Before & After: This Scandi-Style Breakfast Nook Features a Smart IKEA Hack
Ever have a space that you wanted to love, but couldn’t use as much as you hoped because of a funky layout or tight quarters? For Nina Naqvi, of @ninas.craftivity, that space was her breakfast nook. “When we moved into our house, the breakfast nook was the brightest space in the house but was under-utilized,” she says. “The L-shaped sink counter from the kitchen protruded into the space only allowing for a small, two-seater table.”
Nina’s goal? Turn that under-utilized space into a go-to hangout. “I wanted to create more space in the breakfast nook to maximize the space,” she says. And, of course, she also wanted “to create a lovely, warm-but-bright and beautiful area.”
The makeover was done in stages, starting with a reconfiguration of the L-shaped sink area as well as a swap of the old terracotta tile floors for wood to match the rest of the house. Both of these projects were done by pros.
Nina picked up a round white table that allowed for more seating around it, then made a bench using an IKEA BESTA TV unit to give the nook extra cozy vibes. Nina hacked it into seating by adding a back and adding hardware to the unit. After adding pillows, it was totally transformed from TV perch to nesting spot.
To maximize the light in this sunny breakfast nook, Nina chose a brighter white paint for the walls, then finished with wood shelves and plenty of plants. She also hung artwork from the sunroom’s window mullion to give the illusion of floating frames.
“I love the clean lines of the space now and the plants and greenery surrounding the dining table,” Nina says. “If I had to do something differently, I would change the artwork to something bolder in the gold frame.” But for now, the space is both bright and spacious, with lots more functionality—and a design that makes it way easier to sit and stay a while.
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This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Before and After: This Scandi-Style Breakfast Nook is Practically Irresistible