Small Space, Big Taste: Small Dining Room Ideas
Feast your eyes!
Want to add storage, style, and seating capacity to your dining room but worried about space? Look no further than these simple but showstopping small dining room ideas that will help you make the most of your space.
1. Tuck In Some Armless Chairs
Some styles of dining chairs come with arm rests that add more bulk to the chair. Instead, opt for an armless style so you can easily push the chairs under the table when they’re not in use. This will help save space in your dining room and allow for easy movement around the table.
A round pedestal dining table is an ideal choice for small dining rooms because it maximizes seating and legroom while contributing to a spacious layout. The round shape makes for easy traffic flow in a confined space, while the pedestal base creates a small footprint and customizable seating arrangement.
Choose a dining set with bench seating to give yourself flexible, low-profile seating options in a small space. When not in use, benches can be tucked under the table to free up valuable floor space. They also have a minimalist look that can help a small dining room feel more open without sacrificing seating capacity.
If you have a small dining room or are looking to carve out a dining area in your kitchen, adding an area rug can help define the space – especially in open floor plans. An area rug will create visual separation around your dining set to make the space feel inviting and complete. Choose a light-colored rug so as not to overwhelm a small space.
Tip!
For tips and tricks to help you choose the perfect area rug for a small dining room, read Your Guide to Finding the Right Dining Room Rug Size.
5. Mount a Set of Shelves
Don’t let a tight floor plan keep you from maximizing the functionality of your dining room. If you don’t have room for a china hutch or credenza, try mounting a few wall shelves to provide additional storage. This can be a great way to display your favorite glassware, dinnerware, or decor to spruce up your dining area.
Looking for a subtle but stylish furniture set to complete your dining area? A transparent glass-top dining table will make your dining room feel light and spacious. This sleek fixture allows light to pass through to create an airy and unobtrusive effect while minimizing visual clutter in a small room.
A simple way to add storage to a small dining room is to include a bar cart for your favorite drinks, glassware, and bar accessories. A rolling bar cart can be easily moved from room to room for a convenient drink or to free up floor space when necessary.
Adding mirrored surfaces to a room can help it feel larger – making this the perfect small dining room decorating idea for your home. Hang a wall mirror or choose a flashy chrome pendant light to reflect light and brighten your dining room. You can even choose chrome-finish chairs to really elevate your dining experience and give it a sophisticated glam look.
One of the best space-efficient small dining room ideas is to swap in a dining table with a drop leaf. With a drop-leaf table you can customize the size of your dining table depending on the occasion. Fold down the extra leaf when not in use to save space in the room or pop it open if you’re hosting guests and need more table space.
Add the illusion of more space in your dining room by choosing a pub table and chairs. Pub tables are generally between 40" – 42" tall though they are often narrower than a regular four-person dining table – making them a good option for compact dining rooms or for adding a supplemental casual dining area to your home.
Sideboards, credenzas, and servers are common fixtures in many dining rooms. However, if space is limited, you may want to opt for a narrow version. Position a small server along the edge of your dining room as a way to add storage to the room as well as a place to hold serving platters if your dining room table is small.
Tip!
Learn about the benefits of sideboard, as well as how to choose the right one for your space in our guide What Is a Sideboard? The Ultimate Dining Room Addition.
12. Use Three Chairs Instead of Four
Dining room chairs typically come in sets of two, four, or six – but this can be too many or too few in a small dining room. Instead of buying a set of dining chairs, buy them individually so you can customize how many seats you have around your table. Three chairs is a great number to space evenly around a small round dining table to conserve floor space in your dining room.
