Kitchen Breakfast Bar Ideas & Trends

modern English country kitchen with wooden accents

Leaning against your kitchen counter, you catch yourself daydreaming about a space that feels more inviting – somewhere that’s not only practical and stylish, but also perfect for coffee catch-ups, quick breakfasts, and late-night chats.

Glancing around, you start thinking about the possibilities: a sleek island with high stools for morning espressos, or a rustic wooden bar that doubles as a casual dining spot – complete with statement kitchen island lighting to set the mood and beautifully decorated to reflect your style.

Whether you’re working with a spacious kitchen or a compact one, the right breakfast bar can completely transform the way you use your home.

Discover the latest kitchen breakfast bar ideas and trends to help you create a space that’s as beautiful as it is functional.

6 kitchen breakfast bar ideas for a practical and stylish space

1. Choose a calming colour scheme

The colour scheme you choose can make all the difference when it comes to creating a relaxing atmosphere in your kitchen, so consider opting for calming shades when designing your breakfast bar.

Think about designing a breakfast bar made from natural hardwoods such as oak or walnut to introduce a relaxing, earthy colour palette into your kitchen. Natural hues like forest green, deep blue, and warm terracotta are also perfect for adding a touch of serenity and sophistication to your space. To really tie everything together, choose soft furnishings, kitchen appliances, plates, and other accessories that match the theme.

Image courtesy of @prettypinkplane

2. Make lighting the focal point

When it comes to lighting your breakfast bar, pendant lights are the way to go, providing an even spread of light across the area to sufficiently illuminate tasks like eating or working. Opt for bold, statement pendant lights to create an attractive focal point, making sure all eyes are immediately drawn to the breakfast bar.

“A breakfast bar really comes to life with the right lighting. Hanging two or three pendants above it not only makes it more practical but also turns it into a real focal point – perfect for everything from morning coffee to evening drinks.”

Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, Interiors Expert and Co-Founder

To set the right ambience for any time of day, be sure to put your pendant lights on a dimmer switch. This will enable you to turn the brightness up for preparing your breakfast on dark mornings and dim the lights for romantic evening catch-ups over a bottle of wine.

frosted bubble chandelier over a dining room table

Image courtesy of @thehouseofdan

3. Opt for a slimline kitchen island

If you’re looking for small breakfast bar ideas, a slimline kitchen island is the perfect solution. Not only does a slimmer kitchen island take up minimal space, but it’s also great for open plan living spaces, doubling up as a divider between the kitchen and living area.

To maximise its functionality, opt for a design that incorporates built-in storage or open shelving underneath – ideal for stashing kitchen essentials or displaying stylish cookware.

4. Add bar stools to existing counters

Another great breakfast bar idea for kitchens that are on the smaller side is to turn one of your existing countertops into a breakfast bar. Simply add a couple of sleek bar stools at one end of your worktop to create an inviting spot for morning coffee, casual meals, or a place to perch while chatting to the cook.

If your worktops aren’t quite spacious enough, you could consider installing an overhang to lengthen the bar. Opt for a different material to your worktops to really emphasise the breakfast bar as its own area.

5. Create a multifunctional space

For the perfect modern breakfast bar idea, think about how you can make best use of your space and turn it into a multifunctional zone for eating, cooking, working, and socialising.

You might choose to install a work surface at one end of the breakfast bar where you can chop, cut, and mix ingredients, or a sleek kitchen tap and sink that matches your design scheme. Allow the breakfast bar to easily be turned into a flexible work spot by installing plenty of plug sockets underneath for your laptop and other devices.

6. Incorporate glamorous metallic finishes

Metallic finishes are great for adding a touch of luxury and glamour to your breakfast bar and are very on trend right now. Opt for gold finishes to give the space a high-end feel – these can be incorporated through your kitchen cupboard handles or kitchen lighting.

For a more sleek, contemporary look, consider silver finishes instead. Introducing your chosen finish into your space could even be as simple as upgrading your light switches and plug sockets.

However, be sure to incorporate metallic elements sparingly – using them too much could look too garish.

tarnished copper double socket adds a glamorous metallic touch to the kitchen

Design elements to consider when planning your kitchen breakfast bar

A breakfast bar should be both stylish and practical, enhancing the functionality of your kitchen without disrupting its natural flow. To ensure you design the perfect breakfast bar for your home, make sure you consider these four elements.

1. Space

The first thing to consider is how much space you have available. If your kitchen is large and spacious, you might be able to install a new, purpose-built kitchen island, creating a central zone for eating and socialising.

If your kitchen is on the smaller side, you might have to get a little more creative with your breakfast bar ideas. You likely won’t have enough room for a new kitchen island, but can rearrange your existing space to create your breakfast bar, such as by adding bar stools to a worktop.

2. Positioning

Where you position your breakfast bar is crucial to ensure the natural flow of your kitchen isn’t disrupted. You’ll need to leave plenty of room for walkways and make sure that no appliances are obstructed.

If a central kitchen island seems like it would get in the way, you could always opt for a breakfast bar that sits at one side of the room; take advantage of natural light by positioning the breakfast bar facing towards a window if possible. Alternatively, you might want to position the seating to face the main work areas so that it’s easier to socialise while cooking or preparing food.

3. Material

You’ll also need to consider the worktop material used for your breakfast bar, as different materials can give your kitchen a different feel. Wood is great for a more rustic or farmhouse look, while marble exudes a sense of luxury.

However, you’ll also need to think about durability – it might be best to choose a material that’s easy to clean and more resistant to stains to keep your kitchen in top condition.

“The colour of your breakfast bar material makes a huge difference to the mood. Warm, rich surfaces like darker woods or deep-toned marbles create a cosy, inviting feel, while lighter stones or pale woods keep the space feeling fresh and bright.”

Lyz Igwe, Colour Expert at Dowsing & Reynolds

4. Storage

Finally, think about how storage could be incorporated into your kitchen breakfast bar, especially if you’re short on space. Including open shelves, drawers, or cupboards underneath your bar area will maximise your kitchen’s storage potential and help keep your home organised.

Any unused space at the end of your breakfast bar could be used to add corner cupboard or drawer units, or even a stylish feature like a built-in wine rack.

5 breakfast bar styles to get you inspired

There are a few different breakfast bar styles to choose from, so you’ll need to decide which option is best for your kitchen. Think about how you intend to use the breakfast bar day to day; it could be a simple spot for snacks and conversation, or perhaps you want it to double up as a food preparation zone or a stylish drinks bar in the evenings.

Raised breakfast bar: This style is ideal if you want a clear, designated zone for eating. It has a more formal, sleek look that makes it great for regular dining and hosting guests.
Lowered breakfast bar: Like a raised breakfast bar, lowered breakfast bars can be used to separate food prep and dining. However, because they’re lower to the floor, they typically serve as a more casual dining area and might be more suitable for families with children.
Floating breakfast bar: This style extends outwards from your work surfaces and is great for casual dining in smaller kitchens where a separate breakfast bar area won’t fit.
Wall-mounted breakfast bar: For small kitchens, wall-mounted tables are one of the best breakfast bar ideas. They provide a great spot for everyday dining without taking up too much floor space.
L-shaped breakfast bar: These breakfast bars are great for busy kitchens, allowing for smooth movement between workstations. They also make your breakfast zone more sociable by enabling you to sit at a 45-degree angle to each other rather than in a straight line.

Show us your stylish breakfast bars

We’d love to see how you’ve used these breakfast bar ideas to transform your home. Tag us on Instagram @dowsingandreynolds – we can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!

Written by: Lyz

Meet Lyz, our brilliant Head of Customer Experience here at Dowsing & Reynolds. When she’s not busy improving customer journeys and ensuring customers are considered at every touchpoint, Lyz loves nothing more than quad skating, making scented candles, and reading books on her favourite subjects - which range from interior and graphic design to quantum physics!

Kitchen Trends 2025