In small homes or apartments, dining areas normally get dissolved into the kitchen or living room. This can make it difficult to implement the grand dining table setup you had in mind. However, limited space shouldn’t mean limited style.
While you may not be able to have an indulgent spread and large table, you can still create a modern and inviting dining space. You might have to get a little creative and crafty, but it’s certainly possible. Here are a four simple solutions for smaller dining areas.
Round Tables
The lack of corners makes round tables a little more compact and versatile. They can seat more people without discomfort, and fit into a variety of spaces (such as alcoves). If you’re concerned about the amount of leg room they offer, you can invest in a round pedestal table. That way, guests can stretch their legs, and you can still get optimal use out of the space.
A more modern approach is a round dining table set with nesting chairs. Nesting chairs are custom-made to tuck perfectly and completely under the table, so that it takes up as little space as possible when it’s not in use.
Counter Extension
Sure, your kitchen counter can probably seat 2-3 people, but that’s a very limited amount in a rather uncomfortable layout. Rather, add an extension to your counter that comes out like a table. That way, you can still take advantage of the counter space, while also creating (at minimum) 2-3 extra places.
This is a simple solution that can even be made into a DIY project. Simply take an old piece of wood, varnish and restore it, buy a table base to throw under and – voila! – you’ve got yourself a counter extension.
Banquette
If you have a free corner in your kitchen, a banquette (also known as a breakfast nook) is a delightful alternative to a dining room. You can create a booth on your own out of some wood slats and top it off with cushions and throw pillows for added comfort.
Or, you can buy one of many banquette sets for sale, and pop it in an empty corner of your kitchen. Unlike actual dining sets, banquettes don’t require chairs all around the table and can still comfortably seat 3-4. Throw a few extra chairs along the free edges when you have guests over, and you’ve got yourself a super chic space-saver.
Extendable Tables
If you like to entertain and find the above solutions still don’t accommodate that, an extendable table is probably your best bet. These tables can go from seating four to seating eight, and are super simple to use. Most of them come with a middle extension piece or a folding leaf at the end.
Similarly, you can invest in a fold-down table. This is for those whose spaces are especially cramped – to the point where you prefer to have no dining table most of the time at all. A fold-down table can be attached to the wall with hinges, so that it simply folds down when you want to use it, and folds away back toward the wall when you don’t.
You could probably make this a DIY project by finding a reliable piece of wood and making hinges out of some nuts, bolts, and scrap metal. Just be prepared for the damage it might do to your wall.
The dining room is the heart of the home. It’s where people gather to enjoy good food and good company. You shouldn’t miss out on those things because of space limitations. There are plenty of solutions for smaller dining spaces that are affordable, stylish, and super practical.