I'm so with you, Amyanyman, about these badly designed spaces. Did you get shown properties where the "breakfast nook" space is a little larger and is called "family room" even though there's no other place to put a dining table?

But, for your ideas, why would some comfy chairs by the windows be silly? Agree--it's dining seating both at the bar and at a table behind it that would be silly. If your living room is just as typical, though, there's only one area to sit in, probably focused inward on a TV, possibly even with windows out a different direction? How about some inviting chairs facing each other over an ottoman so people relaxing there can look out the windows, read, chat with the cook and others, wait for the biscuits to brown, etc?

I had a place with a nook like that and I did just what Rosie suggested. Instead of a table, I put a small loveseat in the window, almost like a window seat. I added a bookshelf on one of the adjacent walls that held a small television, magazines, etc. It was a great place to sit and chat with the cook, to have coffee in the morning, and to have a drink in the evening. In fact, we eventually got rid of the bar stools and added an ottoman in front of the loveseat because the stools seemed like they were just in the way and the loveseat was more comfortable.

I'm sitting in a motel room at the moment. It has a 30 inch round table and two chairs that would easily fit in a 10 foot wide area. This table would be too small to sit four people for a full meal, but is large enough for two.

I just looked at a 1.3 mio brand new house that had exactly that problem: bar with stools and not enough space for a breakfast table, although I'm not quite sure why you would want a table right there if you have a bar. Unfortunately, the house was unfurnished, so no idea how this was supposed to be used.

I guess I've just fallen into the trap of assuming absolutely everyone has a dining table, regardless of layout. Which is silly- not least because I never eat at a table anyway! Ha ha.

I think you're right; it's better to use the space comfortably for something other than the intended purpose, than to squash a table in where it won't work.

I just had one other thought, which is maybe putting some kind of buffet or sideboard on the window wall. It would provide storage for place mats, holiday dishware, etc, and then I could combat the lack of a dining table by laying out a buffet when friends come over. My only concern is that I think it would block the bottom part of the window. I can't decide if that would be worth it, just to gain the storage space, but maybe you could make it bearable with good choice of window treatments. Thoughts?

Here is a link that might be useful: [Maybe something like this?[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/buffehr-creek-residence-rustic-dining-room-denver-phvw-vp~550418)

This post was edited by AmyAnyman on Sat, Jun 1, 13 at 17:16

You could have a custom built-in made for that area. Then, you wouldn't have to worry about blocking the window. Also, by having a custom design, you could be assured that it would be the perfect dimensions to store your items.

Oh, I'm sorry. You spoke of a breakfast nook, and I just plain missed your important last sentence. This IS your dining area.

A nice thing is that no choice need be permanent. You can try it all. Including in the dining area--or in the living room perhaps--my usual suggestion--a drop-leaf table. One of those can be completely closed, waiting for use tucked against a wall, behind a couch, as an end table, between two chairs. Or it can be partially open (one side up) or completely open (both sides ups) , set in the same way. If it has leaves, for special occasions you put them in. Or you could use a small round table as Graywings suggests; if it has leaves to expand with, it holds 6 or 8 when needed. Perhaps not quite your style, but

[Traditional Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by Dallas Interior Designers & Decorators MAI - McConnell Allen Interiors

Here is a link that might be useful: [More drop-leaf tables[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/drop-leaf-table-phbr0lbl-bl~l_40315)

I saw this type of issue with a lot of the houses we looked at recently. Except instead of a window, it was usually the sliding glass door to the backyard! We measured out a few, and I can't figure out how you would have space even for a small round table, but still be able to access the kitchen, door, and (usually) the family room that also opened off of it.

So we didn't buy those houses. :) (Though, to be fair, that certainly wasn't the only reason.) In our case, though, we were looking at houses with dining rooms too.

For your suggestion, what about using a counter-height table? Then the stools at the bar could double with the table?

I think the arm chairs by the window sounds nice, if you really don't mind having only a bar as your eating space. It wouldn't work for us right now (3-year-old), but if it works for you, than why not?

Why are they called "breakfast nooks"? Is this an area in addition to a dining room or an eat-in kitchen (took me years reading rental ads to understand this is what "EIK" meant)? Are you supposed to eat breakfast in a different room than lunch or dinner? DH and I don't even eat breakfast so we certainly don't need a room - or even a nook - for it.

Thanks, rosie! I may try a dropleaf table behind the sofa even though I couldn't unfold it there. Then it doubles as a console table for everyday, but could theoretically accommodate dinner guests if I did some additional rearranging. Fortunately I don't entertain terribly often.

@ tinan: I have no idea why it's called a breakfast nook, but the phrase usually just refers to a small, casual dining area right off the kitchen. Frequently the breakfast nook is separated from the kitchen only by a breakfast bar or a peninsula. Basically like an eat-in kitchen without the "in." And judging by the feedback I'm getting, many of them are also either too small, or just badly placed.

When we bought our current house the kitchen had a breakfast nook within feet of the dining area. We thought that was silly looking and made it a little seating area.
If the nook isn't big enough to seat guests at a table, I think Rosie's idea is great. In our first apartment we used to move our kitchen drop leaf table into the middle of our living room when we had guests for dinner because the kitchen was only big enough to seat 2 people.
Here is what my nook/sitting area looks like:

I see - so it's usually instead of a dining room - too small to be called a dining room? I have seen it in RE listings and wondered.

I have seen nooks made more usable with benches instead of chairs, a bench under your window could double as a window seat. Using a console.trestle table or one with drop down leaf/s may help as well, or do the bench under the breakfast bar instead of using stools and just pull it out when you want to entertain. Perhaps the breakfast bar could be removed and made into simple counter space. many people are using settees
now too because they will seat more people in a smaller area. best wishes