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The latest kitchen feature to reemerge from our design past

There has been a recent resurgence in some quaint areas of kitchen design. We've seen classic pantries return, pain rails holding rows of vintage copper pots, and sweet little curtains under farmhouse sinks. Florals abound, so too does chintzy wallpaper and chequered floor tiles. The latest feature to reemerge from our design past is the breakfast nook.

The breakfast nook provides a level of informality in the kitchen – not quite as relaxed as a cup of tea and a piece of toast on the sofa, but without the ceremony of a dining room. It's an in-between space for leisurely mornings in pyjamas.

"Breakfast nooks are a great way to break up the space in your kitchen and create a comfortable little corner for enjoying your morning coffee or getting stuck into a good book on a Sunday afternoon," say the interior design experts at InHouse Inspired Room Design. "They add a new dimension to your kitchen too, offering a snug place for people to relax while someone cooks, or a place to enjoy a view of the garden over a mid-morning cup of tea."

Whilst the concept may sound like a bit of a design whim – there is probably little need for an entire corner of the home given over to snacks and cereal – breakfast nooks are usually modest enough to be tucked away when not in use, but add the very practical option of extra seating space.

A breakfast nook is usually very compact, worked into an alcove that has little use for anything else, or nestled in the angles of a bay window. Furniture can be integrated, like a bespoke window seat or built-in bench – which is especially common if your breakfast nook sits in a corner – or free standing, such as a small bistro table.

"There’s a growing demand for compact, minimalist pieces that provide places to eat and entertain that can be easily tucked away when not in use," says Tom St Quintin, Furniture Buyer at Furniture Village. "Every nook and countertop is a chance to add practical value to the kitchen."

According to InHouse Inspired Room Design, the breakfast nook is a simple design update.

"If you’re interested in adding a breakfast nook in your home, there are lots of easy ways to do so. Find a corner in your kitchen or living space that isn’t being used — this might require moving furniture around — and then add a table and some comfortable seating. A simple way to do this is by adding a table and an armchair or two, but if you want something more extensive then adding seating into the wall around a corner is the ultimate redesign."

Your choice of seating really depends on how you envisage using your breakfast nook. A comfortable armchair might be a sensible option if you enjoy spending mornings with a newspaper, or want a place for company whilst you're cooking. Integrated benches are usually softened with upholstered seats – a lot will bear vintage-inspired pattern like wide stripes.

Styling a breakfast nook is less of an exercise in functionality than other areas of the kitchen.

"Throws, blankets, rugs, and soft carpeting can all help this corner become a space you’ll want to spend lots of time in. Try to colour-coordinate your textiles with the furniture and wall colours so that you create a coherent, pulled together theme. This will instantly make it look like it’s been designed with care and thought and elevate your nook even more.

Earthy, rustic tones and designs are great for introducing a relaxed atmosphere, so consider bringing in moss green, deep tones, and different textures to give your nook a feeling of warmth and welcome."

The right choice of lighting will always help to delineate small pockets in the home, and it's a chance to introduce further vintage references. A sweet wall lamp with a pleated shade, or a low-hanging pendant that casts a warm glow around your table would work.

"If you don’t have the space or budget to create a distinct breakfast nook, try to carve out a corner of your living space by simply rearranging your furniture and adding a table and a comfy chair, to offer you that subtle change of atmosphere and scene."