Many of us don’t know how to balance out form and function in their spaces. They either make it look good, but it engulfs the space. Or they go the other way and make it purely functional with no divine design in sight. So how about we change that? Here are some ways you can decorate your small dining room to make it work well and look phenomenal.
Choose A Round Table
The most crucial mistake a lot of people make when they’re decorating a small dining room is buying a square table. Then they try a million things to make it work, but it just won’t. It doesn’t matter how small the table is, a square dining table is always going to look bulkier than a round one. Not only does a square dining table look visually heavy, but functionally it’s not great either. The ideal table for a small dining room is one on a singular center leg. A round table also allows you to reduce the amount of chairs you have at it without it looking odd.
A beautiful and chic dining space by the window, with a round table, black chairs and a statement artwork.
A beautiful and refined dining space with a dark green sofa, a round table and wooden chairs, a retro pendant lamp.
A beautiful Scandinavian dining space with a floating bench, a round table, black chairs, black sconces and a graphic art.
A bright eclectic dining room with a corner bench, a metal table, a rattan chair, some floral artwork and vintage porcelain over the space.
A chic dining zone with a stained round table, white chairs, a white floor lamp and some pretty vases is very modern and cool.
A chic modern dining space with a round table, metal chairs, a jute rug, a modern chandelier and some blooms.
A cool and chic dining area with a bench with printed pillows, a white round table, leather chairs, some blooms and pastel accessories.
Lessen The Chair Count
Even if the round table you’ve purchased is sold as a four-seater, it’s highly recommended you keep only three chairs at it when the table is not in use. If you have four family members, then just skip this idea. Choose chairs with four thin legs, a cushioned based by all means, but then a back that doesn’t rise past the table top too much and don’t look bulky.
A cool dining room with a view, a round table and black chairs, a built-in buffet with a desk for working here.
A cool mid-century modern dining spot with a round table, timber chairs, a polka dot artwork and some blooming branches.
A cool modern dining area with a floating bench with a soft back, a black round table, woven chairs and a lovely gold tube lamp.
A corner bench with lots of printed pillows, a round table, dark stained chairs, a large gallery wall and a pendant lamp.
A cozy dining nook with a stained round table, white chairs, open shelves and some greenery in pots has everything necessary.
A cozy Scandi dining nook with a corner bench made of IKEA storage units, a table and rattan chairs, a neutral pendant lamp.
A cozy small dining space wiht a vintage table, chairs and a bench, potted greenery, a trio of pendant lamps.
A cute and cozy dining nook with a table, chairs and a bench, open shelves, some artworks, potted greenery is lovely.
Use Different Table And Chair Materials
People often assume, when thinking through decorating a small dining room, that the table and chairs should just be shoved into the corner. But please avoid dining settings that come in one single material. It makes the zone feel very visually heavy. As a rule, your table and chairs should never be the same color as your floor. Variance in material will actually help the zone feel nicer to be in.
A delicate feminine dining space with a round table and chic gilded chairs, a blush storage unit and a black cabinet.
A light-filled dining area by the windows, with a built-in corner bench, a round table, a woven chair and a pendant lamp.
A little cozy dining nook with a corner bench with pillows and cushions, a round table and a chair, a pendant lamp and potted greenery.
A little glam dining space with a built-in bench, a round table, black chairs, a gilded chandelier, printed elements.
A little Nordic dining space with a round table, striped chairs and a pendant bulb plus a statement artwork is a cozy nook to have a meal.
A lovely modern dining area with a rust-colored leather loveseat, printed textiles, a round table, black chairs, a modern chandelier.
A lovely modern dining nook with a light stained table, a black bench and chairs, a small gallery wall with cool prints.
A lovely small dining zone with a small dining table, green chairs, some blooms and candles and a pendant lamp.
A Scandi industrial dining space with a bench, a rough wooden table, metal stools, a metal pendant lamp and printed pillows.
Hang Tall Eye-Catching Art
If your round table is not in the center of the room, and is more pushed toward a wall, art is your savior. In any small room, a tall piece of art will draw the eye away from the tiny footprint of the space. It makes you look up the wall and forget (even if for a moment) how small the dining room actually is. The art is best purchased in a portrait orientation rather than landscape. You don’t want the artwork to run wider than the table and chair setting, otherwise you’ll just draw attention to how small the scene is.
A simple and stylish small dining space with a leather bench, a round table and wooden chairs, potted plants and blooms.
A small and bright dining space with a yellow upholstered bench, a stained table, white chairs, metal pendant lamps.
A small and chic dining space with an elegant dark-stained cabinet, green walls, a round table, leather chairs and a cluster of pendant lamps.
A small and colorful dining area with a built-in bench, a round table, leather chairs, a rug and a bold artwork.
A small and colorful dining space with a vintage dark stained round table, chairs with colorful legs, pendant lamps on colorful cords.
A small and cool dining space with a round table, black rounded chairs, a cool artwork and a printed neutral rug is welcoming.
A small and cool Scandinavian dining nook with a white round chair, vintage black chairs, a black and white gallery wall and potted plants.
A small and cozy dining room with a hairpin leg table, white Eames chairs, shelves with plants and a grid gallery wall.
A small and cozy dining space with a fireplace, a round table, a built-in bench, a rattan chair and a leather stool.
A small and cozy dining space with a folding table, black chairs, open shelves, books and artworks is cozy space.
Hang A Mirror Above The Table
Mirrors are always great in small spaces because they bounce light around the room. This makes the zone feel larger and airier. You’d want to choose a mirror with a minimal frame though. A portrait orientation mirror would work here, or you could try a round mirror.
A small and cute dining nook with a colorful bench, a round table, a black chair, a pendant lamp and some yellow tableware.
A small and elegant dining nook with a green bench, a round table, creamy rounded chairs, a bold artwork and a cool chandelier.
A small and lovely dining space with a corner bench, a round table and black chairs and lots of potted plants is a cool space for meals.
A small and stylish farmhouse dining nook with a leather bench, a round table, rattan chairs, a vase with greenery.
A small boho dining space with a built-in corner bench with a leather cushion, a round table, a black chair, a pendant lamp.
A small bright dining space at the window, with a corner bench, a round table and wooden chairs, a woven pendant lamp.
Hang A Pendant Over the Table
Your dining table and chairs might not be pushed up against the wall. You might be working with a small footprint, but perhaps it allows for the table to sit in the center of the space. If that’s the situation you’re dealing with, then installing a pendant light over the round dining table is a genius idea. Ensure it doesn’t branch out beyond the width of your table setting and you’ll be fine.
A small dining nook with a white upholstered corner bench, a grey table, a woven chair, some artworks and bold pillows.
A small modern dining area filled with light, with a built-in bench, a trestle table, light stained chairs and some potted plants.
A small Nordic dining area with a folding table, vintage white chairs, a black and white gallery wall and some plants.
A small vintage dining nook with a white table, light stained chairs, a pendant lamp, greenery and a cute view.
A stylish modern dining nook with a table, blue and green chairs, greenery in pots and vases and a gallery wall with clocks and plates.
Low, Minimal Styling On The Table Top
It’s important from both a looks and functional perspective not to clutter up the table top in a small dining room. If you’ve already got a pendant light installed above the table, let that be the moment. Place one bowl or low plant on the table top. If you don’t have any pendant lighting above the dining room table, then it is important to have a small decorative moment on top of it: something like a bunch of flowers in a low round vase, or a decorative vessel. Get inspired!
A stylish small dining nook with a tan corner bench, a round table, a white chair, a chic pendant lamp, printed pillows.
A tiny and bold dining nook with a vintage artwork gallery wall, a cool table and emerald chairs, a black pendant lamp.
A tiny bright boho dining space with a wall-mounted table and stained chairs, potted greenery and bright art is all cool.
A tiny glam dining space with a white table, woven chairs, a jar chandelier and some fuchsia blooms for decor.
An airy small dining zone with a round table, stained and white chairs, potted plant, a hanging bulb and some printed textiles.