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Want to make your small eating area look huge? You’re in luck – here are our dining room decor ideas to amplify the space.
It goes without saying, your dining room should feel fresh and inviting, ready to welcome dinner guests a plenty (if that’s your kinda thing).
But we know all too well, this is no easy feat when you’re working with minimal square-footage.
That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate style guide, giving you plenty of dining room decor inspiration to create the illusion you have tons of space!
Dining Room Decor for Small Spaces
First Things First: The Dining Table
Ngl, glass dining tables are not quite our cup of tea.
#1: They scratch suuuuper easily. #2: They’re usually modern in design. And #3: you’ll never put that duster down.
HOWEVER, a glass table is a top choice for pocket-sized dining rooms because its transparency creates the illusion of a bigger space.
Did we lose you at the glass dining table? *sigh*
Don’t click exit just yet. There is another alternative that works wonders when planning your dining room decor in a teeny-tiny space: minimalistic dining tables.
We’re talking about those that are super compact and slimline and don’t have a fussy, OTT design.
If you’re stuck, just think: the simpler, the better.
There’s no saying chunky & clunky furniture cannot work in a small room. Oversized furniture is perfect to make statement pieces the focal point.
But when planning your small dining room decor, it’ll look best as the only item in the room. Less is sometimes more.
You Can’t Forget the Dining Chairs
Your dining room decor simply would not be complete without dining chairs, obvs.
Our number one tip? Stay away from chairs that have a high back. They may be most comfortable, but adding furniture with height will only make your dining room feel cramped – almost as if you have low ceilings.
Much like the dining table, a simple frame is best. Embrace minimalism!
Next Up: The Bar Cart
Many assume they don’t have room for a bar cart in their small dining room. After all, bottles can easily be stored in the fridge or a cupboard.
But there’s something about having them on display that’s just *chef’s kiss* (especially when they’re pretty bottles – everybody knows you must flaunt them).
So… you’ll want to find a glass bar cart with minimal framework to amplify the space. Much like a glass dining table, this will provide a neat yet classy place to house drinks and glasses whilst looking airy and spacious.
Don’t Forget the Finer Details
We can almost guarantee when you imagine your dining room decor, the first thing that springs to mind is the furniture, right?
But you cannot neglect the finer details such as your wall paint colour, the flooring, or your dining room accessories. Because tbh, if you really want to maximise your minimal space, you need to fully commit.
So, let’s start with your wall colour: it would be sensible to assume that dark and dingy is a total no-go when it comes to your dining room decor, and light and bright is your go-to.
Light colours do make a room appear bigger, making it an obvious choice. But you can also be bold and opt for a darker paint – it’s just harder to get it right.
The biggest tips we can give is #1 – select a finish that will reflect light. And #2, create an accent wall as this creates the illusion that the wall is receding.
Next is the lighting:
We adore chunky, statement pendants – especially over the dining table – because they instantly become the focal point of the room.
Buuuut, in a small space, their size and dominance is a little too much, making your dining area feel like it’s split in half.
So, keep your lighting low-key. Standing lamps are an ideal way to light up gloomy corners and expand the space!
Moving onto your flooring:
Styling it out with a rug? Stay away from heavily-patterned designs, opt for light, neutral colours, and go BIG, making sure there’s enough space for your entire dining table to sit on. Smaller rugs can unintentionally create a boxed-in feel.
Don’t neglect your accessories:
There’s only one thing to say here – keep it minimal. Whether adding prints to your walls or organising your dinnerware, maximalist styling will not have the same wow factor in a restricted space.
Give your dinner guests a little room to breathe!
You can find plenty of inspo for your accessories in this blog post all about the BEST home decor stores for 2023!
And finally, don’t forget a mirror…
We all know light bounces off mirrors, which tricks the eye into thinking the room is so much more spacious than it is.
Don’t be fooled, we’re no scientists, but this is an interior tip we’ve tried and tested in just about every room of the house (and it seriously works!).
So, go big or go home – a standing mirror is the perfect addition to your dining room decor.