Before You Buy Kitchen Furniture

When you are thinking about buying new kitchen furniture, you need to make sure you are starting with a clean slate in your kitchen. It is very important that your kitchen be clean and free of clutter before you start thinking about new furniture. Otherwise, you might be trying to match colors that are not true. In addition, you might forget about accents in your backsplash or in your floor tile if the kitchen is too cluttered. One special thing that you might have to do in a pre-furniture buying cleaning spree is clean your tile grout.

Cleaning tile grout brings about some problems that you do not necessarily have to think about in your bathroom or foyer. First, there is tile not only on the floor, but also on the countertops and backsplashes. Therefore, you do not want to use harsh, toxic chemicals on surfaces that might be exposed to food. In addition, countertop tile is more likely to use colored grout than other rooms in your home. Bleach based cleaners and other harsh chemicals can fade or even eliminate the color in your colored grout. Therefore, you need to consider gentler cleaning options to clean tile grout in the kitchen. Two possible solutions are a one to one mixture of vinegar and water or a baking soda paste.

Seating Options for Your Eat-in Kitchen

Once you have picked out the table for your kitchen or breakfast nook, you need to think about seating arrangements. In a previous post, I talked a lot about benches, but that is not the only seating option available for the kitchen.

Many kitchen tables are round or square and benches may not be appropriate. In this instance, it would be best to have four separate chairs. Whichever chair you choose, make sure that it is comfortable for all body types. If the seat surface is too small then a larger person might not be able to fit on it appropriately. If the surface is too hard then you might need to enhance the sitting experience with cushions. The cushions can match your window treatments or linens for a nice esthetic effect.

If you buy a taller table, stools might be appropriate. This case is usually found in an apartment where there is not much space. The taller tables are typically large enough for two people and you can fit the stools under the table when not in use.

Whichever chairs you choose, your kitchen is sure to be a gathering place for all your friends and family so make sure you have enough seats for everyone!

Kitchen Tables for Any Style

Because people gather in your kitchen, the table you choose will not only serve as an eating space.  Most likely, your kids will play there and do homework.  You will socialize with friends and family and maybe even pay your bills or do work.  You should keep all of these uses in mind when choosing your breakfast nook table.

The most common type of table placed in an eat-in kitchen or breakfast nook is a rectangular wooden table.  Almost all of these tables will have two wide legs toward either end as apposed to four legs at the corners.  This is to prevent the table from buckling under a lot of weight.  The wood is often distressed which works well because the table will not show wear or scratches as easily.

Although it is most common, the rectangular wooden table is not your only choice.  Kitchen tables can be at sitting level or taller and equipped with stools.  The table can be round or square as well as rectangular.  The table can be made of many materials including metal or vinyl laminate.  Your table can reflect your style no matter what it is.

Window Treatments for Your Kitchen

People like to gather in the kitchen or breakfast nook area for several reasons.  The proximity to food is probably most important, but also important is the proximity to light.  Studies show that people like to gather around and near natural light.  Sunlight gives people energy and they unconsciously try to be around it.  Most breakfast nooks and kitchens have lots of windows, so it is a natural gathering place.  

To take advantage of the positives of sunlight but minimize the unpleasantness you need window treatments.  You want to choose curtains or shades that maximize the amount of natural light that comes into the room and eliminate glare and harsh direct sunlight in the early morning and late afternoon hours.

Another reason for hanging curtains or installing valences or cornices is to enhance the esthetics of the room.  Most kitchens have many straight lines and a boxy feel because of the shapes of cabinets and appliances.  A soft curtain gathered to the side or a curved valence can add more interesting decorating lines to your most popular space in the house.

Comfortable Kitchen Furniture

When most people talk about kitchen furniture, they probably mean breakfast nook furniture.  The breakfast nook is such a common addition to any kitchen that many think of it as an extension of rather than a separate room.

Many breakfast nooks have matching furniture sets which typically include a table with chairs or benches.  The table and chairs usually fill the entire space, but if there is extra room sometimes your kitchen furniture can be rounded out with a small table for plants or special keepsakes.

My personal preference for seating is a combination of chairs and benches.  The benches are great because they sometimes come equipped with storage space under the seats.  This space is perfect for storing games or art supplies for your kids to play at the table, kitchen and dining room linens, or small appliances that you do not want to clutter your counter with.

Whatever set-up you choose, remember that the breakfast nook or eat-in kitchen is a place for gathering as well as eating so it should feel comfortable to you and your family.

Breakfast Nooks Are Great for More Than Just Breakfast

People are always asking me which is my favorite room in my house.  This is an easy question to answer; my kitchen is my favorite room in my house and specifically my breakfast nook.  If my home had a heart, it would be located here.  It really is the focal point for my family.

Of course, I serve the first meal of the day on my breakfast nook table, but this area is great for so many other things.  For example, if you have bench seating, then you might be lucky enough to have a storage compartment built into your bench.  These storage bins are great for hiding away art supplies like crayons, markers, and paper.  Your kids can create their master pieces quickly because the have easy access to the starting materials.  Best of all, once they're done all the have to do is gather everything up, lift the bench lid, and put everything back.  In no time, your kitchen and breakfast are back to looking neat and tidy.