Skip to main content

How to make any kitchen an eat-in kitchen

There are many reasons why you might want to convert the kitchen in your apartment or home to an eat-in kitchen. Perhaps your existing dining room is slowly being converted into an office space. Maybe you simply want to enjoy a cup of coffee and breakfast without having to go into another room. With a bit of design savvy, you can absolutely create an eat-in kitchen out of most any space.

Happy family in eat-in kitchen
Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com

What is an eat-in kitchen?

Your new eat-in kitchen allows you to prepare and enjoy the foods you love from the comfort of one space. For many urban couples and families, eat-in kitchens are a standard of everyday life and something that adds much needed simplicity to busy lives.

An eat-in kitchen space can be every bit as extravagant as the most luxurious dining room imaginable or as functional as necessary to get the job done. The choice is really up to you. There are a million and one ways to create eat-in kitchens that are both aesthetically pleasing as well as functionally beneficial to the people who enjoy them.

Your new eat-in kitchen will be a place for you to enjoy special meals with your partner, friends, and family. Designing it in your way will allow you to express yourself and create a space that adds real value to your normal life. Your eat-in kitchen project is sure to be fun and exciting. The Spruce shares some ideas.

Why create an eat-in kitchen?

Every home has its own unique mix of pluses and minuses. If you recently completed a move, you might be stumped at how to arrange the eating area. An eat-in kitchen could be an option because you simply love your new open floor plan kitchen. Alternately, you might be considering modifying your kitchen into an eat-in space because you want to reclaim your existing dining room as an office, art space, garden room, or yoga nook.

It doesn’t really matter why you are considering an eat-in kitchen. There are some key benefits to these arrangements that are definitely worth keeping in mind. For starters, an eat-in kitchen often helps support a more minimalist lifestyle. If your dishes are overflowing and cleaning up after meals is taking over your life, maybe containing all cooking and eating to one space is the perfect way to address that.

If you need space for your growing family, budding influencer career or any other purpose, converting your existing kitchen into an eat-in option might be the perfect way to reclaim your space. As you move all your cooking and eating into one space, you can gain the valuable extra square footage you need to realize other important lifestyle changes and modifications. Creating an eat-in kitchen can be a really enjoyable project to work on, suggests Bob Vila.

Creating your new eat-in kitchen

For those of you who have homes or apartments simply brimming with extra space, creating an eat-in kitchen might be as easy as choosing the right dining room table and chairs. When you have a large, open floor plan kitchen, placing a circular, square, or rectangular table in your kitchen might be all you really need to reclaim some extra space elsewhere.

Those who have more limited space might need to be a bit more creative to bring their perfect kitchen eating ambitions to fruition. If your space is in short supply, you might not think it’s possible to create an eat-in kitchen, but trust us: It’s absolutely possible.

To make it happen, consider using bar stools and a counter space as your new eating location. You might be surprised how many beautiful, contemporary folding table and chair sets there are available today. Seriously, it is entirely possible to create a completely luxurious and upscale eating space that simply folds up to be stored in a nearby pantry or closet when not in use.

Choosing easily convertible pieces can be a great way to test out your eat-in kitchen design without having to invest a huge amount of time and money. Even if you are interested in purchasing a more expensive table and chair set down the line, purchasing a folding or convertible model in the same or similar shape will allow you to actually test out how the design works for your life. This way you can try out the eat-in kitchen lifestyle without having to fully commit to it.

Obviously, the more space, the easier it is to create an eat-in kitchen. That said, even if you have a very limited floor plan, you can still benefit from modifying your existing space. Don’t be afraid to test out your new eat-in kitchen; if it doesn’t work, you can always change things back if you don’t enjoy it.

Family sitting at large wooden table
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

Making the most out of your new space

Your new kitchen might take some getting used to. Get the most out of your space by incorporating design elements that help to make the space more comforting and inviting for you and your guests. Consider bringing in elements such as pieces of artwork, antiques, or potted plants to help freshen up the space and make the design feel even more your own.

Now that all of your cooking and eating takes place in your kitchen, consider enhancing it by painting the walls a lively color, adding some framed pictures of you and your family, or simply placing an unusual item on your new dining area. Anything you can do to make your space more satisfying will help you enjoy it even more.

Whether your new eat-in kitchen is coming together so you can claim use of another area or you simply want to test out a new way of living, it really does not matter. As long as you keep a playful and open attitude, you will find that it is deeply fulfilling to play creatively with the arrangement of the rooms of your home. Make the most out of your eat-in kitchen by enjoying your favorite delicious foods there.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Deb Goncalves
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Deb's work has appeared on Moms, Babygaga, and WorldAtlas. When she's not working (that's hard to say about a Capricorn), she…
7 appealing driveway design ideas that will make your home exterior look luxe
Spruce up your exterior with these driveway ideas that are sure to make your home stand out
Modern house with brick driveway

When it comes to adding curb appeal and updating the landscaping, one exterior project that’s often neglected is the driveway. However, the driveway happens to be one of the first things people see when approaching a home. It takes up a lot of space and can easily look unappealing in your exterior design. That’s why updating your driveway is so important, as it can enhance curb appeal and make your home exterior look luxe and elegant.

While it’s easy to opt for a classic gravel, cement, or asphalt driveway, most hotels and luxury homes choose to create a driveway that feels more elegant and detailed. So today, we’re sharing tips on how you can update a boring driveway and turn it into a statement piece on the property. Check out these seven driveway ideas and maybe one will hit the mark with you.
Use brick instead of cement or asphalt
One of the best ways to update a drab driveway is to use brick instead of cement or asphalt. Cement, asphalt, and gravel are the most common driveway materials, but all of them can appear boring or like an afterthought in your exterior design. Instead, why not mimic hotels and luxury homes by opting for brick driveway pavers instead? Brick driveways look luxe, and there are several colors and patterns to choose from. Depending on your exterior palette, you can opt for red, cream, brown, or tan bricks to add some more color to your home’s exterior.

Read more
This incredible app helps you find furniture that looks like it’s from premium brands – for a fraction of the cost
Trying to save money on furniture in your next redesign? This app can help you find name-brand lookalikes
Living room with multiple types of lighting

When searching for new and affordable furniture to spruce up your interior, it can be frustrating to find the right items for your design. Of course, you want quality pieces that look stunning, but sometimes the name brand isn’t always best for you or your situation. While luxury and name brands often have what seem to be the perfect items, the prices aren’t always suitable for your home furnishing budget. That’s why apps like Craftle have come to your aid.

Craftle is a unique app that may be a game changer in your next redesign. If you’re looking for ways to save money while still creating a luxe look in your space, then this could be just what you need.
What is Craftle?
Craftle is an app that works to find similar or lookalike products for a fraction of the price of the original name-brand item. For example, if you love a West Elm sofa but don’t love the high price tag, Craftle’s lookalike finder can search for a similar sofa design for a cheaper price. If you’re looking to save money in your next redesign or are working with a limited budget, Craftle’s lookalike search finder could save you hundreds.

Read more
Dark, dramatic, and modern: Here’s how to style an all-black bathroom
Move over, white: These gorgeous black bathrooms ideas prove a dark palette works, too
Black bathroom wall with black sink and plant decor

White bathrooms are a thing of the past, as gorgeous all-black bathrooms make their way into our interiors. The all-black bathroom is dark, dramatic, and modern, perfect for creating a warm and inviting space fit for relaxation. But styling an all-black bathroom can be tricky. If done poorly, you might wind up with a space that feels flat and lackluster.

To prevent your all-black bathroom from looking like a nightmare, we’ve gathered some amazing Instagram designs that are sure to inspire your next update. So say goodbye to the all-white interior and use these tips to create a luxe and intimate aesthetic in your black bathroom.

Read more