how to style a coffee corner

interiors

13 May

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Me? Big on daily rituals? You could say that. And if I had to pick which one was top of the list it would be that first morning coffee. The quiet gurgle of the machine, that unmistakable aroma that means wakefulness is on the way and the quiet of the early morning, absorbing whatever weather the season brings. This is honestly my idea of nirvana and the moment I look forward to the minute I step out of the shower.

So when I came across the idea of a coffee corner (or station) – I prefer corner as station has too clinical a connotation for me – I was all in. Our faithful Nespresso machine was already residing in a corner but what a stark, uninspiring corner it was. I wish I’d got a pic of what it was like before but in my excitement of zhuzhing it up I forgot. Suffice to say it was functional… the Perspex coffee capsule storage box would glare coldly at me every morning until I could bare it no longer. I wanted something with a little more Nancy Meyers Life energy. And then I scrolled past Hanna’s pic on Instagram one day and realised we had similar ginger jars to store sugar in and the Eat Drink Nap book. I know… anyone who’s curated an Instagram feed in days of yore has that book, but I love it nonetheless. Hanah’s coffee corner inspired me to mooch around the house to see what I could snaffle for a faffing session and with the addition of this ceramic storage jar for the princely sum of £10, the Perspex box was banished to the back of beyond. Now we have a cosy coffee corner that makes me smile (sleepily) every morning with the added bonus that everything your need for the precious first cup is close at hand.

If I had my time again to renovate the kitchen, I would have thought about incorporating a more dedicated coffee shelving area and styled the Bejeepers out of it but this is about making the best of what you have, taking inspiration wherever you find it and having a go. And I don’t think 2017 me would have even thought of such a thing… proving once more that what you want from your home evolves over time. If you have a coffee machine space in your kitchen, the trick is in the layering. These small shelf units or something similar would be a good way to add height and provide some space for your coffee accoutrements. Or add in a seagrass or wooden tray – footed if you can find one you like – and behind it stack a combination of wooden chopping boards, a book or framed prints. Leave your favourite cups out on display and decant sugar into a pretty jar. Add in a bud vase and keep filled with a couple of fresh stems. I’m currently on the hunt for some vintage teaspoons to go in our small ceramic jug but haven’t found them yet.

If you fancy having a go at styling a coffee corner, I’ve added some pieces below should you be in need of any crucial components and pinned a few ideas for inspiration on my kitchen board here too. I also finally got around to posting a reel over on Instagram having filmed it ages ago - unsurprisingly, since filming it I’ve been moving bits around and experimenting with what works. The corner won’t stay static and will reflect the season we’re in... but there will always be coffee!