Kitchen Booth

DIFFICULTY RATING: MEDIUM

One of my favourite Pinterest finds during our refurb was the idea to add an L-shape kitchen booth to maximise seating space. We hired a carpenter to create the structure, with the seats lifting upwards to reveal extra storage (really useful for cat litter, kitchen roll, spare tins, cans, etc).

We handled the painting to save money, then hired a professional upholsterer to create the bespoke seating cushions (I would have loved to have made them myself but my skills aren't up to scratch just yet-!). I opted for neutral stripe fabric, adding colour with statement cushions.

PINTEREST BOOTH INSPIRATION:

L-Shape

This shape fits a dining room table perfectly. (Photo: Armstrong Cabinets)

Wooden Pew

Fitting perfectly under the window, this pew maximises seating space.
(Photo: Nordin Garden)

Corner Booth

Smaller corner booths are best served with a space-saving circular bistro table.
(Photo: DIY and Crafts Magazine)

Diner-Style

If you have the right space, a traditional American diner seat set-up makes a great choice. A glass table will ensure the area doesn't look too crowded.
(Photo: Better Homes and Gardens)

Smart Storage

This is exactly what our booth has: a liftable seat lid for any kitchen items looking for a home.
(Photo: via Indulgy)

Statement

Make your booth a focal point with brights. Bistro tables = one leg = more room for yours!
(Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo)

Papers & Coffee

Smaller kitchens can still enjoy a booth area - this would make a great place for reading the papers with coffee in the morning.
(Photo: Kapito Muller)

The 'medium' rating for this project is down to the amount of stages involved. However if you organise a carpenter and upholsterer, the most time you'll personally spend will be on painting and selecting your fabric and cushions. While it's not the cheapest project, it is replacing a number of chairs so it's a similar investment. It also adds subtle storage, which chairs don't offer. We're planning to add a circular bistro table as it won't take up too much floor space (plus we have our dining room/table for larger events).

Fancy more kitchen inspiration? Find out how to get Meryl Streep's kitchen look from the movie, 'It's Complicated'.

Star Lights

DIFFICULTY RATING: EASY

Star curtain lights have been shooting across my Pinterest news feed in recent weeks, with many people opting to place them in their kitchen windows. I love this idea as it adds some sparkle while keeping essential kitchen surface space free for cooking, baking and entertaining.

Simply purchase a set of these and hook them to the back of a roman blind (if you don't have a blind, a lot of people buy these alongside their amazon purchase). And there you have it - a quick and simple way to add some festive lights to your home without breaking the bank.

TOP TIP

Make sure a plug socket is nearby before hanging!

For more affordable Christmas decor ideas, check out Festive Fruit.