1. Use Transparent and Reflective Elements
This small dining room utilizes Lucite dining chairs for the sake of transparency. The ability to see through the chairs gives the space an airy, spacious look that is juxtaposed against the painted solid brick wall.
The glass chandelier is a reflective element that is also transparent, and pairs well with the elongated mirror as a backdrop. When lit, the lights from the chandelier are reflected into the mirror, further illuminating the area and making it appear bright and spacious. The mirror helps give the illusion that the dining area extends much farther than it actually does.
2. Use Extendable Dining Room Tables
A small dining room needn’t be limited to a small dining table. Search furniture stores for a dining table that is extendable, yet fully functional when its extenders are folded in. For casual dining for one or two, the smaller table won’t take up more than its share of space. For entertaining, the dining table leaves can be extended to allow for extra seating on a temporary basis.
3. Use Elements as Furniture
The oversized mirror would overtake this small dining space if it were hung on the wall. Leaned against the wall, however, it becomes an element that feels like a piece of dining room furniture instead of a mirror. It’s position on the floor always gives the impression that the mirror is actually a doorway into another room, which helps relieve any claustrophobic feelings. The rug centered beneath the table and chairs helps to define the area, setting it apart from other areas in the home. The narrow side table can act as a sideboard, holding other dishes until it’s time to serve them.
4. Tuck in Seating
Three dining room chairs would be too many to tuck in under this small dining table. But the choice of a short bench works by providing additional seating without a third chair jutting out into the small dining room. The display of decorative plates helps to distract attention away from the close wall, drawing attention away from the limited space situation.
5. Use Complex Lighting
In this photo, the complex lighting fixture becomes the focal point of the dining area instead of the back wall. The various triangular shapes help to diffuse natural and electric light into a multitude of directions simultaneously. The use of bench seating against the wall adds to the number of seating possibilities. A table designed for four can now seat five or six.
While there’s no denying that cleverness is a must when furnishing a smaller dining room, it’s definitely an exercise in creativity that can be rewarding when the perfect look is achieved.
Find out how to design small living rooms by clicking here, or to learn how to design a small home office, click here.
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