Transform An Unused Space Into The Coffee Bar Of Your Dreams

Coffee, whether you know it or not, could be the solution to some of your biggest architectural irritations, particularly that out-of-the-way nook that you just don't know what to do with. It's not big enough to be a full room, but it's spacious enough to look empty if you leave it alone. That's where coffee — more specifically, a coffee bar and an accent wall backdrop — saves the nook.

The accent wall and the coffee bar is something that @cozycloves played around with on TikTok to good effect. On its own, without the color accent, the space looks like an afterthought. The pop of color from the accent wall makes it a focal point in the room. As for the coffee bar element, because it can be created with small pieces, like a X-cosrack's rolling Coffee Cart, the nook's space limitations don't play such a big role.

A few key elements go into making this space work. You'll need accessories for the accent wall, a cart or small table for the coffee bar, and coffee elements — cups, powdered creamer, utensils, and the like. There is some degree of flexibility with this project due to the parameters of the nook you're trying to fill and the accent wall you're covering. The size of the space determines how many additional elements you can use to style your coffee bar.

Many home decorators make accent walls by adding a coat of paint to the wall in question. However, @cozycloves used green tile for the majority of the wall. In this case, the tiles needed to be custom-fitted to work around a built-in radiator unit and a wonky area near the ceiling that took an extra chunk out of the wall. From a practicality stand point, slick ceramic tiles facilitate easy clean-up and put the kibosh on coffee stains on the wall. The glossy ceramic tiles aren't the only option, of course. Terracotta bricks or some other type of tile would add immense character to the space.

As for the coffee stand itself, a rolling rack with metal drawers served the purpose nicely. Cups, extra coffee, napkins, and utensils all find a home here. Aside from being utilitarian from a coffee-making perspective, the cart also fits into a space that might have some obstructions due to its small size. In the case of the one in the video, there was a door in the corner opposite the coffee stand. However, the coffee stand was compact enough to allow the door to open without obstruction. The drawers of the stand open in the front, further discouraging obstructing the door. Floating shelves positioned above the coffee stand offer additional space for coffee cups, coffee beans, and other coffee-related items.

In the video that inspired this project, the slick green tiles give the accent wall its splash of color. There are alternatives to this if you want to add some character to the wall. For example, creating accent walls from chalkboard paint adds a whimsical element, particularly if you write your favorite coffee recipes on the wall in colored chalk.

Additionally, if the space is larger, think about bringing in a table and chair set. Think soda fountain size, and you have the right idea here. It won't take up much space, but it'll be enough to give you the sense that you've stepped out for a bit to enjoy your favorite cup of joe.

Finally, you don't have to stick with shelves when it comes to storing items like coffee beans, tea bags, sugar cubes, and more. If you find yourself wanting something a bit more fun and funky, try attaching the lids of Mason jars to the wall with a screw. Fill each jar with the coffee-related goodies and screw it onto its corresponding lid on the wall. The jar will hang from the wall because the screw securely fastens the lid in place. Savvy kitchen organizers have long created Mason jar spice storage pieces. It makes just as much sense to use them to stash your coffee and tea within arm's reach of your cool new coffee nook accent wall. Plus, it looks way cool, which is a definite bonus.