Decorating a small dining room can seem challenging, but with clever design solutions you can create an inviting space for family meals and entertaining. From space-saving furniture to multi-functional decor, there are many ways to maximize a compact dining area. Here are some of our favorite tips and ideas for decorating small dining rooms.
Choose the Right Furniture
Choosing the proper dining furniture is key for a small space. Look for compact pieces with minimal bulk that easily fit your room’s dimensions.
Opt for a Pedestal Table
A pedestal dining table is an excellent choice as it eliminates the visual bulk of table legs. Without a base, the table seems to float above the floor, opening up the space. Pedestal tables come in many sizes, so measure carefully to find one that fits. Round tables can further reduce visual weight in a small room.
Consider a Banquette
Another space-saving option is a banquette set on one side, with chairs on the other. The long bench of a banquette neatly fits against the wall, taking up less space than chairs. Banquettes make efficient use of nooks and corners in a dining room.
Use Folding Chairs
Stacking or folding chairs are useful for compact storage in small dining rooms. When not in use, they can be folded up and stashed to free space. Folding chairs with clean, minimalist frames blend seamlessly into tight quarters.
Add a Bar Cart
A bar or serving cart takes up little area but offers extra storage and surface space. Tuck one into an unused corner to stash dining linens, serveware and liquor. Look for a cart with wheels to easily roll out of the way.
Choose Multi-functional Furniture
Opt for pieces that serve double duty, like a storage bench or a table with shelves underneath. Nesting tables are another option – they slide together when not in use. Dining furniture with hidden storage helps maximize space.
Decorate With Lighting
Proper lighting can make a compact dining room feel open, bright and inviting. Avoid bulky overhead fixtures and instead opt for streamlined lamps and sconces.
Use Wall Sconces
Wall sconces with up and down lights cast both ambient and task lighting without hogging tabletop space. Flank a mirror or piece of wall art with elegant sconces for a refined dining space.
Try Pendant Lights
Hanging pendant lights are ideal over a small dining table. To avoid a cluttered look, limit the number of pendants to just one or two. Suspend them at different heights for visual interest.
Add Candles
Nothing sets a mood like candlelight. Group votive candles and tea lights in holders down the center of the table for soft illumination. Their small size won’t overload the tabletop.
Install Dimmers
Dimmer switches allow you to set just the right lighting level for any occasion. Dimming overhead lights creates a cozier ambience for family dinners.
Use Mirrors
Mirrors reflect light, making small spaces feel more open. Hang a mirror near a window to amplify daylight. Position it across from a light source so the room shines brighter.
Choose Small-Scale Decor
When furnishing a compact dining room, scale down lamps, art, plants and accents so they don’t overwhelm. Delicate details will make the space feel more inviting, not cluttered.
Select Streamlined Chairs
Bulky armchairs quickly eat up valuable square footage. Seek out slender side chairs with arms, or armless chairs with a small footprint. Clear acrylic chairs maintain views and give the illusion of more space.
Use Short Centerpieces
Too-tall centerpieces block sight lines and dominate the tablescape. Low, simple floral arrangements, candles or bowls of fruit make better choices. Or skip a centerpiece altogether.
Hang Narrow Artwork
Wide canvases or bulky framed art compete for attention in a small dining room. Thin artworks with clean lines integrate more easily into tight spaces. Group several small pieces over the credenza.
Display Collections
Show off dishes, ornaments or other treasured collections on open shelving or in glass-front cabinets. Collections with visual impact add interest without hogging space.
Add Metallic Touches
Shimmery metals catch the eye without adding bulk. Incorporate sculptural metallic accessories, tableware and mirrors for subtle glamour. A little glitter goes a long way in a compact dining room.
Use Sheer Curtains
Light fabrics allow daylight to filter into the space while providing privacy. Sheers hung high and wide create an airy, open look.
Tricks to Fake Space
With clever styling illusions, you can trick the eye into seeing more generous square footage. These tips will make a pint-sized dining area appear larger.
Stick to Two Tones
Painting the dining room one color while using a different shade on the trim visually expands the walls. Contrasting tones also define each architectural element. Keep the palette simple for a soothing look.
Open Shelving
Displaying treasures on floating open shelves keeps the room looking airy. Minimal supports make shelves appear to hover on the wall. Curate the objects sparingly so the space doesn’t get cluttered.
Use Wallpaper
Opt for small-scale, subtle prints like tone-on-tone geometrics, textures or narrow vertical stripes. Avoid large, bold patterns that overwhelm. Wallpaper with reflective sheen bounces light around.
Add Wainscoting
Applied trim or beadboard wainscoting drawn between 1/3 to 1/2 the wall height gives the illusion of taller ceilings. Contrasting paint on the upper and lower sections makes the division more defined.
Extend Floors Visually
Using the same flooring materials throughout adjacent rooms creates the perception of more space. The dining area will feel enlarged.
Install a Mirrored Backsplash
Reflective surfaces cast natural light deeper into a room, making small spaces glow. Mirrored subway or glass tile behind a credenza achieves this without taking up floor space.
Use Glass Furniture
Dining sets with clear acrylic or glass tops have less visual weight so don’t crowd the room. Mix these airy pieces in with wood furniture to lighten the look.
Zoning for Multiple Functions
Small dining rooms often need to multitask as work, craft or homework space too. Creating zones accommodates different needs.
Add a Large Area Rug
Rugs visually define and anchor spaces within the dining room. Choose a substantial size that fills the main seating/dining area. Place furniture on top and leave floor exposed around the edges.
Use a Console Table
Tuck a slim console table behind the dining table for spreading out work materials. Position it against a blank wall or behind banquette seating.
Install Pocket Doors
If the dining room has a wall opening into another zone, install sliding pocket doors. You can open the space up or close it off as needed.
Create a Homework Area
Carve out a small desk space along a wall or unused corner. Provide good task lighting. Use a folding screen or curtains to define the homework zone.
Add Open Shelving
Install shelving to act as space dividers that separate dining from other areas. Styling the shelves neatly keeps the open feeling intact.
Use Multipurpose Furniture
Look for pieces like a storage ottoman that can pull double duty for dining and additional needs. Nesting tables work well for crafts then slide together for meals.
Make Smart Storage Choices
Carefully chosen storage is essential for keeping a petite dining room organized. Seek options that tuck neatly out of sight.
Use a Hutch
A slim hutch provides concealed storage for dining wares while taking up minimal space. Opt for a unit with glass doors to prevent a bulky look.
Hang a Server
Wall-mounted fold-down servers keep serving pieces right at hand but don’t occupy table space. Choose one with a neutral finish to blend in.
Add a Kitchen Pantry
For major dishware overflow, look into installing a pantry cupboard in the kitchen or adjacent to the dining room. It can house extras and little-used items.
Buy Dual-purpose Serving Pieces
Serveware that multitasks – like a cake stand that becomes a fruit bowl – streamlines storage. Versatile pieces transition between meals and entertaining.
Use the Buffet Top
Style the top of a storage buffet with decorative items to amplify its functionality. Pretty boxes and trays corral small objects.
Try a Bench with Storage
Many bench styles have storage compartments inside for stashing table linens, dining cushions or spare serveware. Look for options with lift-up seats.
Install Floating Shelves
Mounted high on the wall, floating shelves are great for displaying special tableware. Style sparingly and use bookends to keep items in place.
Small Dining Room Decorating Inspiration
Browse these gorgeous small dining rooms for more ways to decorate and furnish compact spaces.
Blush Banquette
A corner banquette dressed in velvet blush pink makes a posh statement. Mirrored glass shelves provide discreet storage while reflecting light. The metallic pendant and finishes add glamour without overpowering the petite room.
Scandinavian Minimalism
The light wood table, simple chairs and airy shelving evoke Scandinavian design in this light, bright dining room. A slim floor lamp saves surface space. The minimalist look keeps things serene.
Modern Industrial
The concrete wall, black Windsor chairs and bare bulb pendant have an urban edge in this contemporary small dining area. Olive leather bench seating warms up the sleek materials. Open shelves stow tableware within easy reach.
Tropical Wallpaper
Fun banana leaf wallpaper transforms one wall into a tropical oasis in this compact dining room. Rattan chairs complement without cluttering the space. The bamboo roman shade filters light through the glass door.
Blue and White Classic
Crisp navy and white make a timeless color scheme in traditional dining rooms. Tongue-and-groove boards add architectural interest to the boxed seating area. Freestanding pieces allow flexible placement.
Bold Graphic Wallpaper
An abstract navy and white graphic wallpaper packs visual punch in this petite dining room. Contrasting lemon upholstery brightens up the patterned walls. Mirrors enlarge the compact space.
Clever Solutions for Small Dining Room Problems
Dealing with awkward layouts or snug dimensions? Try these savvy small-space problem-solving ideas in your dining room.
No room for a table?
Use a console table behind a sofa for impromptu meals. Add stools or folding chairs as needed. Or opt for counter-height seating at a kitchen island.
Low ceilings?
Visually lift the ceiling by painting walls a light color. Hang curtains high to draw the eye up. Skip bulky, heavy lighting fixtures.
Tight corner?
Tuck in a 60” pedestal table or small banquette set to neatly fit the space. Floating shelves make use of empty wall area above.
Narrow galley dining room?
Minimize bulky furniture pieces. Place a console table behind slim Parson’s chairs for a streamlined profile. Make use of both walls for slim buffet-height storage.
Entry flows into dining?
Define the dining zone with an area rug. Install a curtain or reed divider to cordon off the space when needed.
No wall for furniture?
Use a small round folding table with armless chairs that can be pushed in or pulled out as needed. Add floor lamps for light.
Low on storage?
Look into freestanding storage pieces like a cabinet or armoire to supplement dining furnishings. Or install custom built-ins to maximize every inch.
Enhancing Small Dining Room Style
With thoughtful decor choices and visual tricks, petite dining spaces can feel stylish, inviting and filled with personality. Use these tips to amplify the style of your compact room.
Boost Traditional Rooms
Carved wood chairs, an intricate chandelier and patterned drapes enhance ornate style. Wainscoting and crown molding add architectural details. Layered window treatments frame views.
Warm Up Modern Spaces
Counter tempered metals and marble with natural wood dining tables and creamy upholstered chairs. Add organic touches like fresh flowers and potted plants. Use ART.
Increase Rustic Charm
Unfinished woods, visible wood grains and planked walls boost the cozy factor. Incorporate farmhouse touches like checkered tablecloths and vintage signage. Display rustic ceramics.
Amp Up Glamour
Use bold wallpaper or metallic paint. Drape the ceilings and hang a sparkling chandelier. Style the table with crystal stemware, candlesticks and glossy dishes.
Embrace Eclectic Style
Mix vintage painted furniture with modern acrylic chairs. Hang an exotic tapestry as artwork. Use worldly textiles like suzani prints as napkins. Display treasured flea market finds.
Relax Coastal Rooms
Whitewashed furniture, sisal rugs and breezy linens evoke beach house ease. Accent with navy blue and white for classic nautical appeal.
Sophisticate Industrial Lofts
Soften rough metals and concrete with velvet seating and linen drapes. Incorporate black leather and wood for warmth. Add glass tabletops.
Final Thoughts on Decorating Small Dining Rooms
With clever furnishings, a bit of illusion and a dash of creativity, even the most pint-sized dining space can be personalized and optimized. Your charming small dining room will soon become the heart of your home.
The key is selecting compact, multifunctional pieces and keeping proportions in check so things don’t overwhelm. Provide adequate lighting, carve out specialized zones if needed and eliminate clutter through smart storage. Visually enlarge the space with mirrors and bright, airy decor.
Remember – small dining rooms are an opportunity to get creative. With proper planning and furniture that fits, you can design an elegant dining oasis tailored to your needs and style. Focus on the details. Then sit back and enjoy the intimate charm of your petite dining sanctuary!
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