How to build a Kitchen Nook Bench

I like to share with you “How to Build a Kitchen Nook Bench“, when your kitchen lacks seating. Therefore we decided to build a DIY breakfast nook.

The project was intimidating at first, but I can assure you that adding the bench to our dining area was a smart decision. We sold our home a few months later, and the nook was one of the selling points for sure.

How to build a Kitchen Nook Bench

But, today I like to show you how we put a kitchen nook bench together. I will be listing the items we used, as I go along with the tutorial. Enjoy!

Easy to build DIY breakfast nook

Instructions:

Step 1. 

Build the frame, we used 12- 2×4’s to build the frame for a 12’x6′ bench.

  • measure the area where your bench is going to be installed
  • Make sure you choose a comfortable height for your bench
  • cut your 2×4’s, and use a Kreg jig to make vertical holes for your screws

How to build a Kitchen Nook Bench - Lumber with pocket holes

Kitchen Nook Bench - Build in

Kitchen Nook Bench - Fitting bench frame

Step 2.

The next step was my favorite option for us. I decided to leave the baseboard at the bottom and work around it. This option seemed the best for us in case we would have to remove the kitchen nook bench down the road.

We attached a 3/4-inch thick board onto the wall, to close the gap. This board was also used to secure the bench to the wall.

  • If you leave your baseboard on the wall, make sure to have some extra boards available to fill in the gap.
  • Should you not have a baseboard, continue with securing the bench frame to the wall. I recommend using a few good screw hooks!

Kitchen Nook Bench - Securing the frame to the wall
Step 3. 

In this next step, I attached 3/4-inch plywood to the front and sides (your home improvement store will cut the wood for you).

  • Measure the front and the sides of your bench frame
  • Our baseboard was sticking out, so I cut the shape of it out with a table saw (leftover baseboard always comes in handy)
  • We used 1 sheet of 3/4-inch plywood, and I had some scrap wood for the sides
  • You also need some trim to give the bench a finished look
  • I used white 3/4″x3″ trim

Kitchen Nook Bench - Cutout for border

Kitchen Nook Bench - Cutting trim

Step 4. 

I used the trim to hide the ends. Cutting the trim at 45 degrees did the trick.

  • Gorilla glue
  • Nail gun
  • Miter saw
  • Electric sander

Kitchen Nook Bench - With trim

Step 5.

Painting the entire bench with 3-4 coats of paint + 1-2 coats of Sealer.

Kitchen Nook Bench - Painted bench

How to build bench seating?

Step 6. 

Once the paint and sealer had fully dried, we attached the kitchen nook bench to the wall.

Measure the top. It is always important to measure again once the bench is installed. Our wall was slightly uneven, which threw off some of our previous numbers.

  • 1 sheet of 3/4-inch plywood
  • 3/4-inch paintable, Iron-on wood veneer
  • Veneer cutter
  • Iron
  • Electric sander (sand the plywood before painting)
  • Wood Filler

Kitchen Nook Bench - Applying edge tape

Step 7.

We also added an outlet to our kitchen nook bench, since I planned on working in this area. The only recommendations I have for this step is to add the outlet to the side instead to the top.

An outlet box can be found at your local home improvement store, and the extension as well. We just plugged the extension into the old existing outlet. And should you have HVAC vents, the Splendido Family can show you how to install those into a diy breakfast nook.

Kitchen Nook Bench - adding an outlet

Step 8.

Attach the plywood with screws to the frame and fill in the holes with wood filler. But if you plan on adding a removable top, you could always add some hinges to your kitchen nook bench.

Kitchen Nook Bench - Attach plywood

Kitchen Nook Bench - woodfiller

Step 9.

  • Let wood filler dry 2-8h depending on the size and depth
  • Sand
  • Paint
  • Add trim to the wall in order to hide gaps

Kitchen Nook Bench - Finishing trim

Kitchen Nook Bench - Fill gaps

Kitchen Nook Bench - Finished project

Bench Breakfast Nook

House tour 2015 - Kitchen nookFind the farmhouse table under $250 here.

FarmHouse Table Inspiration and finished project

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22 Comments

  1. Turned out beautiful! What are the finished dimensions? Height/depth of benches and lengths of the two sides? We are hoping to build something similar. Thanks! Cori

    1. Hi, Cori unfortunately, we sold the house, and I can’t remember if I had added the dimensions to one of my blog posts during the building process.
      But I remember that I used my chairs hight for the bench, and the length was whatever filled our space.

      You can go with a regular chair height and measure out your space for this project. Hope this helps!

  2. We have almost this same kitchen set up and I’m thinking of doing a bench under our windows on one wall. I’d like to do fluffy pillows all along the wall, but we have blinds like you do. I’d like for people to be able to lean back in their seats. Not quite sure how to get around this.

    1. Hi Kelley,
      I made a cushion for the kitchen nook with 4″ foam and sew a cover for it. I am not sure if I have an image of it somewhere. We also used pillows to lean against, with the blinds either closed or propped up 1/4 so we wouldn’t damage them.

      Wish you luck.
      xo Betty

  3. Hi, did you remove the trim around the floor at all where you put banquette? I didn’t see that but I could have miss it. If you didn’t, then how did you get away with not removing it?

  4. I really do not want the nook attached to the walls… Can they be made free standing, I feel if you know anything about carpentry they should be able to do this. I would imaging somehow it would have to be attached together…I am not a carpenter and would have someone else do it if I could find someone…
    2-27-20

    Size I want: storage a must and only 6″ by 64 inches, kinda L shaped…. Thanks

    1. Hi Sandy,
      you can totally turn this into a free-standing nook. Depending on your flooring, you could attach 2×4’s to the floor, and then attach the nook framing to the 2×4’s. But if you don’t want to have holes in your flooring or in case you have tiles this might be difficult to accomplish.

      I hope you figure it out and find a good carpenter that can help you with this project.
      xo Betty

  5. Hi! I want to build one of these in our small kitchen. We have cast iron floorboard heaters. I don’t want to remove it since it’s the only heating source in the kitchen. Do you know a good way to work around it? Could I do something similar to what you did with a piece of wood to close the gap?

    Thank you!

  6. What kind of plywood did you use? Could you have used pocket holes some how to attach the plywood? Great looking project, I’m making it now. I have the frame completed!

    1. Hi Justin, thanks for stopping by.
      We used high-quality plywood from Lowes and attached them with pocket holes from the inside. For the top, we used flat screws and also a countersink bit to hide the screw top. Then I used wood filler to fill in the screw top since we didn’t plan on ever removing the bench. You can also use white screw caps to hide the silver top, which also allows you to unscrew the bench if ever needed. Hope this helps. Good luck and please feel free to share your finished project on our Instagram or facebook @oheverythinghandmade

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