The bar is small. Small kitchen with breakfast bar

The bar counter is an element of the situation, which for some time has ceased to be associated with drinking establishments. Now this is the name for an elongated countertop in the kitchen interior, which can be attached to the wall, can be a continuation of the table, or can even stand separately. Nowadays, bar counters are found in many kitchens. This original element looks very interesting and sets the whole kitchen in a modern, relaxed style. It is generally accepted that the bar counter is an interior item designed for large kitchens. But are there small kitchens with a breakfast bar? And how practical is it? Designers say it's possible. And with a reasonable approach - it is also very convenient!

Which bar to choose?

So, if there is not enough space in your kitchen, but you have been dreaming for a long time, then you should not deny yourself this whim. It is enough just to calculate well what exactly your rack should be. Of course, we will immediately abandon the classic version with cabinets below and above, many decorative elements and coasters. Such a rack will look bulky and take up quite a lot of space.

How to place a bar counter?

Since we have limited space, we need to place the bar counter so that it does not clutter up the kitchen and is easy to use. There are several options for this:

• You can use the bar counter to continue the work surface. The bar counter in the form of a small appendage is installed perpendicularly kitchen furniture. If you have - and usually they are installed in small rooms - then from the L-shaped it will become U-shaped. This will give you more room to work while cooking.
• The bar counter can be placed by the window. Placed perpendicular to the window, it will easily replace you dinner table, however, with this arrangement, it should not be very high. And you can make a bar counter-sill, then it will be located along the window, and sitting behind it, you can enjoy the street landscape.
• If there is very little space, you can place a bar counter along the wall. Here it will look elegant and modern and will save you a lot of space in the kitchen.
• Also, the bar counter can serve as a partition for separating zones, for example, separating the kitchen from the living room in.

original idea design

What else needs to be considered?

The bar counter for a small kitchen should be small, neat and simple. So that at the same time it does not look boring, you can think of small accessories, elegant elements on which glasses will be placed.

You can also beat the bar counter area with the help of lighting, which in the evening will be beneficial to distinguish it from the general interior and give it a festive look. And, of course, you need to remember that the bar counter should not look like an alien object in your kitchen - try to choose its style and color solution so that it harmonizes with the surrounding environment.

Simple and concise design

Decoration in wood

Video dessert

A photo

The bar counter is becoming more and more common in the design of small kitchens and more and more people are choosing it as a dining area for a small kitchen. Previously, there was an opinion that the bar counter is an attribute of large, spacious kitchens. But this is a delusion. The right size, configuration and location of the bar counter in a small kitchen will help create not only beautiful, but also functional interior which is especially important for small spaces.

A bar counter in a small kitchen is a good solution if kitchen combined with living room . In this case, it performs two useful functions at once: it serves as a dining area and conditionally separates the kitchen area from the recreation area.

But even in a separate kitchen, a bar counter can be a completely justified solution. Due to its small width, it can replace a dining table, which is often problematic to place in a small kitchen.

READ ALSO: How to choose a table for a small kitchen

What is a bar counter?

The bar counter is a high horizontal surface that can be used as a work or dining table. The average height of the bar counter is 110-115 cm. The minimum allowable width of the bar counter is 30 cm, but a width of 60-80 cm is considered comfortable.

By type of construction, bar counters are:

• open type
• closed type

An open bar counter is a tabletop on a chrome-plated leg or other similar support. The main advantage of this type of bar is that you can easily put your feet under it, as well as sit on both sides of the bar. And when the bar counter is not in use, bar stools can be pushed in there, which is very important for a small kitchen.

A closed bar counter on one side is decorated with some kind of material. It can be decorative stone or brick, plastic, wood or other material.

In general, a bar counter for a small kitchen should not be bulky and too pretentious. Preference should be given to laconic elegant designs on one leg.

small kitchen design with breakfast bar

Thinking about the future design of a small kitchen with a breakfast bar, you should decide on its location. If the kitchen is combined with the living room, place the bar counter on the border of two zones - the kitchen and the living room.

If the area allows, the bar counter can be combined with the work area and make a kitchen island.

In an isolated kitchen, the bar counter can be placed in different ways. How exactly to place a bar counter in a small kitchen depends on the layout of the kitchen and its size. Here are some options.

Along the windowsill

This arrangement is suitable for small kitchens with big window. If, in addition to everything else, the window also has a high window sill, then placing a bar counter along the window will not be difficult. The standard window sill is replaced with a wide window sill (tabletop) under which you can put your feet. Sitting at such a bar is a pleasure, because you can admire the view from the window while drinking tea or enjoying a cup of coffee. However, if the view from your window leaves much to be desired, you should consider placing the bar in another place.

Along the free wall

For square and rectangular kitchens, placing a bar counter along a free wall, opposite kitchen set. The advantage of this placement is that the bar counter can be made quite long (depending on the length of the wall), and the disadvantage is that sitting at such a bar counter you will be forced to look at the wall. If you decide to place the bar in this way, you should think about the decorative design of the adjacent wall. Tiles or wallpapers with interesting ornaments or patterns will help offset this shortcoming.

As an extension of the work surface

Rare, but still possible method placing a bar counter in a small kitchen. Suitable for square kitchens and kitchens of complex shape. During cooking, such a bar counter can be used as a work surface, which is a big plus.

As a separate element

In a small kitchen, place a bar counter as separate element quite problematic. This can be done if the rack is not large.

Since the height of the bar counter is higher than the standard kitchen table, you need to buy special high bar stools for it. These chairs are equipped with a footrest, which makes sitting at the bar counter comfortable. In addition, it is bar stools that often serve as decoration not only for the bar counter, but also for the interior of the kitchen as a whole.

Judging by Hollywood films, the bar counter is almost an indispensable element of every American cuisine. However, it is not surprising - from the saloons of Dixieland, she came into modern life, of course, having undergone some changes. In Russia, such an interior solution is also becoming very popular.

Many believe that the bar counter will certainly require a large area, and do not risk changing their home. But in vain! With the right design, even in a small kitchen, saving square meters, it will increase the functionality of the room, while creating an original relaxed atmosphere. In a small isolated kitchen, it can be used instead of a table, in the case of a studio apartment, the bar counter will effectively zone the space.

Interior design options

There are no unconditional requirements for the bar counter, it is just a tabletop on a support, most often 110-115 cm high. It can be fixed on consoles or lie on a pedestal; can be combined with a table or work surface; be rectangular or streamlined - all this gives a lot of opportunities to make your kitchen unique.

In the classic view, the bar table separates the cooking area from the dining area. It doesn’t matter if the worktop is attached perpendicular to the working surface of the kitchen set, parallel or stands alone as an island - the visual effect is the same.

This arrangement is ideal for a studio: the imaginary line expands the space, while at the same time creating clear boundaries between the kitchen and living room. The main task here is to maintain the unity of the style of the entire apartment.

It is unlikely that a high counter will be comfortable for small children and the elderly. Therefore, if the area allows, you can connect it to the table. It is logical in such cases to place the table surface inside the kitchen, and the bar area outside.

For "Khrushchev", where every centimeter is expensive, and the kitchens are mostly "corner", the bar counter can be both a dining and working surface.

Unfortunately, there are apartments with such a small kitchen that the most modest set can hardly fit in it. In this case, it would be a great idea to combine the bar counter and the window sill. You will see how pleasant it is to watch other people's moments of life through the window and at the same time be fenced off from what is happening with glass. No wonder that almost all coffee shops in the world use this trick.

In a long rectangular kitchen, narrow wooden countertops along the wall look elegant. By organically selecting lighting and accessories, you can create the atmosphere of your own cozy cafe.

Another way to save space is folding or retractable designs. You don't have to collect and clean them every time, but it's nice to know that there is such an opportunity.

Whether your bar counter is an independent element or a monumental part of the set, it is very important to correctly fit it into the overall solution of the kitchen ensemble. This does not mean that we should give up bright colors. Red, light green, orange-black - any rainbow whim can be fulfilled if you carefully think through the details.

Structural elements

Whichever option you choose, your main desire is probably to make the kitchen space as free as possible for passage, without compromising its functionality.

For a two-level bar counter, which is mounted on a metal console, it is reasonable to place special coasters for wine glasses, shelves for fruit or a mini-bar on the upper part of the rod. High chairs slide easily under the counter.

Many prudent housewives choose a countertop on a cabinet in which they store kitchen utensils. You can also use a multi-tiered structure if it fits into the overall set.

It is easy to see that the last two examples are convenient in the household, but do not have long gatherings. So that your knees do not rest against the wall, try a cabinet on wheels. You can always roll it out at the right time.

There is also a transformer stand, a kind of remake of a secretary. The reclining part turns into a dining table, while the inside serves as a cabinet for dishes, a bar, or whatever you like.

Light plays an important role in our life. We love a sunny morning because it charges us with positive and sets us up for work. During the day, it is nice to hide in a little shade to take a breather and look at the bright world as if from afar, before getting back to business. In the evening, we want more romance, half-shadows, half-tones. That is why it is so important to think over the lighting of the kitchen. It can be a traditional counter lighting with LED strip, Spotlights, romantic sconces or a row of small chandeliers.

Beware of common mistakes when planning a kitchen interior. Everything should be in moderation. Avoid overloading structures, too a large number bends or excessive filling of space with additional shelves and cabinets. Make sure the materials match in style and color. They may or may not be compatible, but it must be justified.

A bold design option can become a highlight not only of the kitchen, but of your entire apartment. However, remember: for a small kitchen, practicality should come first.

Materials and DIY method

The materials here are the same as for the rest of the furniture: glass, chipboard, drywall, wood. For consoles, it is better to take chrome-plated brass pipes or polished stainless steel pipes. Do not chase cheapness: odors and dirt easily eat into plastic or plastic-coated steel pipes, and they cannot be cleaned with active agents, so such supports will quickly lose their attractive appearance.

In some catalogs you will come across photographs where the support frame of the rack is made entirely of brick or natural stone. Most likely, this is a good imitation. The fact is that the weight load on the floor should not exceed 250kg / sq.m. All buildings above can be only with the permission of certain authorities for the redevelopment of apartments. Light rocks (slate, limestone, shell rock) are hardly suitable for construction, as they get dirty. The only way to avoid overloading the floor, if you really want to natural material, this is to connect the cantilever bar counter on a brick support into one brick.

In order not to spoil the overall impression with a too obvious fake, do not use basement siding and other plastic stone imitations. They give themselves away to the touch and are also finicky in cleaning.

It is easy to achieve an elegant look by covering the frame with a resistant flexible stone. Terracotta, clinker, porcelain stoneware facing tiles will also do a great job of this.

The bar counter often seems to be a rather voluminous and bulky design, so it is chosen for especially spacious kitchens and combined spaces - with a dining room and a living room. In fact, such a tabletop increases the working surface, provides additional places for a snack or a full meal, allows you to harmoniously arrange pleasant functional and decorative little things - holders for glasses, fruit bowls, etc. Considering the wide range of possibilities that this design provides, it is worth thinking about it. arrangement in a modest room.

A small kitchen with will be more functional and original. it custom solution for a small room, so the interior will be unusual. This technique will make it individual and more harmonious. But for this purpose, it is still worthwhile to correctly position the countertop so that it really does not become too cumbersome a detail of the situation.

Bar counter in the joint space

The traditional solution can be called the use of a bar counter as a zoning tool in a room that combines. In this case, the dimensions of the kitchen block do not even matter, because a free territory opens up behind it, which makes the space of the working area more comfortable.

Bar counters in such a room can be of different sizes and shapes - depending on total area premises and location functional areas. Of course, there must be a passage of sufficient width between the countertop and the nearest capital structure.

The design of the rack itself may be different. With all the correspondence to the design style, the supports under the table top can differ significantly. These can be supports, like a regular table, and brickwork, and a cabinet with cabinets. Obviously, capital structures are more bulky, so they are chosen for more spacious rooms. When the tabletop rests on the wall and one leg, it looks unobtrusive.

Often the bar counter is part of the island set, but it should be remembered that the island is only for large kitchens, so even when combining rooms, there may not be enough space.

Separate kitchen: is a bar counter appropriate here

For a small one, a bar counter is a rarity. Despite the minimum area, here you can still see ordinary tables with stools or even a seating area, but then the working area is represented by a compact, most often corner set. But designers offer the latest functional solutions, which help to use literally every square centimeter with maximum benefit.

• A bar counter instead of a dining table is a concise and not cumbersome solution. It is located approximately in the place of the dining group, but rests on the wall and 1-2 legs. This makes the structure lighter, albeit less mobile - it will not work to move it like a regular table. Accordingly, such a tabletop is at the usual height and is completed with ordinary chairs or stools.
• Folding bar counter- another compact version which helps save space. If necessary, it unfolds, and when not needed, it is removed and stored along the wall. Thus, space is freed up, which is already small here.
• Window sill as a bar, of course, involves the expansion of the standard design, but it eliminates the need for an additional dining area. This, of course, is suitable only for small families - without children. You can enjoy the view from the window while having a cup of coffee or lunch. This option is also convenient when the dining room is moved to another room. For example, in the same room with the living room there may be a full-fledged dining table or a transforming table. , adjacent to the kitchen, then the bar counter instead of the window sill is also applicable in houses where fairly large families live. Just then it will become a place for the hostess to relax, as well as an additional work surface for cutting food.

• For the interior of a small kitchen with a breakfast bar, you can choose a U-shaped set, part of which will be located near the window. The absence of upper drawers in this part makes the furniture visually lighter and not bulky. The bar counter, which is not a continuation of the countertop, but intersects with it at different levels, contributes to the same effect. This increases the functionality of the work surface, as there is a place to store small utensils or other items. The distance between the desktop and the bar surface can serve as a “shelter” for the little things that the hostess needs are always at hand, and there is not enough space for them in the drawers or it’s just not convenient.
• An interesting solution is a parallel set with a bar counter.. Here, one way or another, a window is involved if it is located on the long side of the room. Similar project most appropriate in a narrow kitchen, where the distance between the pieces of furniture will be small - about 1 meter. Luxurious in such interiors looks like a wooden tabletop made of an expensive type of wood, which is also used for arranging a window sill.

You can come up with a lot of options for arranging a bar counter in a small kitchen, it is only important to calculate the distance between the structures for free passage.

Features of the design of the bar counter for compact spaces

Kitchen Design small size one way or another, it is developed taking into account the small area and requirements for it. Here, a compact dining group and even folding structures are not uncommon. The bar counter also meets the requirement of compactness. Even when combining rooms, it must remain proportional working area. But the dimensions of such do not affect the choice of design. The main difference is the supports.

• For a small kitchen space, the lightest visual solutions are usually chosen.. And this is traditionally the only metal support in the form of a pipe, which is often placed between the floor and the ceiling. On the part above the tabletop, hanging fruit bowls, glass holders and just nets for storing various small items are used. The other side rests on the wall. This is how it turns out to achieve maximum stability and compact design.
• On one leg without extension can be made as a traditional bar counter and retractable design. The tabletop in this case rests on telescopic guides, and the support is equipped with a wheel for free movement of the legs.
• Also a lightweight version of the bar counter is the console., one side of which also rests on the wall, and the other continues in the form of a leg of the same width. In fact, this is a holistic canvas, as if folded at a right angle. There is enough space under the table top to store chairs.
• Brick or stonework looks and feels like a more solid support for any size countertop, so it is chosen more often for spacious rooms. This design is appropriate in the combined space, since it simply does not make sense in a small-sized kitchen. The material for the support is selected depending on the design style.

Design solutions today are sometimes amazing. These are transparent supports, and similar chairs, and transforming furniture. Even can include hidden features thanks to the foldable and retractable structures. Of course, such solutions are not cheap due to the cost of the mechanisms. But for a small kitchen, they become a real way to actually increase the functionality of a small area.

Is the kitchen so small that the dining table can hardly fit in it, hindering free movement? Or is the room spacious, but it needs to be divided into zones? The question arises, how to separate the cooking area from the living room with a free layout?
In all these cases, one right decision is suitable - a kitchen with a breakfast bar. This technique will save space, make stylish and original interior improves ergonomic performance. A well-chosen rack can serve as an additional storage section, a dining table and a work surface. At the same time, it will remain the main decorative accent of the kitchen in any style - from classic to loft or hi-tech.

Types of bar counters for the kitchen

The choice of a particular design depends on the size of the kitchen, its layout and the needs of a particular family:

Double Deck Rack

An excellent solution if there are small children and elderly people among the household who are uncomfortable standard height bar top - from 110 to 130 cm. similar models there is an additional surface, the level of which corresponds to a regular dining table, i.e. is 75 - 80 cm.

"island" or "peninsula"

When one of the end sides of the rack rests on the wall, it is used in spacious rooms or kitchen-studios with a bar counter. Installed in the center of the room or on the border of the working and dining areas, it helps to conveniently organize the space and reduce the number of movements of the hostess during culinary manipulations. In the countertop of such a bar counter, a sink or hob, and in the lower part they equip open and closed shelves, a wine cabinet, etc.

In a small kitchen, it is usually located along a free wall, if the kitchen set has a linear layout, or by the window, serving as a continuation of the window sill.

Folding or retractable design

Another good option, which is used only during lunch or cooking, and then hidden, freeing up space for movement.

Combined bar counter

It is included in the kitchen set and serves as a continuation of the worktop, located at a right angle to it. If desired, this model can be purchased separately and attached to existing furniture modules. The combined rack can be either closed, in the form of a cabinet with storage sections, or open - based on one console. The second option is great for a small kitchen-living room where light furnishings are needed.

Bar counter in the "window" or arch

When complete dismantling the walls between the kitchen and the living room or a balcony are impossible, they are combined with a wide opening. Equipping it with a bar counter is a coup from both a practical and aesthetic point of view.

Bar counter in the arch connecting the kitchen and living room

Bar counter in the kitchen combined with a balcony

Design features of the kitchen with a breakfast bar

It is desirable that all countertops are made of the same material. For a combined rack, this is the only possible variant, but for the "island" there may be exceptions. Modern styles - modern, loft and minimalism, allow a combination of two materials of countertops, for example, stone for worktops and wood for the bar.

When installing a bar counter in the kitchen, you need to consider some design features:

1. The interior is created in the same style, so the color of the bar and its decoration does not differ from other furnishings in the kitchen.
2. For interiors in classical style, Provence, Country or Art Deco, it is better to choose an “island” stand. It is made from natural wood, and the countertop is made of marble or covered with ceramic tiles.
3. Bar counters made of glass, MDF and metal are suitable for modern, hi-tech or minimalism. The choice of model in this case is determined by the size of the room - the smaller it is, the more elegant the design will be.
4. Before you buy bar stools, you need to think in advance whether they will contrast with the counter or support the overall style. Next to transparent plastic, even the “island” will not seem so massive and you can “play” on this if the kitchen is small.
5. With a free layout, you need to ensure that the color of the bar stools matches the furniture in the dining group.
6. AT small space the rack should not be overloaded with unnecessary details - hanging fruit baskets or shelves for glasses. In a spacious room, they, on the contrary, visually highlight the structure and draw attention to it.
7. Take care of sufficient lighting of the bar counter. More often in this zone, lamps on cables or spots are used if there are already other suspended structures.

Provence-style kitchen design with an island counter

Choosing the best bar counter model for a small kitchen

In a small kitchen, literally every centimeter of usable space is valued. Not every dining table will fit into a small room. And even in the case of its more or less successful placement, it will not turn around in a small space.

Installing an elegant bar counter will give a competent solution to several issues at once. If the bar counter is connected to the work surface, its height will be less than a meter in this case.

An additional plus of such an interior solution is another work surface that can be successfully used during cooking as a cutting table.

Chairs for such a rack will have to be chosen low - up to 0.6 m. A large structure with storage space and all kinds of suspensions will not fit in a small kitchen. But a mini-rack option is possible. It can be a lightweight and ergonomic design that has a concise outline. Even visually additional furniture for a modest-sized kitchen should look weightless and light.

The main task of design is to create the illusion of spaciousness

Corner kitchen - creating a balance of the interior

• Additional work surface- when the guests are located in the living area, it is convenient for the owners to cook while chatting with friends.
• complete kitchen table - This option is suitable for a small kitchen and a small family. In this case, the dining table is not set, and family members eat at the bar.
• Additional pencil case. There are models of bar counters with blank walls, inside of which there is a storage system for kitchen utensils.

Video - Kitchen-studio with a bar counter

Bar chairs

Bar stools near the counter - a mandatory interior detail.. For their manufacture are used various materials and combinations - rattan, plastic, wood, wicker, metal. When choosing bar stools, it is important to remember the nuances that will guide you to make a successful purchase:

• material- depending on the style of the kitchen space, personal preferences and financial capabilities
• upholstery- fabric, leather and even rubberized, it may not be at all, it all depends on how long you plan to sit on your bar stools or stools;
• color- depends on whether you want the chairs to blend into the overall colors rooms or acted as a contrasting accent (the base of the chair and its upholstery can differ dramatically in color);
• height- if the chosen model is not adjustable in height, then this factor can play a decisive role when choosing pieces of furniture specifically for your kitchen and bar counter or kitchen island. be guided by the height of the stand and the average height of your family members;
• seat size- depends on the average size of the bodies of family members and the amount of time that you plan to spend at the counter.

It is convenient when the chairs have footrests and armrests, and the height of the seats themselves and the backrest are adjustable. When choosing models, it is important to consider both the style of the room and the size of the chairs.

If the bar counter is not an additional design, but replaces the dining table, then it is better to give preference to more comfortable models.

A comfortable chair will allow you to stay longer at the table during a meal, for work or chatting with friends.

The design of the kitchen with a bar counter will appeal to both adherents of the classics and supporters of concise modern trends. This is space for original solutions and the flight of creative thought.

For those who still doubt whether the bar counter is appropriate in home interior We advise: make up your mind! The kitchen will only benefit by becoming more practical and bright. And we hope that choosing a suitable bar model after our advice and the photos given will not be difficult.

Video - Modern kitchen design ideas with a breakfast bar

If you haven't made up your mind yet, watch this video modern ideas kitchen design with breakfast bar