If you don’t have time and need to constantly set the dining table, don’t have enough free space, or want to divide the kitchen into zones, equip your kitchen with a bar counter. Initially it was used in drinking establishments, then it found application in other public establishments related to the entertainment and recreation sector: casinos, hotels, cafes and restaurants. After some time, bar counters began to appear in the homes of wealthy people and became one of the symbols of wealth and prosperity. When holding large-scale parties, this attribute turned into the epicenter of the action - it gathered all the guests around it, where they could treat themselves to a variety of drinks prepared by a guest bartender or taste snacks.
Residents of the United States were the first to introduce home bars into kitchen design, then their example was followed by the population of Europe, and soon Russia. Today, the furniture market is replete with all sorts of variations in the designs and designs of bar counters, which are already firmly established in everyday life and are actively used in residential buildings around the world.
A fashionable and modern piece of furniture, literally referred to in the West as a “breakfast bar”, which translated means “breakfast bar” or “breakfast counter”, will ideally fit into a space of any configuration and add functionality and a touch of style to the room.
Ways to place bar counters in the kitchen interior
There is an endless number of design solutions that are focused on taking into account all possible features of kitchen premises and satisfying every customer’s wishes. Qualified interior design specialists will develop an individual project without much effort. But what if you don’t want to resort to outside help and additional expenses, and also if you don’t want to make mistakes in planning your kitchen? Generally accepted basic solutions will help with this, ensuring a guaranteed solution to a number of key problems:
- properly equip the space;
- ensure the maximum possible functionality of the kitchen;
- it is expedient and logical to divide the room into several zones;
- create an expressive design without violating the laws of style.
Bar counter in a small kitchen as part of the furniture
Unfortunately, in our especially older apartments, the kitchen can be quite small and there is not enough space for a real dining table.
In such cases, the dining table is almost ideally replaced by a small bar counter. It takes up little space and can be functionally combined with other kitchen elements.
For example, you can independently increase the kitchen countertop, support it on a leg and end up with a simple bar counter in the kitchen.
If the homemade product does not suit you, you need to immediately purchase a kitchen with a bar counter - they are on sale. This kitchen not only has an increased work surface, but also creates a dining area with bar stools.
In large and spacious kitchens, a breakfast bar often separates different areas of the kitchen from each other. Depending on your preference, you can use this counter to eat with your family, or you can use it as a buffet to free up space at the dining table.
A bar counter in a small kitchen is popular because it takes up less space and standing guests take up less space than at a classic table with chairs.
If you like to have guests over often, you can use a counter with a couple of bar stools. This way you can offer seating to your guests without taking up extra chairs from your neighbors or making the table too crowded. The kitchen bar counter is suitable for everyone who loves communication.
Bar counter in a studio apartment
For owners of a studio apartment, the bar counter is one of the most appropriate interior items. Regardless of the shape of the room - square or rectangle - it can be easily divided into functional areas - kitchen and living room - due to a sufficient number of square meters.
The owner of the apartment will only need to decide on how to place the bar stools. If you plan to watch TV while eating, which will be in the living room, then it makes sense to install seating in the kitchen area. In the case when you spend a lot of time cooking and you need more free space to move, it is logical to place the chairs on the side of the living area.
What is a bar counter in the kitchen?
More and more people want a bar counter, also known as a kitchen counter or bar counter in the kitchen. The reasons for this are obvious: just a few years ago, for the vast majority of our compatriots, the kitchen in an apartment or house was only a place for preparing and quickly eating food. Established family life took place in other rooms.
Today the situation has changed dramatically. Today, the kitchen remains the central gathering place for families and is where most gatherings with friends take place, although these gatherings often no longer require dining areas. For quick breakfasts in the morning and even meetings with friends, a bar counter with several bar stools is enough.
The bar counter is a smaller version of the dining area where you can drink coffee or have a snack. The high counters and comparative inconvenience of bar stools do not imply long gatherings and lavish celebrations. And unfortunately this is considered modern.
In addition, a classic dining table takes up more space than a counter. In small kitchens, the table becomes less important and is often replaced by modern variations of much smaller breakfast bars. At the same time, a bar counter in a small kitchen creates a cozy place for eating in the kitchen.
Related article: What types of kitchen units will you find in the store?
So, the bar counter is a universal piece of furniture that can be conveniently integrated into almost any kitchen. For some living situations—small kitchens, for example—small kitchen breakfast bars work particularly well due to their small size.
Photo ideas for inspiration
Features of the layout of a small kitchen with a bar counter
Designers recommend using a minibar counter for corner and U-shaped kitchen layouts. With an L-shaped arrangement of kitchen modules, the bar surface acts as a closing element, giving the room a more comfortable and attractive appearance. In small kitchens, an interior element replaces a bulky dining table.
With a U-shaped space layout, the bar counter is a harmonious continuation of the work surface. The best option for kitchens with furniture located along three walls would be to install a level bar counter, which is a structure with an elongated tabletop, fixed close to the wall or directly to the work surface.
