Comparing Drawer vs. Flip-top Storage for Breakfast Nook Benches

We’ve built two dining nook benches in our homes now — one flip-top and one with drawers — and after living with both for a while, we’ve got some thoughts.

Overall, dining nook benches are so cozy and the perfect gathering place in a kitchen or dining room, but beyond being comfortable, they can also be great storage solutions. Considering the first bench we built was in a 1,000 square foot house, we needed as much built-in storage as we could get.

Anyway, the two main options when you’re building a dining bench are going to be drawer storage or flip-top storage. We’ll break down the pros and cons of each storage type, helping you decide which one might be the best way to add storage to your breakfast nook bench.

Custom Breakfast Nook Build Plans

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Choosing the Best Storage Type for Breakfast Nook Seating

Firstly, it’s important to think about how you intend to use the space.

Are you more interested in easy-access storage for your breakfast nook, or do you prefer more of a hidden storage option? Let’s dive into the differences.

Drawer Storage in Breakfast Benches

The first breakfast nook we built had these huge, deep drawers and after living with them for a while we definitely saw some pros and cons.

Pros of Drawer Storage:

Less Disruptive Access: Unlike flip-top benches, which require you to lift the seating — possibly removing cushions etc. — to reach what’s underneath, drawers mean you don’t have to lift anything heavy like the flip top portion. Though for us, getting up under the table to access the drawers was admittedly kind of a pain.
Child-Safe Storage Options: If you have young children, drawers are often more child-safe. Since you don’t need to lift a seat, there’s no risk of heavy lids falling on small fingers.
Space-Saving: Drawers are great for smaller things like placemats, napkins, or even small kitchen appliances. They’re perfect for those kinds of things that you don’t use too often, but still want to be easy to access.

Cons of Drawer Storage:

Drawer Mechanisms: Drawers can be a pain over time (especially if you’re storing heavy items). They might require maintenance over time if there are misaligned tracks or drawers get stuck.
Less Storage Capacity: Drawers usually take up more internal space due to the need for frames and tracks. This can reduce the overall storage capacity of the dining nook bench.
Harder to DIY: If this a DIY project, building your own drawers might be intimidating for beginners because the slides can be a little finnicky to align.

Flip-Top Storage for Breakfast Nook Benches

Flip-top storage is another popular choice, and is the design we built in our current home. Spoiler: it’s the one we far prefer for day-to-day use.

Pros of Flip-Top Storage:

Maximizing Storage Space and Practical Storage Design: Flip-top benches generally give you a larger storage compartment since you can utilize all the space inside your breakfast nook bench. This is especially helpful if you’ve got bulkier things to store like blankets or bigger kitchen appliances like a juicer or ice cream maker.
Hidden Storage Options: Flip-top storage gives a cleaner and less cluttered look since the everything stays hidden beneath the seating part and/or cushions.
Easier to DIY: Skipping the drawer building part of the project will save you some time, and possibly frustration (ask us how we know).

Cons of Flip-Top Storage:

Not Always Easy Access: A downside to flip-top storage is that accessing it can be less convenient. For us, we need to remove the cushions and slide the table a little to get in, so we use our dining nook bench for seasonal items we don’t access a lot.
Maintenance and Durability: Flip-top hinges can wear out over time, especially if they are constantly being opened and closed. If you want a long-lasting solution, you might need to invest in high-quality hinges, which can increase the cost, though it’s usually still less than drawer slides.

Cost Comparison: Drawer vs. Flip-Top Storage

Either drawer or flip-top storage can be relatively budget-friendly depending on the materials and mechanisms you choose.

Drawers might cost more because of the hardware needed but high-quality hinges for flip-top benches can also be costly.

If staying on budget is the top priority, basic flip-top designs are often more budget friendly!

Multifunctional and DIY-Friendly Storage Ideas

Both options can be customized and are DIY friendly. A flip-top bench can be made using basic carpentry skills, but adding drawer storage may require a bit more precision and some familiarity with drawer hardware (AKA not as beginner friendly).

Whether you choose drawers or flip-top storage, breakfast nook benches are the perfect blend of practical, pretty and functional.

Child-Safe Storage Considerations

Families with young children may want to lean towards drawer storage for child safety. With flip-top benches, the risk of a heavy lid can be mitigated with soft-close hinges, but drawers are typically safer and easier for children to use independently.

For us, I’m not even sure our kids know the flip-top part opens so they’ve never tried to lift it thankfully!

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Bench Seat Storage Capacity Comparison

When it comes to overall storage capacity, flip-top storage generally wins out.

No drawer tracks means you can use the entire bench cavity for storage. But if you’re going for aesthetics, drawers are a more organized way to keep smaller items neatly separated and you won’t see the 2×4 structure of the bench when you open it.

Breakfast Nook Bench Build FAQs

For small kitchens, the best storage for breakfast nook benches depends on what you need to store and how you use your space.

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best storage for breakfast nook benches depends on your specific needs, space, and lifestyle. Consider your priorities:

Do you need maximum storage capacity?
Is ease of access your top concern?
Are you working with a tight budget?
Do you have young children to consider?

Weigh these factors against the pros and cons we’ve discussed, and you’ll be well on your way to installing an aesthetic, super functional little breakfast nook.

We’ve loved having breakfast nook benches in our last two homes and will honestly probably always try to add them from now on. If you’ve got any other clever storage solutions, we’d love to hear about them in the comments!

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