Don’t have a dining room? You can still eat in style. Fitting a dining area into your living space can be done with these genius tips and ideas. Whether you want to create a compact kitchen-diner or find the right tiny table for your living room, check out these darling dinette eating spaces that create room for everyone whatever the room size.
When space is tight, streamlined dining furniture is the practical choice. Look for a round table with chairs designed to sit perfectly flush against the table when not in use. There are dining sets made especially for this purpose.
Rearranging furniture can work wonders if you need to fit a dining table into a tight space. Place the sofa in the middle of the room positioned at an angle to leave an open corner for dining. The new design will zone off a cosy TV lounge area, too.
Just because room is tight doesn't mean you can't have room for guests to dine. Keep one or two folding chairs handy by hanging them up on a wall. Choose tones that fit your colour palette so they become part of the decorating scheme.
The hallway might not be the first place you think of to add a dining table but if it's a wide open space, why not? Chances are the entryway leads straight into the kitchen making food transportation effortless. This hallway setup has used a built-in hall bench as seating too – genius.
This clever pull-out table creates an extra surface for a quick supper for one. When it's not in use the worktop slides neatly back flush to the cabinets but is ready to go again for food preparation.
A garden room has endless practical perks that increase living space. In the summer months, try alfresco dining with a twist. Once you've trotted over your lawn from the kitchen or even prepared dinner in your outdoor kitchen, it will seem like you are eating out every night.
If space is super tight a bespoke space to eat may be what's needed. This rustic dining table has been made with reclaimed wood and hairpin legs. It slots in between the front door and tiny kitchen perfectly without encroaching on the living space.
The conservatory is an ideal space to double up as a dining room from time to time. Filled with light it can make a sunny spot to enjoy a lunch on special occasions. Lightweight, moveable furniture will make it easy to transform back into its original sunroom afterwards.
A large square footstool makes a practical surface for a light bite or relaxed entertaining in the living room. The smooth cushioned upholstery will be flat enough to graze from but we recommend using a dinner tray on top to protect the pretty fabric from crumbs or spills.
A white table and chairs are a sensible option for compact studios and apartments as the light tone will not compromise the sense of space. This small table and chair set acts as a practical and understated divide that's convenient for single room living.
Create an intimate dining room within an open-plan space by installing a DIY room divider. Open slats for shelves will flood the new space with light and keep the two rooms social and connected to a point.
A table with a glass top and metal legs is a clever furniture piece in small spaces. The glazed surface will allow light to flow through, while shiny legs will reflect it and enhance the sense of space. Complete the spacious illusion with high backed chairs upholstered in a light-toned fabric and matching metallic legs.
When space is at a premium, look up. A tall circular café bar table will slot perfectly into any corner. Style the nook up with an on-trend rattan chair and matching storage shelf to create the hippest home bar in town.
No room for a kitchen island or dining table? Extend your worktop along a wall instead to create a breakfast bar-style perch. Painting the wall and stools contrasting colours will turn the eating nook into a space-saving yet vibrant feature.
Open-plan spaces are often high traffic areas so choose a dining space that is both practical and stylish. This sleeper-style breakfast bar attached to the kitchen peninsula creates a divide between the two living areas. It is designed perfectly to slot stools in neatly below so not cause a hazard when not in use.
Don't rule out the corners when looking for a place to set up a dining room. This fitted wall bench makes perfect use of otherwise dead space and creates an inviting banquette corner for a surprisingly large number of diners. Coordinate the look with comfortable cushions and a soft zoning rug.
Here's a clever space-saving idea: this charming kitchen island serves as a cupboard as well as a compact breakfast bar. Two matching stools slot neatly inside the dresser when not in use, creating a small dining space you can set up in a flash.
If your kitchen has enough space for a tiny table make sure it blends into the kitchen scheme with stylish purpose. A pendant light above your eating space pulls the eye up, marking the space without intruding upon it.
Mismatching worktop and seating materials adds character to a breakfast bar dining space. This customised kitchen island merges the colour scheme across different areas in an open-plan room. This can also be a fantastic affordable option, as you can pick up individual stools at flea markets and car boot sales.
Sometimes the most improbable areas of the home can be made super useful if given the chance. A cupboard close to the kitchen can become a practical walk-in larder by mounting shelves. And what's more, an extra sturdy wooden bar and matching stool make a secret and secluded hang-out for one.
Banquettes are brilliant for using tight corners and awkward alcoves to create practical seating that uses up every inch. If you can't build in a bespoke design, go for a freestanding option. It offers great flexibility to your floorplan and being able to see beneath the bench seating will make the room feel more spacious.
When space is extra tight you need to be smart and look out for multifunctional furniture. This clever radiator cover is also an integrated folding table that is perfect for small studio flats and tiny kitchens. For maximum function why not add hooks to hang folding stools on the wall above?
No dining room doesn't mean you can't enjoy a fine dining experience. Invest in a table that stores more expensive glassware and refreshments so you can transform your kitchen or living room into an atmospheric dining room on special occasions.
You can also use your walls to carve your living space into different zones. Here, a small shelf the same tone as the tabletop highlights the dining table, creating the visual impression of a separate dining zone. The shelf is also conveniently placed to keep dinnertime accessories close to hand, particularly if you’re short on kitchen storage.
Sometimes you just can't beat a TV dinner. Pull two or three coffee or side tables together at different heights, add table runners and enjoy movie snacks or a weekend takeaway in casual comfort.
Adding barstools to a kitchen island instantly transforms the room into a more practical kitchen-diner whether you have room for an additional table or not. There are so many versions to choose from which include designs that have space for stools to fit neatly underneath, overhanging worktops in different materials or dining areas at different levels.
Dining areas don’t have to keep to the kitchen or living room. Give your bedroom a decadent, hotel-style feature by adding a mini dining space that’s perfect for lazy weekend breakfasts or candlelit dinners.
In a wider kitchen that’s short in length, try creating a perpendicular breakfast bar jutting out from one end of an island or run of units. The layout looks impressive and there's no need to compromise on worktop food preparation space.
The stools you choose for your breakfast bar can add the perfect finishing touch to your scheme, injecting style and character. Sleek, modern designs will slip unobtrusively under the bar when not in use or large rattan styles add on-trend texture.
A peninsula is another space-saving option if you don’t have room for a freestanding island. Add stools to the side that gets the least amount of traffic. This is a great sociable option as family members can chat while preparing a meal or cleaning up after.
If your small living room needs to be used for dining opt for a stylish table that can be folded in half. This slim but perfectly formed wooden version has contemporary looks that will suit other living room furniture and has a gateleg design to boost dining space when needed.
Speaking of furniture that can be quickly stowed away, stackable stools are a must-have in smaller spaces. They can be whipped out as and when extra seating when needed and kept compactly in a corner or cupboard the rest of the time, leaving extra circulation space.
Round tables provide better use of space in small areas than square because there are no corners. They are sociable and create less crowding when sitting down. For maximum leg space, go for a pedestal table so you can fit in as many guests as possible without them bashing their knees on table legs.
Make sure there is room for everyone when guests arrive with an extending table. They are surprisingly affordable and space-saving when shrunk down. When required the table will lengthen thanks to an additional hidden leaf which pulls out from the centre and continues to look streamlined. Bring out those stackable stools to accommodate any extra diners.
If space is tight, opt for a compact dining table in place of an island – you can even use the table as extra surface space for food prep. Rugs are a clever way to zone off your dining area, choose one that is big enough to fit both the table and back legs of the dining chairs.
If you want to squeeze in maximum seating in the middle of a room, go for a backless bench. The lack of a back means the bench won’t interfere with traffic flow. If possible, choose one that tucks neatly under the table when not in use. Using outdoor benches indoors adds an unexpected twist to a kitchen-diner.
A dining table can be used to divide an open-plan space into different zones. Here, a narrow table visually and physically separates the living area from the kitchen, leaving no space wasted and making the room feel spacious.
We love an ingenious storage hack. When it comes to seating, a built-in booth is the ultimate space saver, making use of every square inch available. To make it work even harder, ask your joiner to include hidden storage, which can be accessed by flipping up the seat.
In a really tiny kitchen, there might not be room for a freestanding table of any shape or size. If this is the case, a wall-mounted, drop-leaf table could come to the rescue. Simply flip it up when you want to eat then fold it away when you’re done. Attaching it to a wall beneath a window gives you the added bonus of dinner with a view.
Lightweight, fold-away tables work wonders in a space that needs to perform multiple functions. You can arrange them in different layouts depending on use, whether that be a family meal, a dinner party or as a place to work or study. And since they’re collapsible, you can even remove them completely, tucking them under a sofa or bed, or even hanging them on the wall.
A window makes a practical spot to position a small table as the pane usually measures around the width as a modest table. Here, hairpin table legs are suitably slim while sunny yellow chairs lift the whole scheme.
If you don’t have room for a conventional dining table, a short, narrow console table can slip into the smallest of spaces to create a dining table for one that can also be used as extra prepping space.
If your home has a small footprint, low-level furniture will create the illusion of extra space by making the ceilings appear to be higher than they are. This look also has the added benefit of introducing an exotic, Japanese-influenced aura to your scheme.
Get the breakfast bar look in your kitchen no matter what space you have available with a slimline bar table and high stools. It looks hip and will create the perfect spot for a quick bistro-style meal or mid-morning coffee.
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