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10 Smart Ways to Maximise a Small Dining Space
Having a small dining area doesn’t mean you need to scrimp on form or function, as these gorgeous spaces prove
Does hosting dinner parties send you into a spin? If you live in a modest home or apartment with limited space, it’s possible your dining area is a little lacking in style and substance. But by making a few smart adjustments, from furniture and lighting to the colour scheme and storage, your small dining room can fit in seamlessly with the rest of your home, providing you with the perfect place in which to tuck into your evening meal, entertain or dine with the family.
Utilise storage space
If storage space is at a premium in your dining room, think about incorporating drawers, shelving and stdorage units wherever possible. Here, the table itself includes drawers – perfect for stashing cutlery, place mats, napkins and tea lights.
Be inspired by ways to turn storage into a stylish feature
If storage space is at a premium in your dining room, think about incorporating drawers, shelving and stdorage units wherever possible. Here, the table itself includes drawers – perfect for stashing cutlery, place mats, napkins and tea lights.
Be inspired by ways to turn storage into a stylish feature
Take inspiration from cafés
Create the mood of a chic little café by placing your table up against a wall and adding art, a light fixture and a vase of flowers. A collapsible table is a great idea, as it can be put away at a moment’s notice.
Create the mood of a chic little café by placing your table up against a wall and adding art, a light fixture and a vase of flowers. A collapsible table is a great idea, as it can be put away at a moment’s notice.
Build seating into a corner
Make the most of a small dining space with built-in benches tucked into the corner of the room. A slim, rectangular table will allow several people to line up along it without it eating into too much floor space.
Make the most of a small dining space with built-in benches tucked into the corner of the room. A slim, rectangular table will allow several people to line up along it without it eating into too much floor space.
Make it transparent
See-through furniture visually blends into a scheme rather than dominating it. Sightlines run as far as possible, maximising the space and making the room as a whole, rather than the table, the star of the show.
See-through furniture visually blends into a scheme rather than dominating it. Sightlines run as far as possible, maximising the space and making the room as a whole, rather than the table, the star of the show.
Play with scale
This high-backed bench gives the dining area presence without taking up much floor space. It also makes the table and chairs look smaller than they are for an uncluttered look.
This high-backed bench gives the dining area presence without taking up much floor space. It also makes the table and chairs look smaller than they are for an uncluttered look.
Hang a pendant
Installing a pendant light above a dining table helps to zone the area and give it a sense of occasion, however small it is. Make sure you wire the light into a dimmer switch so you can control the mood.
Browse a selection of pendant lights
Installing a pendant light above a dining table helps to zone the area and give it a sense of occasion, however small it is. Make sure you wire the light into a dimmer switch so you can control the mood.
Browse a selection of pendant lights
Choose a pedestal table
A round table with a pedestal base is a classic space saver. There are no corner legs to wiggle around, and it can be moved about easily when needed.
A round table with a pedestal base is a classic space saver. There are no corner legs to wiggle around, and it can be moved about easily when needed.
Define a small space with big colour
White is a great colour for a small space, but painting one wall in a vibrant shade zones a dining area without taking up any space. Here, the eye skirts around the space-smart round table and white chairs to take in the bold red, opening out the room as much as possible.
White is a great colour for a small space, but painting one wall in a vibrant shade zones a dining area without taking up any space. Here, the eye skirts around the space-smart round table and white chairs to take in the bold red, opening out the room as much as possible.
Get into the fold
A drop-leaf table is a great option for smaller rooms at it can be extended to accommodate larger parties. To really save space, it can even be pushed flush against the wall when not in use.
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How do you make the most out of a small dining area? Share your pictures with us in the Comments.
A drop-leaf table is a great option for smaller rooms at it can be extended to accommodate larger parties. To really save space, it can even be pushed flush against the wall when not in use.
TELL US...
How do you make the most out of a small dining area? Share your pictures with us in the Comments.
If your dining area is a nook carved out of a larger space, blend it into the rest of the room by choosing furniture and colours that chime with the surrounding décor. This banquette is living room smart, yet takes up very little room, while the round table could function as a side table.