Your table typically serves as the centrepiece of your dining room’s design, but it can be tough to choose one that’s the right size for your space. Choose a table that’s too small and your guests will have to huddle together tightly for room, but choose one too big and you’ll struggle to leave enough space around the rest of your dining room.

That’s why extendable dining tables are such a useful feature for a small dining room. For smaller groups, they allow enough room for all your seating, but can suit larger groups for special occasions using smart folding mechanisms. They make for the perfect family dining area, as well as an ideal spot for parties. Make sure you leave enough space around your table to allow for both configurations.

While it may seem tough to style a room without spending huge amounts of money, there are a number of small dining room ideas on a budget that can make your space feel bigger for less. A classic interior design trick is to give the illusion of a bigger room by adding a large mirror to your décor. We know that it doesn’t really create more space, but the reflection from a mirror can create an extra image of your dining area, fooling your brain into thinking there’s more room than there really is.

Choosing the right space to hang a wall mirror can have a huge impact on how spacious your room appears, so be sure to find a spot that will reflect as much of your design as possible. That way, you can maximise the effect and as much as double the amount of apparent space in your small dining room.

We often don’t think about how much space seating takes up, but fitting large groups around a table can be difficult with limited chairs, and clearing enough room when your seats don’t match your table causes its own issues.

For these situations, consider seating solutions that can easily be kept out of the way when not in use, or that make the most of the space available in your room. Corner sofas are ideal for getting as much seating out of a crowded space as possible, while table and bench sets let you fit more guests onto less seating without sticking out as much from your dining area.

In a small room, every bit of space counts, so removing any clutter is essential. Unfortunately, many of the storage units that can keep clutter out of sight will take up plenty of room themselves, making for an awkward choice: do you leave your room messy, or sacrifice space to tidy it up?

Luckily, there are ways to balance both. Consider adding overhead storage such as cabinets or open shelving to your dining room, letting you stow items away or display them without getting rid of floor space. Fitted cupboards and seamless storage solutions are also a reliable way to cut down on wasted space in style.

If you’re especially low on space, why not lean into it? Cosy ‘breakfast nooks’ are a trendy small dining area idea that can add some comfort to your meals, and by taking inspiration from restaurant booths, you can make your table the ideal social space in your home. Decorating with soft furnishings can help flesh out the intimate feeling of a dining nook even further, or you can try some dining table centrepiece ideas for a touch of sophisticated décor.

For bigger groups, you can always opt for modular seating to rearrange your nook on the fly and allow for more guests. Nooks are also easy to add to kitchens, making them a great option for anyone looking to skip the dedicated dining space altogether.

When you don’t have the space for a dining room, you could always try to make space in another room. Joint kitchens and dining rooms are a trendy way to make more space in your home, letting you blend two important areas into one and creating an open-plan feel.

Try adding a dining table set to your kitchen, or creating an opening between your kitchen and dining room. By using space from another part of your home, you can make up for any space constraints and open up a number of design opportunities for a continuous look between your rooms.

When a rectangular table is taking up too much of your small dining room, it might be worth considering a change to a circular one instead. By cutting the corners, a circular table allows for more space in the rest of your dining area, allowing for more room to fit other pieces of furniture and décor.

Circular tables also allow for unique seating arrangements to keep the conversation flowing, and in some cases, they can let you seat more people for meals. Measure your room to see if a circular or rounded table could help you replace your current rectangular one.

Sometimes it feels like decorating a small room just ends up making it smaller the more items you add, but there are ways to add some depth to your design without getting in the way of your day-to-day dining.

If you’re looking for small dining room wall décor ideas, why not try adding a gallery wall to catch the eyes of your guests? Hanging accessories like planters and open shelving can also add some flair without taking up space on your floor. As for dining table décor ideas , lighting such as lanterns and candles are non-intrusive ways of adding to your room’s aesthetic. If your furniture is turning your small dining room into too tight a squeeze, perhaps it’s time to choose smaller pieces to save on space.

While a table usually serves as the central point of your dining room, going for an asymmetrical design and moving it to a wall or corner can free up huge amounts of room elsewhere, making it a great idea for narrow dining rooms.

This technique is best suited to small groups, as seating won’t be evenly spread out around all sides of your table, but if making extra room is your number one priority, it’s a no-brainer. Specially designed wall-mounted or drop-leaf tables are especially useful for this layout. Try it with your own dining table and see how spacious your small space could end up feeling with some simple redecoration.