Stylish Small Dining Room Ideas

Tiny, petite, mini, bite-size. No matter how you want to describe it, a lot of us have small or nonexistent dining rooms. Check out these tips and tricks to create usable dining spaces that are small on everything but style.

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January 20, 2021

By: Karli Sanders

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Photo By: Sarah Sweeney Photography

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Get Creative With Furniture

A bistro table is the perfect size for a small dining room. Couple that with a cool leather sofa used as seating, and you’ve got a stylish and smart small dining solution.

From: Jaclyn Joslin

Bring It Around

This dining area is an offshoot of the kitchen. Using a round table allows you to fit in an extra chair without taking up too much space. A fifth chair could easily be added to this dining table when guests drop by.

From: 2id Interiors

Hang a Chandelier

The use of an Edison bulb chandelier above the table makes it clear which part of this open-concept space is the dining area. Fun and unique lighting above a table is a simple way to pump up the style in a small dining space.

From: Antonio Martins

Set the Mood

A dark paint color creates a moody look in this small dining room. The addition of white wainscoting, a fun rug and rattan chairs keeps the space from becoming dreary and helps it feel fresh and modern.

Mirror Image

It’s an age-old trick that adding a mirror creates the illusion of a bigger room. A small dining room is the perfect place for a little visual trickery. The glass table is a continuation of the sleek and modern vibe.

Create a Vignette

Many apartments and smaller homes don’t have dining rooms at all, but you can create a cute eating space in any room. All you really need are some chairs and a small table, and voila! You’ve got a dining room.

Built-In Seating

The use of a built-in bench saves space by pushing everything up against the wall. The cobalt blue wall and cushion provide a seamless look that sets the dining area apart from the rest of the house. Decorative mirrors make the room appear bigger than it is.

From: Chango and Co.

Try Some Ghost Chairs

These trendy Lucite ghost chairs take the focus off of clunky seating. The choice of a pedestal table frees up space for legs, while the wraparound countertop creates a side bar where serving dishes can be placed.

From: Anjie Cho

Add Additional Seating

If your dining area is a continuation of your kitchen, placing barstools at the countertop provides extra seating without taking up any more space. The conversation will keep flowing in this creative use of space.

From: Jenny Norris

Get Creative With Built-Ins

This petite octagonal dining room couldn’t fit a large buffet or sideboard to display and contain the collection of antique dishware. A built-in shelf saves the day and provides a focal point in an unconventionally shaped space.

From: Amy Conner-Murphy

Make a Statement

Just because your dining room is small, doesn’t mean it has to be lacking in style. The owners of this home chose a midcentury modern theme and stuck with it to provide maximum style in a small space.

Use Window Treatments to Your Advantage

Designers love this easy trick. Placing long curtains well above the windows brings the eye up and creates the illusion of a bigger room.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Blend In

Sometimes it’s better to blend in than have your dining area set apart. A unified, muted color palette seamlessly merges this dining area into the living room. The homeowners didn’t want the furnishings to compete with the gorgeous view, so they chose a neutral palette.

From: Lisa Sherry

Try Out Wallpaper

A dining room is a fantastic place to experiment with color and print. This small dining space is set apart from the rest of the house with the use of eye-catching graphic wallpaper. When it comes to dining rooms, go bold or go home.

From: Amy Carman Design

Create Your Own Dining Room

This open-concept home lacked a standalone dining room, so the homeowners set the dining area apart with a gorgeous handmade table, contemporary chairs and lighting unique to the dining area.

From: Genna Margolis

Make the Most of Your Layout

The owner of this chic loft apartment had limited options for the placement of the dining room. The hallway may not be the typical place to dine in, but it allows for a long table ready for eight guests.

From: Caitlin McCarthy Designs

Be Smart With Table Choices

Sometimes you’ve got to get a little creative with carving out a space for dining. Using the middle leaf of a small dining table keeps the shared space as open as possible for day-to-day use, but still allows the option of extending the table when more seating is required.

From: Emily Henderson

Pony Up

Also known as a pony wall, this divider creates a space just for the dining room in an open-concept living area. The bold purple wallpaper gives the dining room a separate look from the rest of the house.