Small Dining Room Designs: Making the Most of Every Inch

Designing a small dining room doesn’t have to be a “sad desk lunch” situation anymore! Many people live in apartments or houses where space is limited, so small dining room designs are a necessity. Designing it well means you can create a cosy and intimate space for meals, even if it’s not large. With clever furniture choices, smart storage, and good lighting, a small dining room can be just as functional and enjoyable as a big one. It’s all about making the most of the space you have.

Type of small dining tables

Knowing the shapes, sizes, and features of different tables helps you pick the best one to maximise small dining room designs and make it comfortable.

1. Oval or a small round dining room table

Unlike square or rectangular tables, an oval or small round dining room table doesn’t have sharp corners that can block traffic flow. This means it’s easier to walk around the table, especially in tight spaces. Also, because they’re curved, you can often fit more people around them comfortably. This shape creates a more intimate atmosphere, perfect for cosy meals in small dining room designs.

2. Extendable small dining tables

Extendable dining tables are perfect for small dining room designs because they give you the flexibility you need. Most of the time, you can keep the table small and compact, saving valuable floor space. Then, when you have guests or want to host a dinner party, you can easily expand the table to create more room. This means you don’t have to sacrifice space on a daily basis, but you’re still prepared for those special occasions.

3. Murphy dining table

These tables fold up and attach to the wall when you don’t need them, freeing up floor space. When it’s mealtime, you simply fold them down. This makes your room feel much bigger when you’re not eating. They’re also really versatile, as you can use the wall space for other things when the table is put away. Plus, these tables can easily be the best 2 seater dining table on this list.

4. Foldable small dining tables

• First, it saves a ton of space, especially when used as a dining room table for small spaces. When you’re not eating, you can fold the main table away
• Second, the hidden desk gives you a dedicated workspace, perfect for working from home or paying bills
• Third, the hinged design means the desk slides out easily from a corner, using otherwise wasted space
• Fourth, the vertical storage shelf supporting the desk provides extra storage for dishes, books, or anything else you need
• Finally, it’s versatile! You get a dining area and a workspace in one piece of furniture, maximising the room’s usefulness

5. Console turned into a dining table

Normally, a console sits against a wall, but you can pull it out and add chairs, transforming it into a 2 seater dining table, when you need a dining space. This means you have a surface for decorations or storage when you’re not eating. Plus, many consoles are slim, so they don’t take up much room. You can also find console tables with drawers or shelves for extra storage, keeping your dining area tidy. And when you’re finished eating, you can easily push it back against the wall, freeing up floor space.

6. Drop leaf dining set for small space

This small dining table set for 4 is incredibly versatile because you can fold down one or both sides when you don’t need the full table surface. This means you can save a lot of space when it’s just you or a couple of people. When you have guests, simply unfold the leaves to create a larger dining area. It’s like having two tables in one!

Types of seating

Some seating options take up less room than others. For example, a bench or banquette can fit more people against a wall than individual chairs.

1. Banquette seating

Since it’s built-in against a wall or corner, you don’t need to leave room for chairs to be pulled out. Second, it often provides hidden storage underneath, which is perfect for keeping clutter out of sight. Third, such banquette seating, like a small dining table set for 4, can seat more people than individual chairs in the same amount of space. Finally, they can be customised to fit any space, so you can make the most of awkward corners or tight areas.

2. Corner seating

Similar to banquette seating, this L-shaped seating can be tucked into a corner. Plus, a corner bench can comfortably seat more people than individual chairs in the same space. Many corner seating options also offer built-in storage underneath, which is perfect for stashing away extra linens or dishes. This helps keep the room tidy and uncluttered, making it feel larger.

3. Tuck-in chairs

The biggest advantage is that they slide completely under the dining room table for small spaces when you’re not eating. This keeps the walkway clear and makes the room feel less crowded. Also, because they’re designed to fit neatly, you can often fit more chairs around a small table than with bulky chairs. Plus, many tuck-in chairs have a simple, streamlined design, which helps make the room feel open and airy, rather than cluttered.

Crockery and cutlery storage

Small floor space means you need the utmost organisational skills, which is where wise storage choices come into play.

1. Vertical storage

When floor space is scarce, use vertical storage. All shelves or cabinets allow you to store dishes, glasses, and even tablecloths neatly and add visual interest to the walls by drawing the eye upwards and making the room seem taller.

2. Open shelving

Unlike closed cabinets, open shelves don’t block your view, allowing your eyes to travel through the room. This creates an illusion of more space. They also let light pass through, keeping the room brighter and airier. You can display pretty dishes or glasses, adding visual interest without cluttering the floor. And you can easily see and reach everything, making it practical for everyday use.

Wall colours for small dining room designs

Colours can change how big or small a room feels and looks.

1. Beige

Light colours like beige reflect light, brightening the room and making it feel airy. Second, it’s a neutral colour, so it doesn’t overwhelm the space or clash with other furniture and decorations. This makes the room feel less cluttered. Third, beige provides a warm and inviting backdrop that makes the room feel cosy, despite its small size. It also helps to push the walls back visually, creating the illusion of more space. Finally, it’s very versatile, allowing you to easily change up your decor without needing to repaint.

2. Grey

Unlike dark colours that close in a space, grey creates a sense of openness. It’s also a neutral colour and adds a sophisticated touch without being overwhelming.

3. Light sage green

Sage green is a soft, natural colour that creates a calming and airy atmosphere, preventing the room from feeling cramped. Its subtle depth adds visual interest without being overwhelming. Finally, light sage green brings a touch of the outdoors inside, which can make a small room feel more connected to nature and, therefore, more spacious.

4. White

White makes the walls seem to recede, which visually expands the room’s boundaries. Plus, white acts as a blank canvas, allowing you to add colourful furniture and decorations without making the space look cluttered.

Small dining room decor ideas

Decor ideas also influence how a room looks and feels with respect to its size and colour.

1. Quotes

Because quotes are usually printed with light backgrounds and dark text, they help reflect light, making the room feel brighter and larger. The clean lines and minimalism of such small dining room decor ideas prevent the walls from feeling cluttered, which is crucial in a small area. Plus, the vertical nature of framed quotes can draw the eye upward, giving the illusion of higher ceilings.

2. Abstract art

Abstract art often uses light, bright colours (but pale colours like white, pale blues, and light greys) and simple shapes are known to visually expand a room. Also, the lack of a specific subject in abstract art means your eye can wander freely, making the room feel less confined.

3. Wall plates

Using wall plates as décor in small dining room designs can really brighten things up. Instead of plain walls, colourful or patterned plates add visual interest and personality. Because they’re flat, they don’t take up valuable floor space like bulky decorations would. Plates can also bounce light around, making the room feel brighter and more open. Plus, it’s easy to switch them out for different looks whenever you want, giving your dining room a quick and easy makeover.

4. White tinted mirrors

The white tint softens the reflection, making it less harsh and more like a subtle, airy extension of the room. This trick helps bounce light around, making the dining area feel much bigger and more open.

5. Wallpaper

Wallpapers are fantastic small dining room decor ideas for changing the feel of a room. You can use stripes to make walls look taller and rooms bigger. Bright, colourful patterns bring excitement, while soft textures create a warm and comfortable space.

Unlike paint, wallpaper gives walls a feeling of depth and can easily hide any bumps or flaws. If you use peel-and-stick wallpaper, you can even change the look whenever you want without a lot of work. This makes wallpaper a great way to give small dining room designs a special, one-of-a-kind look.

5+ Tricks to increase the size of small dining room designs

1. Mirrors

When you place a mirror on a wall, it reflects the room, essentially doubling the visual space. It’s like creating a window where there isn’t one. Also, mirrors bounce light around, making the room brighter and more open. This extra light and the doubled view trick your eyes into thinking the room is larger than it actually is. So, strategically placed mirrors can really open up small dining room designs and make them feel more spacious.

2. Light colours

This is yet another trick to increase the perceived space of a small living area. When you paint the walls and ceiling in light shades like white, cream, or pale blue, they reflect light instead of absorbing it, which is especially helpful if you’re trying to fit a dining room table for small spaces into the room. Because the light bounces around, it blurs the edges of the room, making it harder to see where the walls actually are.

3. Vertical lines

When you use vertical stripes on the walls or choose tall, thin furniture like bookshelves or mirrors, your eyes are naturally drawn upwards, perhaps even towards a small window above a little kitchen table. This creates the illusion of height, where the upward movement helps avoid the feeling of being cramped and gives the room a more open and airy feel, even if it’s quite small.

4. Minimalist decor

Minimalist decor works wonders in small dining room designs because it focuses on “less is more.” By keeping furniture and decorations simple and limited, you reduce visual clutter. This means your eyes aren’t overwhelmed by lots of things, making the room feel more open and airy.

5. Clear furniture

Clear furniture, like acrylic or glass chairs and tables, can make small dining room designs feel much bigger because you can see through them, and they don’t block your view or create visual clutter.

6. Good lighting

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Bright, even light helps to eliminate shadows and dark corners, which can make a space feel cramped, especially around a little kitchen table. When light bounces off walls and surfaces, it creates a sense of openness. Using a mix of light sources, like overhead lights, lamps, and even candles, adds depth and dimension.

How can Livspace help you?

Loved these small dining room designs and tips? Get in touch with our designers to get a customised quote on your dream home interiors. We offer

• A flat 10-year warranty*
• 146 quality checks on all our modular products
• 20 lakh+ catalogue products for you to choose from

Visit your nearest experience centre to know more details!

*For select finishes on modular products. For full scope of warranty, please visit livspace.com/in/service

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