Practical Tips for Decorating a Small Dining Room

If you have a small dining room and don't know how to decorate and arrange the elements in the room, we'll show you some practical ideas on how to do it.
Practical Tips for Decorating a Small Dining Room

Last update: 06 December, 2018

If you have a small dining room in your house, apartment or studio, you might be finding it difficult to decorate. If you don’t get the right layout, your dining room could end up cramped and uncomfortable. So, in this article, we’ll give you a few ideas for useful items you might want for your small dining room.

You’ll need to take measurements and think carefully about the style and the color of the rest of your home. Remember, you’ll be spending quite a lot of time in your dining room, whether alone or with family and friends. Creating a pleasant and comfortable environment will allow you to enjoy your small dining room to the full.

Next, we’ll discuss some of the furniture and decorative objects you might want to consider when decorating your small dining room.

Practical furniture for small dining rooms

The most important element to consider when decorating a small dining room is the furniture. Because these will almost certainly be the biggest objects in the room, choosing the right furniture is essential. You’ll have to consider the size, the material, and the color. Plus, choosing the right place to put them is fundamental, so you’ll need to assess your room  before you buy.

Practical dining room tables

Folding tables

If you have a studio apartment, for example, attaching a folding table to the side of your kitchen counter can be a great idea. You can fold it and unfold whenever you need to. This will allow you to save a lot of space.

There are lots of space-saving table designs that are perfect for a small dining room.

Corner tables and seating

Another great alternative for small dining rooms are tables with L-shaped seats. Pick the corner you like best, ideally one next to a large window. Choose a rectangular or square table and pair it with an L-shaped seat. This will give you more space in your small dining room, and allow you to move easily around the room.

Remember, if you have your dining room area in the corner of the room, you’ll need to make sure it’s well illuminated, with both natural and artificial lighting. You don’t want you or your guests to be eating in darkness.

Space-saving table and chair sets

Depending on your personal tastes and the amount of space you have to work with, you could buy a round, square or rectangular space-saving table, in the materials and colors you like.

There are many designs that come with chairs that have been made to fit the shape of the table. They fit perfectly underneath, so you can store them away when you’re not using them. This will help you save space in your dining room.

Install a long kitchen counter with shelves

If you don’t have a bar or counter in your kitchen, you could install a long breakfast bar the same height as an ordinary table. This will allow you to use it as a dining room table, and separate the kitchen area from the rest of the room. This is a really practical idea for small dining rooms.

Make the most of your bar, and install a couple of shelves and racks underneath. This will allow you to store objects and help save even more space.

Decorating with mirrors

Incorporating mirrors into small dining rooms will make the space feel bigger. There are lots of great ways to do this, and your mirrors will decorate your room at the same time.

You could hang a large, frameless mirror to cover the entire wall opposite your dining room table. Another nice option is to hang two or three vertical mirrors side by side. Or, you could do the opposite, and hang horizontal mirrors in a column, one above the otherThe mirrors will decorate your dining room, and visually increase the amount of space at the same time.

Mirrors can help you visually increase the amount of space in your small dining room.

Getting the right lighting

Artificial lighting

As the name suggests, directional lighting is a type of lighting you can direct at a specific point in the room. To make sure your small dining gets enough light, you could decorate with hanging lamps.

Both hanging lamps above the table and a nice floor lamp next to it will help to illuminate your dining room area. It’s important to choose a warm light, rather than a white one. You could also place small candles in the center of your table to both decorate and illuminate during meals.

Natural lighting

Remember, it’s always better to have your small dining room area near or next to windows. Natural light is great, and you’ll be able to make the very most of it throughout the day.

Light colors

Combine and highlight your natural lighting with light-colored dining room walls. This will accentuate and amplify the natural light coming in through your windows. Try using white, beige, ecru or any other light color you like.

With these practical ideas, you’ll be able to decorate a beautiful small dining room without spending too much money. Remember, the most important thing to bear in mind is where you’re going to create the dining room area in your house or apartment. Decorate, choose the right lighting, and you’ll be able to enjoy every breakfast, lunch, and dinner.