A comfortable and well-designed dining room will always make your mealtimes more special. Sometimes, limited square footage gets in the way of our decorating ideas, but you shouldn’t give up on your small dining space—especially when we have all the design tips and tricks to make the most of it!
Whether you have an alcove, an unused corner, or a blank stretch of wall, you can design a decorative and functional small dining room to share everyday meals and entertain family and friends.
We’ve picked 25 of the best small dining room ideas to make the most out of your limited space, creating a comfortable dining space while making your space look larger.
Take a look!
1. Combine with Your Island
You don’t need to dedicate a particular space to your dining area in order to enjoy your favorite meals. For a casual dining area, push a table up against the island and place chic dining chairs.
2. Curate a Gallery Wall
Having a small dining area doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t decorate it as you normally do with large, expansive areas. Stylish touches such as a personalized gallery wall, seasonal foliage, and rustic decor will make your small dining room look like a significant space.
This dining room idea uses a simple rustic wooden bench on one side of the circular table, cutting down on visual clutter and preserving flow.
3. Draw the Eye Up
One of the most challenging parts of designing a small dining room is carving out a unique, distinguishable area. Hanging a chandelier above your dining table enables the dining set to take center stage, separating the space from other places and making it have its own purpose.
This tiny dining room further defines the space with an area rug. The rug employs pops of pink and blue that enliven the dining area, bringing vibrancy and energy. Artwork on the wall complements the rug’s hues, while two table lamps add an element of symmetry and a contemporary touch.
4. Try an Open-Concept Approach
One way to utilize the space between your open-concept kitchen and living room is to set up a petite dining room. Place a rug in your living room to separate the two areas.
Instead of a statement pendant, this tiny dining room uses a floor lamp to provide extra light. This makes it easy to move things around, including the dining set, whenever you need to use the space for other purposes.
5. Elevate with Moody Earthy Hues
The circular table in this small dining room idea is not only suitable for small spaces but also large enough to allow for intimate, dynamic gatherings.
Rather than a china cabinet, the dining room utilizes custom built-in shelves on the walls, creating a beautiful display through a collection of books and standalone décor pieces. Moody brown hues dominate the space for a warm, inviting feel.
6. Use a Banquette
If you have a banquette inside your home, you can easily create a chic dining area by simply pushing a table close to it and placing some extra chairs.
Potted houseplants liven up this small dining room, while the banquette blends beautifully with the crisp white walls. The wooden banquette seat complements the light wood tones in the space, and the airy caned chairs provide the illusion of extra space.
7. Make Use of Corners
Using the corners in your home as a dining area is an excellent space-saving idea. This small dining room uses smart furniture choices, such as the round table and low-back chairs, to create a cohesive, modern style while allowing people to walk freely around.
The large windows allow plenty of natural light to seep in, keeping the space airy and looking spacious. A piece of modern art on the wall adds visual interest, while the black ceiling pendant anchors the space.
8. Round Tables For the Win
If you want to add more seating to a dining room but have limited square footage, choose a round table for your dining set.
This tulip table allows for maximum use of the space by allowing the chairs to comfortably slide in under, leaving enough room for a pathway. The table adds color to the space and pairs well with the dominant white palette. A gallery wall adds a dash of personality, while greenery infuses a sense of freshness.
9. Don’t Leave Out Alcoves
There are several ways to utilize those awkward spaces in your home, such as alcoves. The built-in banquette in this small dining room idea brings a bistro vibe to the space.
The traditional round wood table and cross-back chairs evoke a classic, timeless feel, while a simple, elegant chandelier above adds a subtle yet dramatic statement.
10. Match Your Palette
This modern dining room uses a marbled round table and comfy armless chairs that complement the walls’ color for a minimal, contemporary effect. Gray dominates the palette, bringing a relaxed, sophisticated feel to the space. The clean tiled floor further enhances this minimalist aesthetic.
11. Exude Elegance with a Glass Table
Working with limited square footage doesn’t mean you should sacrifice style. Consider choosing a glass-topped table when shopping for your small dining room furniture to create a light and airy feel in your petite space.
The chairs and wall décor pair with this glass-topped dining table for a space with endless modern style. The wooden base for the table matches the chairs’ legs for a clean, cohesive look.
12. Put it Near a Bar
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One way to approach a small dining room design is to consider it a multipurpose space. This small dining room has been situated close to an indoor bar. The dining area can be used for everyday mealtime and also for hosting friends as you enjoy some cocktails and share hearty conversations.
This flexibility enables you to make the most of the space you have. Light coming in through the windows helps keep the space spacious and prevents the dark furniture from looking drab or dull.
13. Utilize a Floor Mirror
One way of creating the illusion of space in interior spaces is to use mirrors. A large mirror can instantly transform any space, whether large or small.
This small dining room idea uses a large floor mirror to reflect more light into the space, keeping things airy and making the space feel spacious. The narrow wooden table and wishbone chairs save more space with their modern designs, while a large pendant overhead makes the space feel intentional.
14. Opt for Dark Furniture
With a few design tricks, you can place a small dining room between your kitchen and an open great room. In this open-plan concept, a large gray area rug separates the dining area from the living room and kitchen.
The cabinet unit matches the dining room furniture, helping define the area and giving the space its own personality. The contrast between the black furniture and grays and whites in the rug, cushions, walls, and accents makes the space feel modern and Instagram-worthy.
15. Push Your Table to the Wall
Instead of positioning your small dining room in the middle of the room, placing a table against a wall is an excellent way to save space.
This setup is placed near a door with sheers to allow light and help you soak in the views as you enjoy your morning coffee. The setup also helps preserve the flow, especially when it’s only for two people.
16. Embrace Geometrical Lines
This small dining room is larger than its square footage because it uses vibrant colors, clean lines, and a large wall mirror.
The mid-century modern chairs and glass-topped table add a stylish, low-profile feel, while the bench adds more seating. The planter stand enhances the aesthetic, and the wall mirror makes the space feel more expansive and inviting.
17. Add Texture
This small dining room uses a bench and chairs to provide function and style in a tiny space. The bench is placed against the wall to maximize the available space, while the narrow legs on the modern chairs help keep the dining area open and light.
Neutral and warm colors such as gray, cream, and brown on the paneled walls, curtains, and rug give the space a cozy feel. The large window helps brighten the space, while the woven décor and area rug add texture.
18. Keep it Simple
Sometimes, the best way to deal with limited square footage is to work with an equally minimal design style and color palette. This small dining room incorporates a bright white palette and natural decor accents such as wood and plants to create the illusion of a larger space.
The area rug has been used as a decorative element rather than a functional piece, infusing the space with color and texture. Numerous windows fill the space with light to keep things airy, while black art on the walls adds depth and drama.
19. Go Boho
Always opt for minimal decor and clean lines in your small dining room ideas to allow for more negative space. Having more negative space will make your space look bigger than it really is.
This boho-style dining room uses natural materials such as wood, rattan, and plants to add a sense of warmth and comfort.
20. Merge with the Kitchen
If you’re living in an apartment, consider an open-plan small dining room within the kitchen and living area. A setup like the one in this design increases the fluidity of a room, making it more sociable for entertaining friends and family.
The table has been pushed all the way to the kitchen island, leaving enough traffic space for people to pass through easily. A frameless circular mirror blends in well with the light gray wall, adding depth and airiness to the space.
21. Add Visual Interest with Wallpaper
Dedicate a small nook in your home for a dining area, and add visual interest using wallpaper. The accent wallpapers in this small dining room make it an instant focal point.
The muted patterned tablecloth adds traditional style and coziness to the space, while a banquette along the wall provides ample, comfortable seating.
22. Save Space with an Oval Table
If you have a small dining room, an oval table is an excellent option to save some space. The narrow shape of the oval table and chairs in this dining room allows for traffic to flow easily. The dusty gray-blue chairs add color and style.
23. Eat-In the Kitchen
If you’re a big fan of having meals in your kitchen, why not put a small dining room right there at the center? With a round table, like the one in this design, you can accommodate more seating, not to mention tuck them under to create more space.
The deep navy blue chairs add dimension, showcasing how dark colors can be used even in small dining rooms.
24. Go for a Clean Look
This elegant breakfast nook is the epitome of stylish small dining room ideas. Only a throw away from the kitchen, this nook complements the room’s color palette, but gray on the seats and banquette make the space distinguishable.
The rectangular glass-topped table adds a modern touch, while the ceiling pendants unify the design.
25. Keep It Low Profile
Open-plan hallways are also excellent places for small dining room ideas. Define your space with an area rug and use low-profile furniture to avoid blocking the path.
Set against a white and gray backdrop, the wishbone chairs bring a contemporary touch to this small dining room. A gallery wall draws attention to the walls, while a stylish ceiling pendant adds interest above.
