Breakfast bars: quick tips that'll make yours work

Breakfast bars don't take up as much space as a table and provide seating for two to six or even more, often with storage space below. They're best for informal eating or a quick snack rather than a big meal.

Many kitchens come with the option of including a breakfast bar when you have them designed and fitted. ‘More often than not, the breakfast bar is an extension of the kitchen worktop and is usually made of the same material,' says Jude Keenan, Kitchen Planner for Fitted Kitchens at John Lewis. ‘However, using more than one type of surface can create a feature area. It's easier on the eye to use a different material if the breakfast bar isn't directly joined to the worktop. For instance, clear glass shelves raised above the worktops on metal rods can work very well. Alternatively, try contrasting cool stone worktops with a warm wooden breakfast bar, which will look good together as they're both natural materials.'

Ensure that the design leaves room underneath for your legs so you can sit and eat easily. Jude Keenan advises, ‘A 300mm overhang provides plenty of legroom for a bar stool. You should also allow at least 600mm between the breakfast bar and a back wall to make it easy to get in and out, or more if it's a thoroughfare. Leave around 600mm in width per person so there's enough elbow room for eating.'

Invest in comfy stools to sit on. Choose designs that are height adjustable with footrests so that they're comfortable for all the family, whatever their size. Dwell's adjustable high back bar chair, £99, has a high back and a gas lift mechanism, as well as a footbar.

If you want to add a breakfast bar to your existing kitchen take a look at Ikea's space-saving Norbo wall-mounted drop-leaf table, £25, which folds flat against the wall when not needed. It's available in a dark stained oak and looks great with coordinating Ingemar stools, £29 each.