30 Small Dining Room Ideas to Make the Most of Your Space (2024)

35 Formal Dining Room Ideas That Deliver Drama and Elegance

Modern Dining Nook

This modern dining space uses chairs with a slight build and a narrow wooden table for a minimal effect that feels like it could be picked up and moved ease. Warm gray and blue tones add to this easy, serene feeling, while a rug and a gallery wall ground the space and make it feel intentional.

Small Dining Room Design

If your kitchen connects to an open great room, carve out a small dining room in the area in-between with a few design tricks. In this combined space, extending the kitchen floor tile out into the living room helps separate the cooking and eating area. Choose a dining table and chairs with simple, streamlined shapes that won't take up too much space, and hang a light fixture above to define the table area. A small cushioned bench provides extra seating and adds a sense of comfort. A large window dressed in simple window treatments brings in light to help the room feel more spacious.

Traditional Style Dining Room

If you have traditional home with no formal dining room, fear not. You can make any space feel traditional with the furnishings you choose. Here, classic upholstered chairs and a gorgeous velvet banquet flank an antique table for a regal, timeless look that can be recreated in a space of any size.

Select a Narrow Dining Table

Sometimes, a narrow table is the only way to make a dining space work, and that’s okay. Narrow dining tables make for intimate, dynamic gatherings and fun, maximalist tablescapes. When you're shopping for a table, keep in mind the minimum width for a dining table is about 30 inches; any smaller and your dinner guests will feel cramped.

Small Breakfast Nook

A small circle table with a tulip-shaped base (echoed on the light fixture above) allows maximum use of space in this 1920s breakfast nook. And even if your space is small, be sure to think about contrast in scale. The large black and white tiles give this space a grandeur and presence that small tiles wouldn’t.

Create a Corner Banquet

If you have a spare corner, you have space for a dining nook. Use benches (or build your own) to create a banquet to get more use out of the corner space. A round cafe table is the perfect size to shop for to complete this cozy look.

Pass-Through Dining Room

Many small dining rooms are set up in transitional or pass-through spaces, like this dramatic dining space. One way to approach this type of area is to think of the dining table as multipurpose. This table is useful for everyday dining, but it could also be used for gaming, as a buffet, or as additional seating for the living room beyond.

Multi-Purpose Dining Space

Think of your small dining space as an area that has many purposes. This long, leather banquet could stand alone as side seating at a party, but with a table and chairs, it becomes a dining area, an office, and a place for family activities. This flexibility allows you to get the most use out of the space.

Fold-Out High-Top Table

High-top tables usually aren't any smaller than their regular-height counterparts, but because they have more space under them, they can make a room feel lighter and less cluttered. This table is outfitted with hinges, allowing the leg to fold under and the entire table to fold down to the wall. If you find yourself regularly eating somewhere other than the table, consider this space-saving option. Simply fold out the table when you have guests, and tuck it away when you need more room.

Use an Oval Dining Table

An oval table is an excellent option if you have a small dining room. The narrow shape allows traffic to easily flow around while still allowing for at least six chairs. Look for one with a pedestal base for even more space.

Modern Dining Room

With smart furniture choices, this dining area allows people to walk through easily, and it has cohesive, modern style. A round tulip table and Cesca chairs maximize seating while allowing space for traffic to flow around the table. A piece of modern art connects the dining space to the color in the adjoining room.

Eclectic Dining Room Seating

Having a small dining space invites you to get creative with your seating, which is perfect if you have eclectic style or are shopping on a budget. Here, a bench creates a banquette-type seat and pairs well with two mid-century cafe chairs. A pretty tablecloth adds traditional style and warmth to the space.

Dining Table with a Window Seat

Despite the mix of seating, this small dining nook still looks traditional and could easily be dressed up for a formal dinner. A window seat as a bench is an immediate space saver, and two ladder back chairs with rolled arms provide comfortable seating that can be moved aside when not in use.

Farmhouse Dining Room

This dining nook mixes rustic and modern styles with ease. The midcentury table and chairs blend seamlessly among the cozy, neutral details of the corner banquet. If you’re building a banquet, be sure to think about back support. Here, a mix of throw pillows allow guests to arrange to their comfort.

Thrifted Dining Room Seating

With limited space, the owners of this kitchen chose to forgo stools at their island and use it as backing for a dining area instead. The cozy vintage settee paired with modern industrial chairs creates a welcoming seating area for dining, working, and more.

Modern Style Small Dining Room

Working on a small scale doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. The trick is finding items in your style that are the right scale for the room. This dining room has endless modern style perfectly suited for the small space, including the light fixture, graphic art, and the clean-lined chrome table.

Stylish Small Dining Room Ideas

This small dining room lives larger than its footprint thanks to bright colors, natural light, and a few smart design tricks. Small dining room furniture, like this four-set pedestal table, is a good starting point. Simple wood chairs with cane details add stylish, low-profile seating. Layered rugs beneath the table help delineate the dining area, while pastel walls make the room feel more expansive and inviting.

Employ a Small Dining Set

This small dining table with a bench provides both function and style in a tight space. Placing the bench against the wall maximizes the available floor space, and airy caned chairs give the illusion of extra room. Narrow furniture legs help keep this segment of the house feeling open and light.

Cozy Neutral Dining Room

Neutral colors and a mix of textures give this small dining room a cozy feel. Sleek black Windsor chairs juxtapose slipcovered chairs at the head of the table. A simple wood buffet provides plenty of drawers for out-of-sight storage and a tabletop surface to display art and accessories. Above, a round mirror reflects light to make the room appear larger. A patterned area rug features warm colors that play up the table's rich maple finish.

Small Dining Room Setup

For a savvy use of square footage, turn a blank stretch of wall into a small dining area. Start with a comfy cushioned bench that can serve as seating for multiple people. To maximize the limited space, choose a round table with a streamlined base that can accommodate extra chairs if needed. Mount wall art above the bench to distinguish the area, and finish off the dining room with a pair of minimalist chairs. This small dining table and chairs setup is the perfect solution for small spaces, especially in apartments.

Small Dining Nook Packed with Pattern

A variety of patterns adds interest to this small dining room. Black-and-white striped walls provide a striking backdrop for colorful furnishings. Patterned cement floor tiles introduce vintage character that pairs well with antique bistro chairs. Floral fabric on the cushioned banquette bench adds a splash of personality. This simple setup demonstrates how to define a small dining nook within a larger kitchen area.

Defined Dining Area

Creating a dining area can be difficult with a narrow open floor plan. Define the dining room with a large area rug that will easily accommodate a small dining set. The clean, simple lines of modern furniture provide stylish and space-saving details. This midcentury-style dining set has simple legs that leave the space open and inviting rather than heavy.

Small Dining Room Wall Treatments

Dress up a small dining room with an interesting wall treatment, such as board and batten or wainscoting. In this dining room, white wainscoting extends two-thirds of the way up the wall and is topped with a band of light blue. While the two-tone walls are light, introducing dark peaco*ck blue on the chair seats and drapes add dimension, proving that dark colors have a place in small dining room decor.

Small Dining Nook Ideas

Small dining rooms are often nooks carved out of larger spaces. Unify the dining area with the surrounding spaces by employing similar design characteristics. Just a step away from the kitchen, this nook carries the sleek black-and-white color scheme of the adjacent space but is distinguished by plum accents. A round light fixture contrasts the square table and cabinets and adds a modern touch with its silver lining inside. Small dining room furniture, including minimalist chairs, provides additional seating to the kitchen banquette without overwhelming the space.

Small Banquette Dining Area

In a small dining area, choose a table that follows the lines of your banquette bench for optimal seating and movement. A rounded banquette bench works well with an oval-shaped table. The rounded corners make it easier to move in and out of the banquette. Curtains that cover half the bay windows allow the room to maintain its soft, natural brightness while providing privacy and adding character with a unique pattern.

Colorful Small Dining Room

Employ pops of color to enliven a petite dining area. Hues of pink and orange bring vibrancy and energy to this nook, which features a corner banquette to save space. A bold print on the Roman shade and coordinating throw pillows pairs with shiny mod chairs to bring a contemporary touch to the corner.

Small Dining Booth

A dining booth design is perfect for conversation and relaxation, while offering a savvy way to utilize a corner of space. Windows surrounding this booth expand the view of the small dining room to the outdoors, creating a more spacious feel. White benches with striped cushions contribute to the light-hearted, comfortable look. A simple pedestal table, without legs on the corners, makes it easy to get in and out of the booth.

Vintage-Style Small Dining Room

A white corner banquette blends in beautifully with the white walls and vintage decor in this small dining area. Cream-colored cushions and printed pillows add color and texture to the corner. A dark table contrasts the white color scheme but keeps with the room's simplicity. Small lamp sconces on the wall provide subtle light, while framed and canvas artwork adds more character and color to the space.

Simple Small Dining Area

Tucked away in the corner, this small dining room idea is plain and simple in the best way. Set against a white backdrop, a chestnut pedestal table brings a traditional, homey touch to the corner. A small window banquette seats two to three people and provides extra storage in the drawers below. Simple chairs are lightweight and easy to reposition, allowing seating all around the table. A lantern-style light fixture draws attention to the space and differentiates the area from the rest of the kitchen.

Comfortable Small Dining Ideas

When quarters are tight, opt for extra comfort. While most banquettes provide seat cushions, this space takes comfort to the next level with back cushions mounted to the wall. Drawers in the base of the banquette provide extra storage space while the three-sided wrap-around bench provides plentiful seating. Located right inside the back door, a slim white bench tucks in close to the table and doesn't jut out into the adjacent walkway.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a small dining room called?

  A small dining room can be called a dinette or a nook, depending on where it's located. A nook is usually in the kitchen, while a dinette is attached to the kitchen.

• How do you separate a dining room and a living room in a small apartment?

  There are a few simple ways to do this. For example, use a sofa to create a division, add a divider to the room (such as a folding screen), or use an area rug to define the living space. You can also use directed lighting to designate each space or add an accent wall with paint or wallpaper.