At a Glance:
Understanding Dining Table Shapes
Popular Dining Room Design Styles
Small dining spaces present a unique set of challenges. The goal is to find a table that fits your space, seats the number of people you regularly have gathered around your table, and suits your personal style. What you need are small dining room ideas that break away from the traditional mold of a long, rectangular table flanked by armchairs. Instead, round, square, drop leaf, and extendable dining tables provide creative and space-saving solutions. These dining tables for small spaces are available in a wide variety of finishes, colors, and design styles so that you can fit within the constraints of your room and realize your design vision.
In this guide to dining room tables for small spaces, we’ll discuss different dining table shapes and what type of room they work best for, highlight popular dining room design styles, and recommend different types of dining tables that are perfect for a small space.
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Shop NowUnderstanding Dining Table Shapes
The question remains: What shape dining table is best for small space? Although rectangular tables are quite common, in many cases, they’re just too big for a small space. The trick is to pick a table that doesn’t dominate your space, but rather plays on the strengths of a small dining space, accentuating a cozy, intimate, and welcoming feeling.
Round Dining Tables
Round tables are the most popular choice for small dining rooms. You can choose from one with a single pedestal in the middle or one with four legs. Round mid-century modern tables often feature angled, tapered legs. Round tables are great for conversation and connection because everyone can see everyone else easily, creating a cozy and intimate dining experience.
Square Dining Tables
Square tables provide a balanced look in a square room, and they also create intimacy amongst those gathered around. Some square tables come with a leaf so that you can expand them into a rectangular table when needed. A counter height dining table and chair for small spaces is a great idea if you like the look of a square table because you’re able to push the chairs underneath the table to save floor space.
Rectangular Dining Tables
Rectangular tables are the most common dining room table type, but they’re typically not suited for small spaces. If you have the space, however, rectangular tables are a go-to choice, especially when paired with matching dining tables for guests and two side chairs for the head of the table. It’s a classic presentation that hits every time.
Oval Dining Tables
Oval tables are very similar to rectangular tables, even though they seem to occupy less space in a room because of their rounded corners. Like rectangular dining tables, an oval table will likely be too big for a small dining room or breakfast nook, but they’re a great way to save a few inches in larger dining rooms if you want a seating arrangement that is more space-friendly than a rectangular table.
Popular Dining Room Design Styles
Your dining room, whether it’s a separate room or an extension of your living room or kitchen, can likely be seen from one or several rooms in your house. This is why it’s important to create a continuous feeling throughout your connected spaces. You don’t have to stick to the exact same color palette, but you should keep in mind how rooms, colors, patterns, and design styles flow together. For example, you may utilize earth tones or desert tones throughout your kitchen, living, and dining room. You may choose to thread the color gray or a certain wood stain throughout each space. Here are three common design styles that you can carry through your dining room and any adjacent spaces.
Farmhouse Design
Farmhouse design is all about cozy, homey, and functional design that brings the outside in. It can lean more modern, using clean lines and industrial finishes, or it can lean more rustic and antique. In this rendition, incorporate whitewashed or distressed wood, weave in two tone furniture pieces, and stick to a calming color palette. Layer in texture–both raw textures from wood or metal and soft textures–from upholstery, rugs, and curtains.
Traditional Design
Traditional style is often linked to formal dining spaces. Imagine dark wood-stained furniture, armchairs flanking the ends of your dining table, and ornate carving on the base of your table as well as on a hutch or buffet. Traditional style isn’t necessarily heavy, but it can feel ceremonial. You can incorporate your favorite colors and lean into classic touches like a chandelier, lovely tablescape, crown molding, or even chinoiserie wallpaper.
Modern Design
Modern style features simple and sleek silhouettes. Geometric shapes are prominent, color palettes tend to be neutral, and contrast is high. Modern style incorporates various finishes, especially those that are industrial or natural like wood, metal, stone, and glass. The clutter-free simplicity of modern style works very well in a small dining space.
Types of Small Dining Tables
Small dining tables can be found in a dedicated, separate dining room, but for homeowners who need a dining table for limited space in an apartment, eat-in kitchen, or sunroom, smaller tables are ideal. In the following sections, we explore all the options from a small round dining table to a small square dining table, pub table, drop leaf dining table, and more.
Small Round Dining Tables
Small round tables don’t have sharp corners, making them ideal for tight spaces. They encourage conversation, and they work well in small, square, or circular rooms.
We Love: The Signature Design by Ashley Woodanville Cream/Brown Round Drop Leaf Table
Shop This Signature Design by Ashley Round Table
This beautiful brown dining room table is perfect for a bright modern farmhouse dining area. The magic lies in two hinged leaves on each side that allow it to transition from a round table for four to a cozy square table for two.
★ Featured Signature Design by Ashley Hammis Review:
“Fits my space perfectly! Very solid and good construction. We will love it for years to come”
Small Square Dining Tables
The best thing about square dining tables is that they can be placed flush against a wall, helping to take advantage of every square inch of floor space in a dining room. We also recommend these kitchen tables for small spaces when they’re counter height because they provide a natural extension of prep space and are more suitable layout for conversations between those standing in the kitchen and sitting at the table.
We Love: Crown Mark Weldon Brown Counter Height Dining Table
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This square table is counter height, making it perfect for an eat-in kitchen dining area. The brown wood finish, simple table shape, and curved seat backs make this perfect for a modern or mid-century modern dining room. We love the warmth and comfort that the upholstered seats when you opt for the whole set. When the chairs (purchased separately) are tucked in, this table uses only 40” of floor space.
Drop Leaf Dining Tables
Drop leaf tables for small spaces offer a versatile and space-efficient solution. Their primary advantage lies in adaptability; hinged leaves on either side can be easily raised or lowered, allowing the table to transition seamlessly between compact, everyday use and expanded configurations for larger gatherings. This flexibility makes drop leaf tables particularly well-suited for small dining spaces, as they can be compact when not in use and expanded when needed.
We Love: The Signature Design by Ashley® Shullden Gray Drop Leaf
Shop This Signature Design by Ashley Drop Leaf Table
This neutral drop leaf table is perfect for modern dining spaces. Two drop leaves on either side allow you to seat two or four, depending on the occasion or space limitations. The tapered legs, geometric lines of the seat backs, and hardwood solid construction are a winning combination that make every dining experience feel special.
★ Featured Signature Design by Ashley Shullden Review:
“It's the perfect fit for our kitchen! Very easy to assemble.”
We Also Love: The Liberty Magnolia Manor Antique White/Weathered Bark Drop Leaf Dining Table
Shop This Liberty Furniture Dining Table
With its two tone finish, distressed white base, and antique feel, this drop leaf dining table is perfect for a small farmhouse dining room. It will instantly warm up your space and create a spot where you’ll want to grab a bite to eat or sip coffee and read your favorite book. The classic pedestal style makes it easy to tuck away your chairs and easily navigate your small space.
Pub Dining Tables
Pub dining tables, with their elevated height and compact design, offer several advantages in a small dining room. For starters, their taller stature creates a visually open and airy feel, making the space appear larger than it is. The elevated seating also provides a casual and relaxed atmosphere, perfect for informal gatherings. Additionally, the vertical orientation of pub tables often means less floor space is occupied, making them an excellent choice for cozy dining areas where optimizing square footage is essential.
We Love: The Amisco Gemma Birch Veneer Bar Height Round Table
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This pub height dining table is a unique, sculptural take on a pub table that’s ideal for a modern or contemporary dining space. It perfectly strikes the balance between casual and dramatic. We love the sculpted details in the pedestal base, which is also modest in build, saving floor space while retaining tons of style.
We Also Love: The aspenhome Pinebrook Prairie White Console Bar Table
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This pub table is actually a console table that is perfect for casual dining. It’s also a great place to do work, set up your laptop, or enjoy a mid-day coffee. The two tone finish and casual feel of the piece make it perfect for a farmhouse design.This is a great option for creatively incorporating a dining space in a great room or an apartment living room.
Expandable Dining Tables
An expandable dining table for small spaces offers invaluable versatility in a small dining room. They can flex to accommodate different numbers of diners, depending on the occasion. This flexibility allows you to keep the table compact for everyday use and easily expand it when hosting larger gatherings. The space-saving design ensures that the table doesn't dominate the room when not in use, making it ideal for smaller spaces. Expandable tables cater to various occasions, providing an efficient solution for both daily meals and entertaining guests without sacrificing precious space.
We Love: The Archbold Furniture Customizable Amish Crafted Beth 42" Dining Table
Shop This Archbold Furniture Dining Table
This two-tone expandable table is perfect for a cool-toned farmhouse dining room. The 18” removable leaf adds valuable seating when you need it, and you can remove the leaf for day-to-day dining. The X-style pedestal base with wire brush finish adds a unique, farmhouse-inspired touch to this dining table to set it apart from the crowd.
If you’ve been looking for a way to make a small dining space work, these ideas for finding the right shaped table should help you solve your design dilemma. At Colder’s, Milwaukee homeowners can find the best selection of dining tables in popular styles to fit their small dining rooms. Shop our entire selection today online or at one of our furniture stores near you!
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Learn More: 5 Round Dining Table Designs Your Family Will Love