Trying to fit a huge dining set, bulky chairs and tables and all, into a tiny apartment, isn’t always the best idea. When it comes to a small dining room, you need to think of clever solutions to create a functional space that’s still stylish. Get inspiration from other small dining rooms that successfully prove you can achieve great style no matter how small your space is. Read on to see them.
Small Dining Room Ideas: 17 Clever Ways To Use Space
Size Doesn’t Matter To These Amazing Dining Rooms
Trust me, I know how much of a challenge it can be to design and decorate a small space all on your own. I’ve given you tips for decorating small living rooms, picking out furniture for tiny spaces, saving space at home, and even small bathroom design inspiration. Next up, small dining room ideas. Much like a living room, you’ll do a lot of entertaining and hosting parties in the dining room. So it can be difficult if you don’t have a big space at your disposal. So let me show you how to make the most of your small dining room: what to save space on, what to splurge on, and how to create an inviting space.
1. Add A Bench
image via Amanda Medlin
Every small home needs at least one bench. It’s such a flexible piece of furniture that you’ll use all over the house. If you have guests over and need extra seating, add a bench to your dining table and you’ll be able to fit more people into a small space.
2. Design For Your Needs
image via One Kind Design
If you’re not a fan of hosting big parties or having lots of people over, then there’s no reason for you to have a huge dining table and lots of chairs. Design for your needs first and foremost! So if there’s only two of you at home, a small dining table and 2 chairs are enough. If you do have guests over, just keep a bench or other spare seating options around or in storage.
3. Try Round Dining Tables
image via The Glitter Guide
If you’re feeling cramped in your small dining room, a round dining table can open up the space around you. Just make sure to keep the surrounding space clutter-free!
4. Use The Wall
image via Shift Interiors
This is one of the coziest small dining room ideas I’ve ever seen! It’s so clever as well. Instead of adding a bench, this small dining room has a built-in bench on the wall. You can even do without the extra chairs if you’re alone.
5. Use Rugs As Dividers
image via The Glitter Guide
Rugs aren’t just decorative, they can also divide and mark your spaces. For a small dining room, do away with physical dividers that can cramp your space. Instead, add a pretty rug!
6. Integrate Your Kitchen
image via West Elm
If your kitchen has a bar or a countertop, use it! Just add some bar stools and you’ll instantly have more seating space. This way, you can get a smaller dining table. (It brings you closer to the food, too!)
7. Use Your Bar or Counter
image via Hannah Blackmore Photography
Or if you really don’t have the space, do away with the dining set altogether. While I know this isn’t a very traditional design idea, if you’re more modern or cosmopolitan, this is a trendy and chic way to save space. To make small spaces work for you, sometimes you need to be open to new ideas!
8. Add Windows
image via Ikea
Like any other tiny space, a small dining room can benefit from an extra window. Not only do windows open up your small dining room, they also bring in more natural light and improve air circulation in very cramped spaces.
9. Add Some Luxury
image via Style Me Pretty
We talk about how decorating small spaces is a burden or a hassle, but it has a good side too! A smaller space means less furniture to buy, and less to spend. Which means you can afford to splurge on some luxurious elements like a chandelier or extra comfy chairs.
10. Try Modular Furniture
image via Gravity Home
Modular furniture is another space-saving option you have for your small dining room. This fold-out dining table even has extra storage space!
11. Stick To A Theme
image via Inside Out
I love to mix and match furniture. But when you’re dealing with a small dining room, sometimes it’s best to keep your style cohesive. Stick to a color palette, use similar materials and fabrics, and you’ll find that your small dining room doesn’t look tiny anymore.
12. Keep It Bright
image via Avenue Lifestyle
This is another no-brainer for any small room: bright spaces look much bigger. You can add a window for natural light, decorate with chandeliers and pendant lights, or stick to light furniture.
13. Explore Other Table Shapes
image via Style Me Pretty
Square, rectangle, and circle aren’t the only shapes out there. If you can find tables that have other shapes, or if you love to DIY furniture, why not? Instead of making the space fit the dining table, try finding a dining table that fits your space.
14. Use A Bar Cart For Storage
image via Style Me Pretty
A small dining room probably won’t leave you much space for a buffet table. If so, try a bar cart! They’re super trendy right now, and they’re a lot more mobile and practical than large, traditional buffet tables.
15. Incorporate Glass
image via Style Me Pretty
Fooling the eye is one of my favorite small space decorating secrets. If all you need is to make your space look bigger, there are a lot of clever ways to do it. Glass furniture (tables, chairs, shelves) is one way to trick the eye. Your chairs will look a bit smaller, making your space look a bit bigger.
16. Add Mirrors
image via Arent Pyke
Mirrors are always a good idea for small spaces. Like glass, they also trick the eye into thinking your space is bigger.
17. Use Corner Space Wisely
image via The Glitter Guide
As you can see, there are so many ways to incorporate a bench into your small dining room design. This luxurious Chicago home opted for a corner bench incorporated into the kitchen counter. By the looks of it, you can probably fit 4 people in this dining space. Talk about extreme (yet stylish) space-saving!
Watch this video from Better Homes and Gardens for more small dining room tips:
That wasn’t so hard, right? All you need is an open mind, a keen eye, and full understanding of what you really need from your small dining room.
Want more small space ideas? Check this out! Which small dining room ideas were you favorite? Leave a comment below!
Liked these small dining room ideas? You’ll also like:
How To Decorate A Small Living Room: Big Ideas For Small Spaces
Small Bathroom Ideas: 10 Simple Ways To Maximize Your Space
15 Classy Home Decor Ideas For Dining Room
Originally posted on September 1, 2016 @ 2:41 PM
