Robert Downey Jr.'s kitchen seating is one of the best we've ever seen

Oscar-winner Robert Downey Jr. may be best known for his role as Tony Stark in Iron Man, but his home is a far cry from the modernized “Stark Mansion” in Malibu. His real-life home, designed by Fox Naem Associates, is bursting with color, pattern, and creative furniture layouts.

A contemporary and playful space, this actor's home features one of my favorite kitchen seating ideas to date: a corner seat that prioritizes conversation and makes the most of underused space.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, where the whole family eats, cooks, socializes, works, rests and plays. It merges the physical boundaries between these separate rooms into one, so a functional and comfortable kitchen seating area (with or without a table) is a must-have feature.

Incorporating architectural features into your kitchen space is also one of the best ways to make it look upscale. Maybe the wall where your cabinets line the room ends with a window. Instead of stopping your furniture abruptly and creating wasted space at the end, Kasia Piorko, founder of Kate Feather, suggests creating a feature for the area with a window seat. “You always need soft seating in the kitchen,” she says. “Having a window with a view of the garden will add a sense of calm to your design.”

One of the surprising things about an open-plan room is how little space needs to be added to an existing kitchen to create enough space for a dining area – often only a few feet of space is needed to fit a compact solution such as a banquette or bench-style seating.

Banquet seating comes into its own when space is limited, for three practical reasons. First, benches can seat more people than chairs. Second, because they're set against a wall, they reduce the overall footprint of your dining area by eliminating the need for an aisle on one side of the table. Finally, if you don't have the space of a Downey Jr., you can design your banquet with storage underneath – perfect for storing bulky appliances and other accessories. In terms of décor, a beautifully finished banquette can be used to incorporate artwork, color, and pattern.'

Don't be afraid to use bold, dark colours, especially in larger spaces, as they can make a room feel more intimate at night, especially in summer when the doors and windows are open. Avoid using too much white as it can be too startling and will not create the cosy, relaxing space you had planned.