The dinner table is one of the most important features of the home. It’s often where we both start and end our days, either in quiet contemplation over a bowl of porridge, or surrounded by friends and family. It’s where we show love through our cooking, and where we have those all-important conversations. And it’s where we celebrate occasions, both joyous and sombre. But how do you create these moments in a dining room or area too small for conventional tables?
We’ve scoured the internet (and our own extensive experience as interior stylists) to find a number of clever dining tables for small spaces—designed specifically to afford even the most awkward corners an air of comfort, grace and style. In this interior style guide for smaller homes, we’ll walk you through 7 clever space-saving dining tables and the considerations you can make in order to find the perfect one for your space specifically.
7 clever dining table ideas for small spaces
Once an essential part of every working-class home, the kitchen table has become more typically associated with wealthier households in recent decades. Quite possibly, this has a lot to do with a lack of space, and the traditional idea of dining tables as being large and grand—too grand for the average home.
Here, we’ve put together a list of clever dining table ideas designed specifically to accommodate smaller spaces: perfect for reintroducing the dinner table to your home interior.
1) Slim rectangular dining tables
Most traditional dining tables are rectangular in shape, about 70-90cm in width: enough to allow dinner guests to sit across from each other with enough space in between for food and tableware. Whilst smaller dining areas are unlikely to accommodate such large furniture, there could still be scope for a slimmer version.
If your dining area—be it a standalone room, corner of the living room, or extension to the kitchen—is narrow in construction, a slim rectangular dining table might suit your needs best. Instead of space between diners for dishes and table ornaments, you could serve in the kitchen first, or keep tableware to one end of the table if not on a sideboard.
2) Small square tables and bistro tables
A really simple solution to furnishing smaller dining spaces is simply to reduce your dining table’s hosting capacity. Small square tables and bistro-style café tables are absolutely perfect for fitting into almost any dining space, no matter how small. Though you won’t be able to host big sprawling dinner parties with these, if it’s just yourself and your partner—with the occasional addition of a couple pals—you’re cooking for, then these 2-4 seaters are ideal.
3) Half-moon dining tables
If the best space for your dining table is in the nook of a bay window, or tucked at the end of a room, then we’d love to draw your attention to an often-unsung hero of dinner table shapes: the half moon. The beauty of this shape is its compactness and the sense of gentle flow it adds to small dining rooms.
Half-moon dining tables are shaped like their namesake, creating a semi-circle which allows for multiple uses and positionings within even the smallest dining spaces. Put the long edge up against the wall or window for really space-efficient sitting, or leave the whole thing standing independent to maximise seating numbers.
4) Extendable and folding dining tables
Without a doubt, the most versatile of all dining tables for small spaces are those with the capacity to extend and/or fold away.
Extendable dining tables may be any shape—square, rectangular or oval—but have the capacity to be stretched by pulling the two half apart to reveal a hidden middle section. Similarly, folding tables have folded ‘leaves’ on either side, which can be brought flush with the top of the table and secured in place.
Both types allow you to significantly increase the number of seats at your dining table when the need arises, then decrease again to fit more comfortably in your compact space when the party’s over.
5) Wall-mounted dining tables
In modern Japanese cities like Osaka and Tokyo, space is at an absolute premium. In the most densely packed parts of the capital, there are over 30,000 people living in a single square kilometre, making it one of the most densely populated cities on earth. In order to accommodate so many people in such a small area, Japanese architects and interior designers have had to come up with some pretty innovative solutions, not least with regards to furniture.
Enter the wall-folding table, also known as floating dining tables and wall-mounted tables.
If you’re seriously pressed for space, to the degree that having a standalone dinner table in your house simply isn’t an option, then you’ll be glad to hear that this doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a proper dining space. Wall-folding tables are attached to the wall and can be folded flush against it, vertically, to be lowered horizontal only at mealtimes.
And if they don’t sound all that attractive to you, just take a look at this Pinterest board of wall-folding tables for some aesthetic inspiration.
6) Circular dining tables
An absolute classic in the field of dining tables, round tables are so popular they’ve even featured centrally in some of the greatest stories ever told (just think King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table!). Circular dining tables create truly egalitarian dining dynamics whilst maximising space efficiency, perfect for slotting into unused corners of your kitchen or living room to make a distinct dining area.
7) Glass-topped dining tables
Last but not least, consider the glass-topped dining table. Whilst you might not think that material would make much difference when furnishing a smaller dining room, you’d be surprised. Thanks to the transparent nature of glass, a glass-topped dining table can take up space without seeming to occupy much room at all. By virtue of being able to see through the tabletop, you can create a dining area that doesn’t feel overly busy, but still affords you enough seats to entertain a party full of dinner guests.
Things to consider when shopping for dining tables
Before you start shopping for one of the styles of clever dining tables for small spaces listed above, it’s worth considering a few final things.
The shape of your dining area
The shape of your dining space is central to the type of dining table you’ll be able to fit in it. A circular table, for example, might not be practical in a long and narrow room. On the other hand, a rectangular table is probably too awkward a fit if all you’ve got to work with is a corner or bay window.
Your usual number of dinner guests
It’s also worth contemplating how many people you’re likely to host for dinner at any one time. If you don’t often have guests round and so only tend to cook for you and your family or flatmates, you probably don’t need a big dining table. A bistro or half-moon table might be perfect. Alternatively, if it’s just two of you in the flat but you regularly host dinner parties for 6+ people, an extending table is the way to go.
How different dining table chairs could help to optimise the space
Lastly, don’t forget the dining chairs! The seating you choose to complement your small dining table will also impact how the table fits the space. Dining chairs with arms, for example, might stick out from the table, adding to the space it takes up, whereas small-space dining tables with chairs that can be tucked in minimise the overall space used. Stools or a dining bench could pose great alternatives wherever space is really tight, as they can be stored underneath your table to ensure the smallest footprint possible.
Conclusion: Choosing the right dining table for your small space
There are lots of clever dining tables for small spaces out there, meaning that no matter how little room you’ve got to work with, there’s no reason you should ever have to sacrifice having a sit-down meal with friends and loved ones.
Finding the right small dining table is what’s key, as your space and dining needs need to be comfortably accommodated.
Make sure to take accurate measurements and play around with different combinations of shape, size and accompanying chairs until you find the perfect dining table for your specific space.
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