Small Dining Room Ideas Clever Solutions for Small Spaces

Meta description: Discover clever small dining room ideas and solutions to maximize your small dining space. This detailed guide provides over 50 tips, tricks and design ideas for small dining rooms.

Introduction

Decorating a small dining room can seem like a challenge at first. With limited square footage, it may feel like your options are restricted. However, with some creative small dining room ideas and clever solutions, you can create a comfortable, functional, and beautiful dining space perfect for entertaining or everyday meals.

In this detailed guide, we will share over 50 clever small dining room ideas to help you make the most of your petite dining area. From space-saving furniture to lighting, decorative, and layout tips, these clever small dining room solutions will transform your area into a dining space you love.

So if you’re ready to decorate your small dining room with confidence, let’s get started!

Choose Furniture That Fits The Space

The furniture you select for a small dining area needs to fit the room both physically and visually. Here are some key small dining furniture ideas:

Opt for Round or Oval Table

A round or oval dining table is an excellent choice for small dining rooms compared to square or rectangular. With no sharp corners that limit movement, a round or oval shape can accommodate more seats. Positioning the table diagonally can also save space.

Consider Extension Table

An extension dining table is perfect for a small dining room as it takes up minimal room when closed yet can expand to seat more people when required. Extension tables slide, drop down or fold out.

Choose Compact Dining Chairs

Choosing compact, space-saving chairs is crucial for small dining rooms. Opt for chairs with a small footprint like side chairs without arms. Stay away from bulky chairs that take up too much visual space.

Use Bench Seating

Bench seating along one side of the table can help maximize seating in a small dining room. Bench seats take up less space than individual chairs.

Add Folding Chairs

Keep folding chairs on hand that can be easily set up when you need extra dining seating then folded away again. Folding chairs are perfect for small dining rooms.

Install Banquette Seating

Consider installing banquette seating along one wall. The cushions are built-in, so no space is needed to pull out chairs. Banquettes also double as storage.

Use A Pedestal Table

A pedestal dining table with the base going floor-to-tabletop removes bulky legs, opening up valuable visual space. Just be sure size accommodates needs.

Mount Shelving On Walls

Mount shelving or cabinets on the wall vertically to get them up and out of the way. Use for storage or displaying dining ware.

Choose The Right Small Dining Room Layout

Optimizing the layout is one of the most important small dining room ideas. Here are some clever layout solutions:

Place Table Diagonally

Placing a small dining table diagonally in a corner makes the most of the space. The diagonal position can accommodate more people than a straight table.

Use A Separate Dining Nook

Creating a defined dining nook or breakfast nook separated from the kitchen saves precious space. Opt for a small table and chairs built into the nook.

Zone With An Area Rug

Use a rug under the dining table and chairs to define the dining zone. An area rug makes the dining area feel like one unified space.

Skip Bulky Servers

In a truly small dining room, skip bulky servers, sideboards, or display cabinets that take up too much space. Focus on only essential furniture.

Open To Adjoining Room

If possible, remove walls between dining room and adjoining living room to create a more open-concept floor plan. Borrow living room seating as needed.

Let Lighting Define Zones

If your dining area is part of an open floor plan, use lighting fixtures over the dining table to define the separate dining zone.

Choose Multi-Purpose Furniture

Furniture that serves more than one function is a smart choice in a petite dining room. Look for pieces like:

Storage ottomans that provide extra seating when needed.
Coffee tables or consoles that double as dining tables when required.
Console tables behind a banquette that can be used as a buffet for serving.
A chest under a window that provides storage and extra surface space.

Multifunctional furniture maximizes every inch of space!

Use Lightweight Furniture

Furniture crafted from lightweight materials like wicker, metal, or acrylic have an airy, space-saving feel perfect for making a small dining room appear larger. If your style is more traditional, stay away from bulky heavy wood pieces.

Take Advantage Of Wall Space

Taking advantage of vertical wall space is a go-to trick in a small dining room. Here are some ideas:

Hang A Mirror

Mirrors reflect light and create the illusion of more space. Hang one strategically to make the room feel larger.

Display Art

Fill up wall space by displaying art, wall hangings or decorative plates. This draws the eye up and makes rooms feel bigger.

Install Shelving

Shelving is both decorative and functional. Use wall-mounted shelving and étagères to hold dinnerware, serving pieces, or décor.

Add Sconces

Sconces provide ambient lighting while taking up zero floor space. Use on walls to save room for seating.

Choose The Right Seating Size

When it comes to dining chairs for a small dining room, proper scale and size are key. Steer clear of the following common small dining chair mistakes:

Chairs with thickly padded seats that take up more space.
Oversized armchairs that limit how many you can fit around the table.
Bulky chairs that make the room feel crowded when seated.

Instead, seek out slender side chairs with a smaller footprint. If your table is on the petite side, choose correspondingly scaled chairs with seats around 18 inches wide or less. The right sized chairs ensure your seating feels proportional.

Consider Built-In Furniture

For a small dining space, built-in furniture is a big space-saving plus. Built-in benches, banquettes, or cabinetry make the most of every inch. Built-ins appear custom-made for the exact dimensions of the room too.

If your budget allows, have customized built-ins designed specifically for your dining nook or small dining room. Focus on dual-purpose built-ins to maximize functionality.

Use Small Scale Decor

When it comes to decorating a small dining room, go for smaller scale furnishings and accessories. Some pointers:

Choose narrow sideboards and console tables (like 12-18 inches depth).
Select dining and serving pieces in petite sizes.
Use small-scale artwork and accessories.
Add delicate lighting fixtures with a narrow profile.

Avoid bulky and oversized furnishings that will overwhelm a tiny dining area.

Work With The Architecture

Evaluate the existing architecture and features of your small dining room and work with them in your design.

Make use of bay windows or built-in shelving for seating nooks.
If the room has high ceilings, choose furnishings that don’t block light.
With lower ceilings, keep furnishings low profile to avoid overwhelm.
Make the most of arched doorways or room dividers.

Enhance the room’s attributes through careful layout and furnishing choices.

Use The Right Colors

Color can work magic in a small dining room. Take these color tips into account:

Neutral Palette

Stick to soft neutral tones like ivory, taupe and gray for your main furnishings and walls. Neutrals recede visually to make rooms appear larger.

Paler Colors

Very pale shades of colors like sage green, light blue, or blush can make a small space look airy and bigger. Dark colors tend to make small rooms feel closed in.

Accent Colors

Use accent colors in moderation through décor items, chair cushions or an area rug to add a pop. Accent walls can also define a dining zone.

Multicolor Rug

While a minimal palette is best, a multicolored area rug can help a small dining space appear larger by adding visual interest.

Use The Right Lighting

Proper lighting is key in a small dining room. Here are top tips for lighting a petite dining space:

Install Dimmers

Use dimmable lighting you can adjust to set the right mood whether for an intimate dinner or large gathering. Dimmers add flexibility.

Add Multiple Light Sources

Include a dining chandelier or pendant light over the table along with sconces, undercabinet lights, and accent lighting for a well-illuminated space.

Choose Smaller Fixtures

For a small dining room, choose slender, smaller-scale lighting fixtures that don’t overwhelm. An oversized fixture will dominate the space.

Use Wall Sconces

Wall sconces provide ambient light without taking up table or floor space. Use sconces paired with a dining chandelier or pendant to wash the walls in flattering light.

Highlight Display Areas

Use accent lighting in curio cabinets, display shelves or glass-front cabinets to showcase beloved dinnerware and objects.

Make Smart Design Choices

There are several savvy design choices that can make a significant visual impact in a tiny dining room:

Hang ceiling height curtains to draw the eye up and create a sense of height.
Keep the furnishings and décor edited and minimalistic. Clutter shrinks a space.
Use glass tabletops or acrylic chairs to maintain an airy, open look.
Eliminate bulky textiles. Skip tablecloths and instead use sleek placemats.
Choose sheer window treatments. Layer sheers behind drapes to filter light pleasantly.
Repeat colors from adjoining rooms through accent pieces to make the home flow.

Careful styling helps even the smallest dining rooms feel special.

Zone Multi-Purpose Spaces Cleverly

For open concept homes, a designated dining area may double as a home office, kids’ homework station or other multi-purpose space. Zone it cleverly:

Use an area rug under the table to define the dining portion of the room.
Cordon off workspaces with room dividers or partitions.
Make dining and work areas face different directions.
Use lighting and furniture arrangements to define each functional zone.
Add plants, screens or shelves to help delineate the different zones.

With careful planning, combined spaces can work beautifully.

Save Space With Bench Seating

Benches are perfect space-saving seating options for cozy dining rooms. Here are smart ways to add bench seating:

Use banquette seating with storage underneath built into an unused nook.
Add a bench on one side of the table in place of chairs.
Use ottomans topped with cushions that can pull double duty.
Look for entryway benches that can move to the dining room when needed.
DIY a bench by topping affordable wall-mounted brackets with a wood slab.

Get creative with how and where you incorporate space-saving benches!

Consider A Drop Leaf Table

A drop leaf or gateleg dining table is a very smart choice for a pint-sized dining room. Here are the advantages:

The leaves can be lowered to save space against a wall or when not in use.
The extended leaf design accommodates more when you have guests.
A compact drop leaf table can fit in even the tiniest eating nook.
The versatile style works with a variety of décor aesthetics.

A drop leaf table maximizes dining options in a small area.

Dine In The Kitchen

If your dining room is truly tiny, consider forgoing a separate formal dining room and simply eating in the kitchen instead. Some perks include:

You automatically gain a more open, spacious feel.
The kitchen is convenient for serving up meals.
An eat-in kitchen feels casual and inviting for family dinners.
You have flexibility to use the room for dining or other needs.

With a well-designed eat-in kitchen, there’s no need for a separate dining room.

Create An Illusion Of Space

Using design tricks to create the illusion of more space is key for a cramped dining room. Visually enlarge the space by:

Mounting mirrors strategically to reflect light and double visual space.
Painting walls white or very pale hues. Darker colors box in a room.
Choosing glass tabletops and acrylic chairs for transparency.
Adding floating shelves or wall-mounted cabinets up high.
Hanging long, floor-length curtains to draw eyes upward.
Keeping furnishings minimal so the room feels more open.

It’s remarkable what simply the right choices can do for small square footage.

Include Small Scale Storage

While a small dining room may not offer much scope for storage, including a few compact storage solutions can remove clutter from sight:

Store dining linens and tea towels in a chest fitted under a window bench.
Find baskets or bins to slide under bench seating or stow in an unused corner.
Use a tall narrow cabinet to house dining ware behind a banquette.
Hang a wall-mounted rack for mugs, wine glasses or utensils.
Shop for furniture with built-in storage like a bench or ottoman.

Creative concealed storage keeps the dining room neat.

Keep The Table Clear

For a feeling of openness in a tiny dining area, don’t clutter the tabletop with too many decorative objects. Keep surfaces clear when not in use. Simple tips:

Place décor items like vases and candles on sideboards or shelving, not the dining table.
Use decorative bowls to store fruit in the kitchen versus on the table.
Keep the tabletop tidy with just essentials like a table runner, placemats, and centerpiece.
Store linens, tablecloths, and dining accessories out of sight until needed.
Return the table to an uncluttered state after meals.

An uncluttered table makes even a small dining room feel serene.

Create A DIY Dining Nook

If you lack space for a full dining room, carve out an intimate dining nook in another underutilized part of your home. Ideas:

Turn an empty corner into a cozy banquette seating area.
Build a customized bench into the bay window space.
Convert an oversized walk-in pantry into a petite dining nook.
Cordon off the back section of family or living room for dining use.
Construct a breakfast dining nook in the kitchen.

A DIY nook creates a special small dining spot.

Shop Small Scale Furniture

When shopping for compact dining sets or mix-and-match furniture pieces, be sure to check the actual dimensions to ensure the right petite scale for your space. Look specifically for:

Tables under 36 inches wide (or with leaves that drop to a smaller size).
Chairs with seats less than 20 inches wide.
Narrow sideboards or console tables under 18 inches deep.
Small scale buffets under 40 inches wide.
Console tables behind banquettes around 12 inches deep.

Don’t assume – always measure!

Visually Separate Zones

To differentiate a dining area from the adjoining kitchen or living room in an open concept home, use design techniques to visually separate the zones:

Float the dining arrangement away from walls to distinguish it.
Position the table diagonally rather than parallel with perimeter walls.
Use an area rug under the table to define the space.
Install a small pendant light precisely over the table surface.
Arrange furniture to create individual groupings with space between.

Subtle strategies keep open spaces feeling defined yet unified.

Play With Proportions

The proportions between furnishings plays a key role in making a pint-sized dining space work. Keep these top tips in mind:

Choose seating heights that align with the table height for optimal comfort.
Scale down the area rug so it doesn’t overwhelm the table and chairs.
Select a chandelier or pendant that harmonizes with the table size. Overly large fixtures overwhelm.
Stick to a 60-72 inch table for most small rooms to allow ample walking around space when seated.
Allow at least 32-36 inches from table edge to walls or other furnishings for chair clearance.

When the scale feels right, the dining room feels cohesive.

Look For Transforming Furniture

Furniture and seating that can transform in shape works beautifully in a small dining room. Consider:

A drop leaf table to minimize and expand.
Nesting tables to separate or push together as needed.
Fold-out dining chairs that collapse flat for compact storage.
An overhead shelf that folds down into a table when required.
Extendable dining benches that adjust in length.

Pieces that adapt to your needs are a small dining room’s best friend!

Maximize Seating Capacity

While a petite dining room may not seat a huge dinner party, you can still maximize the seating capacity with a few savvy tricks:

Choose armless chairs and use bench seating to fit more chairs around the table.
Use lightweight folding chairs you can set up and stow away again with ease.
Look for a table with leaves that expand or a drop leaf design to accommodate more when needed.
Skip bulky buffets or sideboards and just store extra seating when not in use.
Arrange seating on both sides of a corner banquette or built-in bench.

Determining ideal seating capacity prevents a cramped feeling.

Create Ambient Lighting

Since overhead lighting can feel harsh in a small windowless dining room