Living room

Ideas for decorating a small dining room – 10 ways with a small dining room

A refresh on small dining room decor ideas could be the answer if you’re looking for small dining room ideas that affect how spacious the room feels when you sit down at the table. Whether your space-constrained dining area is part of a larger living space or in its own small room, the way it’s arranged can have a dramatic effect on the sense of space, if not its physical size.

Your color choices alone can make or break the dining experience in a small dining room. Pale and cool colors recede, while dark and warm colors emerge. So opting for a light, uplifting color scheme is perhaps the simplest way to brighten up the mood.

However, an important consideration will always be the seating arrangement with a small dining room decor. When it comes to getting more bottoms on chairs, banquet style dining room furniture is much more effective than freestanding designs.

“The rule of thumb is to leave a minimum of 3 feet between a chair and the next piece of furniture or wall, but with built-in chairs you can cut that down to just 12 inches because the chair fits directly on the wall,” explains Jamie Blake, creative director of Blakes London , from.

Small dining room decor ideas

By keeping the surfaces in your dining room uncluttered, you create a sense of calm. There are plenty of ideas to choose from, but try not to overdo the shelving/chimney displays and tablescapes once you’ve completed your space-enhancing scheme.

1. Panel the walls

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Wainscoting takes up very little space, is affordable, especially if you do it yourself, and can bring great benefits in terms of decoration. “Upholstery is especially useful in a small dining room because it immediately creates the illusion of grandeur and can trick the mind into thinking the space is bigger,” says interior designer Noor Charchafchi of Celine Interior Design (opens in new tab).

‘In a small dining room I would use large panels quite high on the wall, so that the eye is drawn upwards,’ adds Noor. “I like to be quite bold with wainscoting, so even in a small space it can be interesting to use triple wainscoting, perhaps with a darker inner tone and lighter outer tone to create maximum effect.”

Wallpapering in panel style frames is another great way to increase impact, and goes a long way in helping a small dining room wallpaper idea.

2. Play with paint effects

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Creating patterns and shapes with paint is a popular dining room wall decor idea that can be incredibly effective without overwhelming a smaller dining room. It can also be used to place the dining area in an open living space.

Two-tone designs will prove to be calmer than clashing colors. In terms of pattern, go for straight lines over curves – stripes, chevrons, or mountaintop-style designs, for example – unless you have a really steady hand or have stencils available. Low tack tape will create sharp lines, but be sure to remove the tape while the paint is still wet to reduce bleeding.

3. Get inspiration from nature

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A nature-inspired decor scheme filled with earthy, rustic materials and finishes will make a small dining room cozy and inviting. Go for soothing colors in tones such as mushroom, stone and clay, then apply natural materials.

“Natural surfaces are also very practical and family-friendly because they are easy to clean and durable,” adds Merry Albright, Border Oak creative director. (opens in new tab). “Look for textured natural materials such as honed or split stone floors, sisal rugs, and rustic woods to add character and warmth.”

4. Make it yours

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It’s all too easy to become obsessed with careful coordination when planning decor, but in a small space, a carefully planned approach can quickly look contrived. When every inch counts, it’s more important than ever to avoid anything too gimmicky or matchy-matchy, says Tim Walters, general manager, George Spencer Designs (opens in new tab).

Use wall mounted displays to showcase your favorite treasures without taking up too much space and look for vintage furniture to bring heritage and warmth to the room. An assortment of old chairs can be spruced up with a fresh coat of paint.

“The most relaxing small dining rooms should be a reflection of who we are, evolving and growing with us over time to create a natural form of layering in design and color,” explains Tim.

5. Blur the lines

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Painting the walls and woodwork in your dining room the same color creates a harmonious, relaxed atmosphere that’s perfect for a party. The good news for those with small dining rooms is a commitment to one color, i.e. color drench will exaggerate the sense of scale.

This dining room paint idea works by blurring the lines where walls end and architectural details begin, leaving fewer contrasts to draw attention to. Color-washed neutrals have a receding effect that can further enhance the optical illusion. But to really impress dinner guests, opt for a dramatic dark hue that shapely furniture in contrasting colors will look proud of.

6. Go big underfoot

(Image credit: Still)

It may sound counterintuitive, but an oversized rug can go a long way toward creating a sense of space in a small dining room. A small rug or, even worse, several small rugs will have the opposite effect, visually dissecting the floor and making it appear crowded.

As small dining room decor ideas go, placing a generous rug under the dining table is one of the simplest to implement. Aim for a rug that is at least 80 cm larger than your dining table so that chairs can be pulled out without the legs catching on the edges of the rug. A patterned rug hides stains better than a plain rug, but avoid anything too chaotic in a small dining room unless all other surfaces are calm.

7. Free up space with built-in seating

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Built-in banquet-style dining fits right against the wall and is a great way to squeeze in a table without taking up the entire dining room. The addition of storage space in the seat is great for storing festive dinnerware and oversized serving dishes. Take the opportunity to brighten up the decor by stacking the cushions, mixing patterns and colors for a fun, laid-back vibe.

“When mixing pillows, the key is to vary the pattern scale — for example, a large checkered floral design or geometric. Use plain fabrics to break it up, either as an all-plain cushion or just as an edging,” says Debbie Leigh, design manager at ILIV.

8. Go for a gallery wall

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Gallery walls are one of our favorite dining room ideas. They add variety and interest to any wall, but with a little clever planning, a good gallery wall can also have room-enhancing powers.

The secret to working on a gallery wall in a small dining room is to keep it neat and symmetrical – this isn’t the place for anything too wild and wacky. Use frames that match in style and/or color and be precise with the tape measure. Sticking to monochromatic images and photos is a great way to create order. This stepped arrangement also draws the eye upwards, a smart move when space is tight.

9. Embrace slim shelving

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A good dining room layout has plenty of room to navigate around the dining table, without crabby side steps or trapping guests in their chairs. To achieve this with a small footprint, swap out a dresser or dresser for sleek solutions, like this simple add-on cabinet.

Go for a tall cabinet to balance the dining table and create design interest higher up. Use it on the wall for safety. A display of beautiful signs propped up on stands or attached with sign hangers available from Amazon (opens in new tab)or beautiful books displayed flat against the wall can add color and shape to the narrowest of shelves.

If you have room for larger pieces of furniture, place them on the same walls as the door, behind you as you enter, to prevent them from dominating a small dining room.

10. Celebrate the ceiling

(Image credit: Crown)

Ceilings are referred to as the ‘fifth wall’ in interior design circles, because connoisseurs consider them just as important as vertical walls. And as those vertical walls get smaller, it’s even more important to head to town overhead!

“Try something different by using a really bright color like yellow on the ceiling so that the color visually blends into plain white walls below,” suggests Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown. “In a small space, the color really pops.”

Wallpapering the ceiling, in the same design as the walls, or as the only pattern hit, is another popular room-enhancing trick on professional decorators’ cheat sheets. Also consider decorative light sconces or cornices, which highlight the ceiling and draw attention to the full height of the room.

How can I make the most of my small dining room?

The table is the largest piece of furniture in any dining room. In a dining room that has limited space, a round table will often prove to fit most comfortably. Round tables are generally easy to move around and are also more convivial because all dinner guests can maintain eye contact while eating. Go for a retractable design so you can bring in more guests now and then, but have more room to breathe the rest of the time.

Banquettes or bench seats can accommodate more guests than individual chairs, and you can also free up space by choosing wall shelving over sideboards or sideboards. Use cleverly placed mirrors to reflect more light into and around a small dining room, and consider a feature wall, covered in eye-catching wallpaper farthest from the entrance, to draw you into the full depth of the room.

What do you put in the corners of a small dining room?

There’s no shame in leaving the corners of a small dining room empty, especially if filling them makes it difficult to walk around the table. However, an empty corner that doesn’t impede traffic flow is a missed opportunity when it comes to bringing much-needed color and shape to a small dining room.

One of the best dining room lighting ideas for a compact space is tall floor lamps, which can be neatly tucked into the corners and, by throwing away the shadows, serve to visually expand the dimensions of the room. Stylish planters with houseplants that grow up rather than grow out are also a good idea in corners that get some sunlight. Consider a Fiddle Leaf Fig or Dracaena in a woven pot that will add texture.