Slate grey shaker kitchen with island style sink and overhanging breakfast bar. Open shelving and exposed white brickwork.

Kitchen Inspiration

Breakfast Bar Ideas

Offering different ways to add another surface in a room, these kitchen breakfast bar ideas make it easy for households to achieve a multi-functional scheme. By extending a layout, this type of counter creates a dedicated place for casual dining, which can double up for remote working without taking up extra floor space. To help you choose the right design, we have put together these tips to show how you can incorporate breakfast bar worktops in your home.

Greenwich super matt white breakfast bar

1. Wake up to white

A breakfast area is often a place to gather our senses on a morning routine, so give yourself the wakeup call you deserve by adding a breakfast bar top in crisp white. This fresh tone helps to reflect natural light around a space for a more bright and open feel. It can also make a room appear larger, making it a great idea for a small layout.

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Slate grey gloss kitchen with island unit incorporating wrap around open shelves and breakfast bar with mirror chip worktop.

2. Test out texture

Double up on style by creating a breakfast space that uses two counters in different shades to create a luxe, layered look. This idea makes it easy to try new trends in a subtle way, as you can pair classic colours, like oak, with a contemporary hue, such as white, to create a bespoke feature that combines modern and heritage aesthetics.

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Clerkenwell Gloss Dove Grey Alternative Angle

3. Make a grey statement

Dark interiors have grown in popularity with many of us harnessing statement shades of black, charcoal, and grey to transform our rooms into boutique-style spaces. A grey breakfast area allows you to dip your toe into this trend without committing to a full renovation. Combine with deep-hued accessories in a sultry tone to tie the look together.

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Hockley Mirror Gloss Dove Grey - Peninsula cameo

4. Create lasting style

Opting for quality over quick fashion fixes is becoming a key mantra for many households who want to adopt a more sustainable way of life. A solid timber breakfast counter offers an eco-friendly material that is also hardwearing. This organic surface can be sanded down to remove chips, bumps, and other small imperfections to keep it looking newer for longer.

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Grey concrete effect kitchen island with white gloss cupboards and six white and grey chairs

5. Move to manmade

Create a budget breakfast bar idea by going for laminate panels. Recreating the appearance of luxe materials for less, this manmade surface is simple to customise, making it easy to create a bespoke feature. @precisejoineryprestwick has used concrete-effect material to create a two-tier counter, which separates the dining and cooking areas.

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6. Add a thick top

For a small breakfast bar idea that is great for compact rooms, span a counter across shallow-depth base units for a place to perch during cooking. This smart hack will provide extra space to prepare meals and will add storage at either end for essentials. Choose a chunkier 38mm-thick surface, which will resist bowing and warping to create a long-lasting feature.

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Hockley Super Matt Dove Grey Handleless Alternative Angle

7. Thin out distractions

Pared-back furniture is popular as the simple design keeps cleaning and visual clutter to a minimum. Slimming down on the thickness of a breakfast counter will create an unobtrusive look while providing a sturdy surface fit for daily use. A thinner panel is also good for accentuating a linear scheme, which focusses on minimal aesthetics and architectural details.

Discover 22mm breakfast bars

8. Look to longer lengths

Choosing a lengthier counter, so it overhangs at the end, is a small change that will quickly transform ordinary base furniture into a multi-functional place for meals or meetings. This smart worktop breakfast bar idea can easily be achieved with our longer, 3.6m laminate surfaces, which are supplied in a variety of on-trend styles and finishes for a custom look.

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White quartz breakfast bar with marble worktop and brown bar stools

9. Go over the edge

To introduce a high-end feel to your space, add a waterfall design to your breakfast area, like @bethsandland. This premium style creates a continuous look, as the counter pattern extends down the side of the unit for a flowing effect. This idea works best with square-edged work surfaces, which have clean lines that ensure all joins meet neatly for a clean and professional finish.

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Subtle cream kitchen idea using antique white shaker doors and white worktops. Has a peninsular layout and a breakfast bar.

10. Drawer out legroom

Swap out cabinetry on the end of your breakfast unit to showcase more floor for a roomier feel in a smaller layout. This clever design will create an eye-catching feature while providing extra legroom when compared to standard bar styles. Maximise the remaining space by adding double-drawer cupboards on the other side, which will make it easy to access and organise everyday essentials.

Look for storage drawers

11. Charge up your day

With working from home becoming the new normal, our spaces must work harder to support personal and professional activities. Follow @pingcoombes’s lead, by adding plug points beneath a breakfast counter, to charge laptops, mobile phones, and small appliances. This idea will transform the unit into a multi-purpose place that will take you from work to play with ease.

Explore switches and sockets

12. Build a home bar

As staying in becomes the new going out, consider making some simple changes to ensure socialising at home is effortless and enjoyable. A wine chiller, as seen in @mollieking’s design, will keep cold beverages close by, and will create a custom drinks area that is ready for entertaining. Go for a smaller option, which can hold up to seven bottles and will save space in a compact room.

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13. Create a flooring feature

Ensure your new breakfast area really stands out by making a bespoke breakfast bar panel using leftover floor planks or tiles. As well as creating a neat and tidy finish, this fun idea is economical, as it will reduce waste and save money on additional materials. It will also create an attention-grabbing focal point for a personal touch that is unique to your home.

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Slate grey super matt kitchen with contrasting black handles, black kitchen worktop with two single built in electric ovens.

14. Extend the island

Take advantage of a larger layout by adding a breakfast bar table to an island to create an impressive centrepiece. This idea will define the food preparation and dining zones, which you can accentuate with different materials. A polished counter provides an easy-clean surface for cooking, while a timber panel adds organic texture, offering a sensory backdrop during family meals.

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Chelford White Handleless Bespoke Seating Detail

15. Finish it your way

Using a raw surface for your breakfast space is a great way to create a custom feature in your design. Giving you the freedom to choose any colour, this unfinished material is a flexible option that allows you to stay ahead of the trends, so your home always looks on point. Stain the panel with a darker shade, like dark-brown or black, to create a bold and striking look.

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