Designing a dining room goes beyond just choosing tables and chairs. Whether you’re hosting family dinners or catching up with long-lost friends, you need to create a space that brings people together. This is easier said than done, especially in small dining rooms. However, the right layout and colors can turn the most mundane space into a welcoming part of your home.
41 Small Dining Room Ideas
Small dining rooms can feel vast and stylish with the right planning. Here, you’ll find 41 inspiring ideas to help you remodel your small dining room with confidence.
Round Tables to Improve Flow
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In small areas, the goal is to improve flow and movement. For small dining rooms, this is achievable with the help of round tables. Their shape eliminates harsh corners while also maximizing seating capacity. Best of all, conversations keep flowing since everyone is looking at each other equally. Consider picking up a glass-topped version to enhance the feeling of spaciousness.
Drop-Leaf Table for Flexibility
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If you really want to go a step beyond, then a drop-leaf table is you best bet. These are game-changers that offer balance of form and function. Simply lift and set a leaf in place to extend your dining area, or fold them down when you have fewer guests over. Its adaptability allows you to free up more floor space when the need arises. Move the table up against the wall to transform it into a console or desk when not in use.
Banquette Seating Along the Wall
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Banquette seating is for more than just buffets. Their charm comes in handy in small dining rooms since they take up wall space. Banquette seating recreates the coziness of a diner, but they also have a practical function: their benches can open from the top to become storage space. Add throw pillows on top of the cushioned benches for added style points.
Slim, Armless Chairs
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A big part of designing the layout of a small area, including small dining rooms, is creating the illusion of space. Slim, armless chairs help with this effect. They also help by taking up less space, so you can fit more seats around your dining table. You can maintain the stylishly slim look by choosing chairs with lower backs and sleek legs. Metal and clear acrylic are winners when it comes to compact spaces and durability.
Lightweight Furniture You Can Move Easily
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While we’re on the subject of seating, we should also focus on how heavy your furniture is. Lightweight furniture adapts to different needs effortlessly, whether you’re entertaining guests, cleaning the floor, or making space for another activity—e.g., studying. Aluminum and molded plastic are simple and lightweight, but you should aim for a balance between aesthetics and comfort.
Console Table as a Dining Table When Needed
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Most people think that console tables are reserved for entryways and living rooms. This simply isn’t the case. They can be incredibly versatile and belong to any room. For instance, you can turn a simple console table into a dining table, which is an excellent space-saving solution for small dining rooms. When not dining, push the table against the wall to resume its console-table duties.
White or Neutral Walls
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The color of your dining room can be just as important as its layout. Light, neutral wall colors open up a small dining room by reflecting natural sunlight. White, beige, or pale gray help create the illusion of vastness in tight areas. Additionally, neutral colors are versatile backdrops and accents in the form of layered artwork or table settings. Maintain a subtle palette to keep your small dining room looking fresh and clean.
Light Color Ceiling to Add Height
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Shift your gaze upward and look at your ceiling. A light-colored paint can trick the eye into believing there’s more vertical space than there actually is. Soft whites or pale blues brighten the dining room while visually increasing the height of your ceiling. You can further enhance the effect by pairing a bright ceiling with matching crown molding.
Avoid Dark or Heavy Colors
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Remember that light can make a room feel airier and bigger than it is. Dark colors, however, absorb light, which tends to make a dining room feel cramped. While dark colors like black and brown can add a dramatic effect in larger rooms, they become overpowering in tight spaces. Instead of covering entire walls in dark paint, use it sparingly in accents—artwork, cushions, other accessories.
Wall Sconce to Free Floor/Table Space
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Wall sconces provide ambient lighting. They can also focus their lights on specific objects to highlight statement pieces in your dining room. The best thing about wall sconces is that they don’t take any table or floor space. As they’re mounted on walls, you can clear your tables for other essential items. If you really want to go the extra mile, choose sconces with adjustable dimming features to set the mood.
Large Mirror to Visually Double the Room
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While bright walls can reflect light, they are unmatched against mirrors. Place a large mirror against a wall, preferably at a slight angle in front of a window. The mirror bounces sunlight around the room, which helps keep your guests’ eyes drawn upward. This simple trick requires little to no floor space. Choose a mirror with a stylish frame and let it serve as a decorative yet practical dining room fixture.
Floating Shelves for Display and Storage
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Floating shelves are a modern way to increase storage space in any room. In a small dining room, you can mount floating shelves high on the wall to free up floor space. They create a spot to place dishes, plants, or other decorative pieces. Give your small dining room corner’s a new meaning in life by adding corner shelves, or place the shelves directly above a banquette or booth.
Hutch Room Divider
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In open-plan layouts, you need to figure out a way to separate your dining room and adjacent spaces. A hutch can help with this task by becoming a place for storing plates and dishes, as well as becoming a partition between rooms. Double-duty hutch room dividers anchor the dining room setup while also maintaining an open flow.
Sideboard for Added Storage
Credit to sundaysfurniture
A sideboard is a versatile piece of furniture most commonly found in dining rooms. They provide storage space for keeping dinnerware and linens out of view and dust-free. It is a compact piece with a low-profile top that can also serve as a self-serving spot for dishes. Ideally, the sideboard will have a sliding door to reduce space usage.
Vertical Storage to Maximize Wall Space
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There are several ways to maximize vertical space. We talked about floating shelves earlier and hutches earlier, but other options include tall shelving units and pegboards. Vertical storage keeps your guests’ eyes drawn upward to make the ceiling appear higher, thus making the room feel airier. This is especially effective in narrow dining rooms where conventional furniture pieces take too much room.
Minimal Decor to Avoid Overwhelm
Credit to inspirationalhomedecoration
Less is more in small dining rooms. Too many decorative pieces tend to make the area feel cramped and chaotic. What you should do is focus on a few well-chosen pieces and accents that add personality without overwhelming the room. Use a minimalistic approach to highlight the most important factors—i.e., comfort, ample seating, and a welcoming dining area.
Natural Elements Like Wood and Plants
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Natural elements, such as wood and plants, can warm up a small dining room. The ultimate goal is to make it feel more welcoming. Wood tones and patterns, in the form of furniture and shelving, give texture and organic beauty. However, if you really want organic beauty in the dining room, you can’t go wrong with a few well-placed plants. Go compact with succulents or make a statement with large hanging plants.
Sheer Curtains to Let Light In
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Sheer curtains are see-through curtains that provide a bit of privacy while also allowing natural sunlight to filter in. Heavy drapes, on the other hand, tend to block out light and make a room feel more cramped, which is the opposite of what we’re trying to achieve in a small dining room. Choose light, airy fabrics like voile or linen. Stick to natural tones to fit the atmosphere of the room and décor.
Rug-Free
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While area rugs can help define a space in an open-layout area, they tend to make rooms feel smaller than they are. Skipping the rug reduces visual clutter, thereby making the small dining room feel vast. Another benefit of avoiding area rugs is reduced after-meal cleanup. No need to whip out the carpet cleaner when there are no shaggy areas to soil. If you prefer a bit of texture beneath your feet, choose low-profile mats that complement the visual openness of your dining room.
Table Runners Instead of Full Tablecloths
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When it comes to protecting your dining table from spills, there are two options: tablecloths and table runners. The former provides more protection but can add the feeling of unnecessary bulk on your table. On the hand, table runners provide texture, color, and an uncluttered look to tables of any shape and size. They’re also easier to clean and replace if you have different runners for different times of the year.
Dining Booth
Credit to zoefeldmandesign
If you have a tight spot in your small dining room—perhaps the area is sandwiched between partitions or tall cabinets—a dining booth might be the answer to your problems! Dining booths make excellent use of limited wall space with its built-in seating, storage, and cohesive look. They provide café-like vibes that encourage longer chats during meals. However, they are usually set in place, so moving the seats and table around is out of the question.
Kitchen Island as a Dining Table
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When space is limited, you can turn a kitchen island into a multipurpose fixture. It serves not just as a place for fruits and appliances, but it can also double as a dining table in open-concept layouts. A few stools or slim chairs are all it takes to create a dining area for your guests.
