Spotlight on kitchen diners
Create a layout that works for you so you can cook, dine and socialise in style – and all at the same time
Find the cooking and dining layout that works for you
FARMHOUSE STYLE
Use a charming, country style dining table as the focal point of your room, and line your walls with cabinets for a space that’s multifunctional and full of character. These soft blue units and wooden worktops create a calming, rustic feel. Tewkesbury kitchen, price on application, Howdens
WINDOW SEAT
Optimise space in a smaller kitchen diner by building seating into your cabinets. Perfectly positioned beneath a window, this neat nook is ideal for reading by the light, and it frees up floor space. True handleless kitchen in Cambridge Forest Green, from £2,550, Benchmarx
SPLIT LEVEL
Divide your island in half and choose tall worktop space for cooking, and a lower table top for comfortable dining. This means you can swap bar stools for dining chairs, giving you that classic dining room feel without taking up extra space. Melrose kitchen, price on application, Wickes
COLOUR MATCH
In an open-plan space with distinct kitchen and dining areas, create a sense of cohesion by matching up colours. Here the bright dining chairs tie in with the kitchen cabinets. Cupbaords faced with laminate colours 468, 469, 834 and 835, Abet Lamineti. For a similar kitchen, try Plykea
BUILT-IN COSY
This L-shaped kitchen creates the perfect framework for built-in dining benches, allowing for maximum cosiness. The dining and cooking areas are distinct and separate, with both zones of the room having a clear and defined function and feel. Homely kitchen, from £25,000, Life Kitchens
RIGHT ANGLE
Think creatively for a space that really works. In a square-shaped room, an adjoining dining table emerging from the centre of your island is a great way to create a designated, breathable dining space without taking up too much footprint. Dulwich kitchen, from £25,000, Day True
ISLAND LIFE
Designate cooking and dining zones on your kitchen island by using different work surface materials for each. Here the elevated wooden countertop creates a comfortable dining environment. Country kitchen in Winter White and Nimbus, £6,014 for these fully built-in units, Wren