It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when faced with the challenge of decorating a small dining room. If you don’t have much space, you may be tempted to settle for bland and boring furniture in order to save space.
But while your dining room may be small, it doesn’t mean that it has to be boring! Here are some tips on how to decorate a small dining room without looking cramped or cluttered.
The Golden Rules of Decorating a Small Dining Room

When decorating a small dining room, there are a few golden rules to consider.
Choose warm colors: Warm colors help create the illusion of space. They make the room seem brighter and cozier, which is perfect for smaller rooms. Here are some examples of warm colors you can choose from: gold, yellow, orange, pink, red, navy blue.
Use light furniture: Another way to make your small dining room appear larger is by using light-colored furniture such as cream or white. This will also help your dining area look brighter and more spacious.
Avoid bulky furniture: If you have bulky furniture in your small dining area, it will feel even smaller than it already does. Try to stick with sleek and narrow pieces that won’t take up too much room.
Utilize mirrors and reflective surfaces: Mirrors are a great way to make a small space feel bigger by creating the illusion of an infinite space behind the mirror’s reflection. A shiny surface such as a large piece of glass or a stainless steel tabletop can also reflect light and create extra visual space in the room!
Maximize Your Space
The first thing to do is to figure out the most efficient way to use your space. With a small dining room, it would be difficult to fit more than one table and set of four chairs into your space. If you’re lucky enough to have two separate spaces in your dining room, try using one room as the actual dining area and the other as a living room or home office. That way, you’ll be able to get more use out of the area as well as making it easier for guests to find seating.
Learn from the Designers
A great place to start is by looking at how professional designers have successfully decorated small dining rooms. One of the best tricks they use is using the space vertically. For example, instead of a traditional table and chairs, you could opt for a table that extends towards the ceiling or a bar-height counter with stools.
This gives your guests more room to stand while preparing their dish and also provides ample storage underneath the counter. Another way to make your small dining room look larger is by incorporating mirrors on one or both walls.
Mirrors give your room an extra sense of depth and will make it appear much larger than it actually is. You can also incorporate some taller furniture like bookshelves or cabinets in order to add verticality to the room.
Add Some Tricks to the Trade
The first thing to do when decorating a small dining room is to use some tricks to the trade. First, think about how you can add depth to your room so that it looks more spacious. Painting the walls a dark color will make them recede into the background and make your dining room appear larger than it really is.
You could also use an opaque curtain in front of a window or painting on one wall to give the illusion of space.
Another trick you can use is by adding mirrors – by doing this, you’ll be able to reflect light into certain areas of your room and give the illusion of a more open space.
This is especially useful for rooms that are lacking in natural lighting as mirrors will help replicate natural light from windows and other sources if you don’t have much natural light.
Adding mirrors is also practical if your dining room doesn’t have enough windows or natural light because they help give off reflected light and make the space feel less cramped or dark. You could even use one at each end of your dining table!
Clever Ways to Add Extra Storage

First and foremost, invest in a good storage system for your dining room. Instead of filling the room with furniture, use what you have and add clever storage solutions to make the most of your space.
For example, an old dresser turned into an elegant side table can both store items and create a focal point in your dining area. You could also use a console table or ottoman as a small dining table that can be tucked away when not in use.
Another way to utilize your space is by utilizing vertical space. A corner hutch can provide extra storage for dishes, glasses, and other serving items when not in use for dinner service.
Add shelving units to create wall art or display decorative accessories that are typically hidden away in cabinets or drawers.
If you don’t want to sacrifice your precious counter space, then consider building an island or bar area with bar stools instead of chairs at the table.
The island will give you more work surface while providing additional seating (and another place to serve food). Plus, it’s a great way to open up the kitchen!
Shelves with storage
One of the best ways to add more storage in a small dining room is to use shelves.
They provide you with a lot of potential and are usually a much cheaper alternative than furniture. You can use them to store your dishes, silverware, platters, or even placemats and napkins.
Decorative storage containers
The first step to decorating a small dining room is to make it seem less cramped. The best way to accomplish this is to use decorative storage containers. These containers will allow you to be creative with your space, as well as keep things tidy.
A tablecloth can help give your small dining room a more elegant and finished look while also adding a little extra color and texture. A tablecloth can also cover up any unsightly areas on the floor or under the table, giving your dining room an overall more polished appearance.
Plates are often overlooked when decorating a small dining room, but they can really add some spice.
Plates are available in all sorts of colors and patterns – so experiment with some different colors and combinations until you find something that works for you! Check out this article on how to create a cohesive kitchen design with dinnerware sets.
Mirrors can be used as decorations in any small space, not just large ones! Mirrors work especially well in smaller spaces. Because they trick the eye into thinking that there is more space than there actually
Hanging shelves
The first thing you want to do is eliminate anything on the floor. This can take up a lot of space and make things feel cluttered. Hanging shelves are an excellent way to provide additional storage and display space without taking up any floor space. You can also use them as display shelves for decorative items.
Conclusion
Decorating a small dining room can be challenging for sure. But it doesn’t have to be an impossible task. By following the simple steps in this article. You’ll find that you have plenty of options for achieving that perfect balance of style and function in your space.