this absolutely adorable and charming rustic chic breakfast table overlooking a neighborhood that much reminds me of San Francisco or even the streets of uptown Tehran. The interplay of natural wood tones and bold still accents create a visual balance. Loving these yellow bar stools, adding a pop of color and cuteness as they infuse this tiny kitchen with much energy. This one leans into its rustic charm and modern vibrancy showing us how a couple of thoughtful additions can be so transformative.

Floating Breakfast Bars

If your kitchen is extra small, think of having a wall-mounted breakfast bar and make it foldable to fold it when not in need.

Make it as large as you want and need and attach it in the space, which is comfortable for you.

One more smart idea is attaching a floating breakfast bar to your kitchen island – it will separate the cooking and the eating space.

Either way, it’s relatively easy and non-invasive to put up (for the renters out there). As they can be installed right into the studs without heavy modification. Besides, if you’re not using the stools, just stow them away under the floating breakfast bar to save some space.

Rustic Radiance

Discover a breakfast bar with a wall-mounted table, flanked by rustic industrial stools – a contemporary twist on classic charm. Featuring modernized revival of rustic elements such as wood and bricks, this bright, naturally lit place helps this narrow space look larger. Indeed, a quarter wall now serves dual purpose; embraced by suspended luminance above the revamped breakfast area. If you don’t have brick available then a white subway tile could be a great fit here. A masterstroke of design, this creation is a clear example of how combining utility with textures can create a captivating canvas of form and light.

Space-Savvy Station

This visual masterpiece with a Jetsons aesthetic is a circular floating breakfast bar that can be used for work, too. This compact and adaptable rounded setup that wraps around a wall, redefines spatial utilization. This space is enhanced by clear plastic Eames like bucket chairs and a suspended LED light fixture not only highlights the sleek design, it offers functional illumination. Its compact size, matched with an artful circular motif, cleverly wraps around the wall, transforming this space into a hub of productive activity.

Modern Elegance

Sleek and practical, a floating black table paired with matching stools brings a touch of modern flair to a predominantly white kitchen that could otherwise induce a clinical feel. Positioned opposite the window and sink, it optimizes space while remaining visually unobtrusive. The table, decorated with artwork and a functional pin board, becomes a focal point, complemented by vases of fresh flowers and neatly placed cookie tins. This setup effortlessly combines style and functionality, enhancing the kitchen’s appeal.

Functional Farmhouse Charm

In a practical setup, a floating breakfast bar with a useful shelf doubles as a kitchen island. This narrow farmhouse-style kitchen, features two bright windows lighting up a four-person table with lively orange Eames molded plastic chairs and cheerful flower arrangement. Up on the shelf, you’ll find small plants, salt and pepper shakers, and measuring cups, while below, a step stool and hidden kitchen garbage can fit right in. Overhead, black and white artwork adds a touch of sophistication, while lively orange accents – from the kettle to the lush green cascading plant – bring a burst of energy to the whole space.

Coastal Chic Escape

Elevate your space with a floating raw edge tabletop plus bright orange stools for a chic bar. It’s golden hour and the sun is warmly beaming in and there is a mirror installed above creates the illusion of more space. There is art work and a wine fridge and for just a moment it feels like i’m sitting at a wine bar off the coast of California. This is how a couple of thoughtful elements with color can transport us to another place. If I was able to add some red elements in here it would also work well. What are you ordering from the bistro?

Extended Harmony

Adding a floating round breakfast bar by attaching to the kitchen island and tall wooden stools could be the perfect way to extend your existing kitchen island. With a thoughtful placement of a fruit bowl and dramatic flowers (also think freshly cut willow branches with spring time buds) could bring it all together. I particularly like the leg room that gives the kids, should they do homework while I do the meal prep for the week.

Dynamic Radiance

This small colorful breakfast space with a wall-mounted tabletop comes with it’s own shelves installed above that’s very unique to this setup compared to the other examples. It gives us more room for dishes or decorative items. The red carries through from the kitchen cabinets into the shelves and the the red legged chairs. Over all it creates a very dynamic and inviting dinning corner. It flows well and stands in its own right.

Spicy Delight

A small kitchen with a (petite) floating wooden breakfast or drink bar with a white bucket seat stool with legs made of the same beach wood that is found in the rest of the kitchen. They added a floating bar underneath the kitchen cabinets to maximize their space. I probably should have mentioned the red retro fridge accent piece that brings life in an otherwise washed setting. Look, if you want an example without the red accent piece, then check out the next one.

Nordic Chic

A Scandinavian kitchen celebrates Nordic cool tones with a tiny breakfast bar composed of a wooden floating tabletop and some comfy stools. This minimalist chic city apartment celebrates a smart design with a calm color palette keeping things simple but stylish. A big inspiration from midcentury Europe, I find this design used today mixing it with other cool designs creating something unique. You can try incorporating a cool Nordic style into your own small kitchen design.

Modern-Retro Fusion

A wall-mounted oak bar with bar seating under an unused area such as a hallway under a window is ideal for meals of any kind and even working there. Its installed under a window in a hallway with metal diner one-ring bar stools with a mated chrome finish. The pairing creates visual interest by mixing retro aesthetics with the modern white oak offering a complementary contrast that feel crips, clean and updated.

Dynamic Duo

Lastly, a wooden kitchen bar with black stools can be used for drinks and meals. It is a stylish and versatile addition to your home decor. The wooden bar brings in a warm and inviting element, adding a touch of natural texture to the space. This material choice introduces a sense of comfort and coziness, making it an ideal spot for both relaxed meals and casual drinks. The black stools, on the other hand, introduce a sleek and modern contrast.

Other Breakfast Bars

Some other ideas may include partly wall-mounted, partly legged breakfast bars, tiny bar counters placed where it’s comfortable and bar counters attached to the kitchen islands – make them taller or lower than the cooking surface to highlight it.

And look, if you don’t want to install it you can opt for one with storage underneath it and a table top that rest on the floor.

Get inspired!

New Heights

In one of the previous examples a round table was installed at the end of the island to extend the seating space. In this example, it is a kitchen island with a double countertop installed along the length of the island. The taller one is used as a breakfast or drink bar as it accommodates for bar stools and gives guests their own space. This is such a common setup in apartments and sometimes I can forget that this is also an option so I decided to include in the ideas.

Raised Island

Here is another a raised up breakfast bar as a part of the kitchen island. This time a pony wall is put up and the the same material counter top and some brackets mindfully creates a space where guests can gather for a glass of wine all while intoxicated by aromas of food cooking. I’ve provided another example of the raised breakfast bar to highlight that using granite for the top, it gives it a more luxury feel and by adding bar stools with a woven wicker give it a light supportive comfort. The quartz or stone counter top is easier to clean than the wooden variations. The key takeaway is that you can dress it up or down to fit your aesthetics.

Bohemian Eco-Chic

The brown floating shelf matching black industrial stools with matching wood seats remind me of a hipster coffee shop I use to frequent. The kitchen or living corner that people shy away from can be brought into interior harmony by the thoughtful spatial alignment of repurposed wood floating table to form a bohemian eco-chic space that’s comfortable and mindful and sustainable as you are. Blanks cut to size from the left over wood can transform and tie in the industrial stools to the floating bar. This could be your next DIY project.

Calming Vibes

Walking through a Scandinavian kitchen with a small white tabletop and wooden stools feels simple, cozy, and organized. It’s all about making spaces look clean and calm. In this kitchen, there’s a small light-colored tabletop – like a mini table – where you can sit down and have a meal or do some homework. The wooden stools are left natural as they add a touch of warmth and nature to the kitchen. It plays well into the flow that the large open patio door create, drawing guests to this bright, inviting space.

Unbounded Studio

This one is perfect for the SoMa San Francisco studio dweller. When I’m faced with an awkward design, I find it best to play into it. This way, it’s no longer limited by our constraints. The limitation faced here is space, and having to deal with the awkward placement of the fridge. But, don’t fret, put a table up against it, match it with a couple of modern stools from IKEA and it was meant to be. Clearly, we’re not bound by any limitations set forth. The trick here is to find a setup that plays into the material of counter tops and the color of the appliances.

Surf Bar

The babies come home from school to a small breakfast bar attached (lower because of their height) to a kitchen island and a couple of industrial metal stools. Opt for an easy to clean, durable surface for easy maintenance. For the foot rest, go ahead and use metal pipes and for the back splash go for distressed wood. Also, in addition to creating a coastal atmosphere, we are also protecting the wall from scuffing. My vision is we can combined some pastel colors to invoke a relaxed, beachy vibes.

Minimalist Chalk-Board

Welcome to a small minimalist breakfast bar with a built-inn oven and striking black industrial stools. These stools add a touch of modernity while complementing the overall minimalist theme. It’s modern, it’s chic, it uses an unused corner…cool. If I can have you attention to the right of the table there is a wall painted with chalk board paint with a message celebrating new years. This creative canvas is the sort of thing I get excited to put up a menu of the week with wine and fromage pairings. 🥂

Handleless Bar

As someone who designs the insides of homes, I often hear people asking for kitchens without handles nowadays. These are called “handleless kitchens.” People really like how these kitchens look so clean and simple, especially in modern homes. But guess what? This idea isn’t new. Back in the 1970s, people liked these kinds of kitchens too, and now they’re popular again, especially in recent years. So, plan a head and go for a white kitchen island with an uplifted breakfast bar and brown leather retro stools to get that smooth aesthetic.

Copper Pendants

You walk into this room and can’t help but notice the copper pendant lights in the kitchen. Yes, fam, they are in fact mirror pendant lights from Oslo. So, don’t feel bad about the shiny object squirrel syndrome as it’s part of the design, and yes they are glass. They built out a bar that looks like half of a sandbox with distressed wood and they used one of the sides as a table top. This is all put up against the island creating bar space. Say it louder so the brick wall in the back can hear…It’s impressive…

The alternative is to try to put a table in space that’s not feasible, or would restrict the flow of traffic in your home kitchen and as we know, that’s not a very efficient use of the space.

It’s easier to stow away some bar stools rather than an entire table anyhow.

Now at least you have some options to add some seating to your already tiny space.

Remember big things can come in small packages, take advantage of existing space transforming it to living space…ok carry on ♥.