Transform your dining nook into a sophisticated retreat with these chic small dining room ideas. From built in banquette seating and clever lighting to round tables that save space and mirrors that make the room feel larger, you’ll find lots of makeover inspiration .
These ideas will help you create a space you’ll never want to leave.
1. Compact Dining Delights
Picking out the perfect dining table is such a big deal. It obviously has to physically fit in the room, but it also really needs to match the overall vibe of your home.
You’ve got to think about the table’s shape when you’re deciding on the size. I personally love a round table because it feels like you can always squeeze in an extra chair when friends pop over.
If you’re working with a longer room, a rectangular table is a classic choice that just looks so balanced. A wood dining table is such a traditional look, and you can find some truly luxurious ones made from expensive woods with the most incredible carvings and even gold details!
For something a little more understated but still so elegant, a craftsman-style table with its simple curves is just perfect. If you’re going for a more modern feel, a sleek metal and glass table is a total showstopper.
2. Small Dining and Kitchen Combinations
Some smaller homes just don’t come with a separate, formal dining room. If that’s your situation, your kitchen table totally becomes your main dining spot.
That little breakfast nook suddenly gets a promotion to your more formal dining area! You can then look to your kitchen island to create a more casual place to eat.
Try using a smaller table that seats four or six people in your breakfast area. I’d recommend choosing a fancier table to really elevate the space and give it a more refined look.
Then, you can pop some barstools at your kitchen counter for a laid-back eating spot. Just make sure to place at least two barstools; having only one can look a little strange.
3. Embracing Tradition Solutions
A classic, traditional dining table is typically made of wood with matching wooden chairs. The seats, and sometimes the chair backs, are upholstered in fabric.
The specific type and style you choose really depends on how fancy you want your dining room to feel. Some sets are designed with simple carvings and pretty cotton-printed fabrics.
Others are super ornate, featuring intricate designs and expensive silk embroidered fabric.
If you’re on the hunt for a traditional dining set, look for pieces described with terms like Gothic Revival, Regency era, or Victorian. Anything inspired by the Renaissance will give off a real luxury vibe.
On the other hand, Rococo-inspired furniture is a bit more understated and less flashy, which can be lovely too.
4. A Stylish Addition to Compact Dining Areas
If your dining area is in a small room or a narrow space, you might not have room for a full table and chairs set. This is when it’s time to get creative with your setup!
Instead of having chairs all the way around your table, think about adding banquette seating on one side. It’s one of my favorite solutions for tight spots.
You can build a bench right into the wall, complete with a cushioned back and seat for comfort. Then, just line your table up to the bench and place chairs on the other side.
This trick reduces the amount of floor space you need while actually increasing your seating capacity. Just make sure the bench has enough cushioning; it needs to be comfy enough for people to relax through a whole meal.
5. Modern Elegance for Today’s Lifestyle
Modern dining tables are all about those clean lines, lacking any of the intricate carvings or detailed design work you see in traditional styles. They might feature a table with a single central support, which looks so sleek.
The chairs could have slim metal legs, which is a look I love. You could pair white chairs with a metal table for a crisp, contemporary feel. Or, how about a chic set of black dining chairs with a leucite table? So cool.
If you stick with only metal and acrylic, you’ll definitely have a modern set, but it might feel a little cold. You can easily warm up the vibe of your modern dining set by looking for one that incorporates light wood.
Another way is to add natural materials elsewhere in the room. A large fiddle leaf fig in the corner would be gorgeous, or you could go with beautiful wood flooring to add that warmth underfoot.
6. Simple Small Dining Room Ideas
Your dining area doesn’t have to be over-the-top fancy or luxurious. For some homes, a simple dining table in a small dining area just looks best. I think American traditional or craftsman furniture works beautifully for this kind of design approach.
A simple take on your small dining space also works so well with modern styles. These tables and chairs have minimal decorative elements and instead focus on long, clean lines.
This approach is fantastic because you can pick a set with thin legs and a glass top, which really helps your dining area look and feel so much larger. The farmhouse style is another great option for a simple dining table design.
Its rustic feel and straightforward build create a homey, less formal elegance that’s super inviting.
7. Space-Saving Small Dining Room Ideas
The simplest and most traditional way to shop for your dining room furniture is to just buy a single set. It will come with a table and chairs, you just buy it, place it in your small space, and you’re all set. But that’s definitely not your only option.
If you have an open floor plan, you might want to coordinate your dining furniture with your living room pieces. They don’t have to be a perfect match, but they could share a similar design aesthetic or style.
This helps create a beautiful flow from one room to the next. A more creative idea, which I love, is to mix and match your furniture. Buy a table from one place, some chairs from another, and maybe even more chairs from a third.
Look for pieces that complement each other but are different enough to look intentionally chosen. I always suggest choosing chairs in pairs for a balanced feel, and then place the matching chairs across from each other.
8. Contemporary Flair
You can give your small apartment a really contemporary feel by hanging modern art on the wall. Another idea is to introduce a bold graphic print, either by laying down a cool rug or by hanging some statement wallpaper.
Another modern approach that I love is to keep things super simple with a dark color on all the walls and then use open shelves to display artwork.
If you have a bit of space along one wall, you could place a sideboard there. It’s a small cabinet that’s perfect for setting out extra dishes for serving or for storing your linens and flatware. It’s both stylish and practical!
9. Interior Dining Decor Inspirations
You absolutely do not need a dedicated dining room to have a dining table. You can just dedicate a portion of your living area to it. This strategy works so well in small apartments where you might have a tiny kitchen and a larger living room.
Physically divide the space so one area is for your entertainment furniture. Place a couch, coffee table, end tables, and your TV there. Then, in the other half, you can set up a small dining table and chairs.
It’s a great idea to add separate lighting for both zones so you can use each space on its own without having to light up the whole room. Placing a rug in each area is another fantastic way to help define them.
10. Lighting Strategies for Small Spaces
The go-to lighting solution for a dining room has always been to hang a chandelier from the ceiling right over the center of the table. A traditional style of chandelier often has a candle-like look, which is a lovely nod to a time before electricity.
For a truly elegant vibe, a crystal chandelier is just perfect. It will glitter and shine so beautifully in the light.
But those aren’t your only options! Modern light fixtures can replace a chandelier with something like a caged, tiered, drum, bowl, or pendant light.
Whatever type of light you end up choosing, just make sure it generates enough light to illuminate the whole table. That way, no one has to eat in the dark.
A great tip is to put the light on a dimmer switch, so you can adjust the brightness to match the mood of the dinner.
11. Table Decor for Intimate Dining Settings
A plain table can look a bit boring, empty, and even a little sad. A simple idea is to lay down a tablecloth or a runner in a decorative fabric. Then, you can place seasonal items on it or things that relate to the current holiday.
Another easy idea I love is to have a vase or planter with some fresh greenery or flowers. It brings a touch of nature and beautiful, natural color into the room. The perfect finishing touch is to set the table with placemats, chargers, plates, silverware, and glassware.
When you’re designing your table display, think about height. You want to have some items that are low on the table and others that are a bit taller.
However, you definitely don’t want items that are so tall they block the view of the people sitting at the table. That would just force everyone to lean left and right to talk to each other!
12. Creative Wall Decor
The walls of your dining area have a captive audience since people are sitting at the table for a while eating. So why not give them something interesting to look at? It’s time to say goodbye to plain white walls or those boring beige ones.
You could paint the walls a bold color or apply some fun wallpaper. Another great option is to hang upper cabinets. A mix of cabinets and open shelving can look amazing, creating extra storage space and a spot for display.
If you don’t need more storage, then a gallery wall is one of my favorite ideas. Just select several framed pieces of art and arrange them artfully on the wall for a personal touch.
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13. Ceiling Designs for Cozy Rooms
Your dining room usually has less furniture and decor compared to other rooms, which is great because it lets you get a bit fancier with the ceiling design!
Plus, since the dining room is where you host nice dinners and entertain guests, it can totally be a more elegant space than the rest of your home.
You could add some decorative LED strip lighting to illuminate a tray ceiling, which looks amazing. If your ceiling is flat, think about painting a decorative design or adding some intricate scrollwork pieces for a touch of class.
Tall ceilings look absolutely beautiful with coffering. You can even add these three-dimensional grooved wood pieces to a flat ceiling later on to create that stunning effect.
14. Luxury Design Touches
You can create a really elegant feeling in your dining room by choosing more expensive materials. Imagine covering your wood-brown floor with a beautiful antique Persian rug. Or picking a wood table that has a stunning, intricate design on the tabletop.
Instead of wood, you could go for a table with a granite or marble top for that extra touch of luxury. Another gorgeous option is a table with inlays that create an intricate pattern.
You can continue this approach with the rest of the room. The chairs could be upholstered with silk, velvet, or leather. Just keep in mind that these expensive fabrics are not only beautiful but also harder to clean.
They might not be the best choice if you have messy eaters or children at home.
