Small kitchen table ideas to cater for tiny dining spaces
While tray dinners in front of the TV on the weekends feels like a treat it’s not a preferable solution to a dining table for everyday mealtimes. And while not every kitchen can accommodate a full-sized dining table, you’d be surprised how many smart small kitchen table ideas can offer even the tiniest kitchen layout a fine place to dine.
With extending tables and smart space-saving designs there’s a small kitchen table idea to suit all spaces, to ensure you can take a seat for dinner – that’s not the sofa.
Small Kitchen Table Ideas
‘From a design perspective, a dining table is a clever way of creating the illusion of a bigger kitchen, thanks to the light that beams through the empty space that sits underneath the table’ explains Andy Briggs, Interior Designer at Optiplan Kitchens. ‘As a result, the effect of a larger floor plan is created, making your kitchen feel bigger and brighter.’
‘For those whose tastes are ever-changing or homeowners who like to keep up with the latest trends, dining tables can be replaced very easily and fairly cost-effectively. They can be spruced up with a new set of chairs, refreshed by injecting colour with soft furnishings or accessories. They can also be moved, turned and pushed against a wall if more space needs to be made.’
Let’s explore those small kitchen table ideas to maximise your living space…
1. Soften the edges to make it more compact

There’s something about soft edges in design that makes furniture pieces feel less oppressive, especially when talking tables – in small kitchen layouts. Choosing a round or at least rounded edge table will help to create a sense of flow, rather than feeling like a block shaped in a small space.
Same goes for the chairs you choose to match. Opting for rounder designs automatically makes them feel less intrusive to the space.
2. Make a small table multifunctional

A small kitchen table is best used as a multipurpose surface – from a kitchen work prep small kitchen island idea to a tiny dining table the next. Choose a design of small kitchen table that can lend itself to all manner of kitchen tasks.
Choosing a lightweight design will ensure the table can be manoeuvred with ease around the space, to create a sense of freedom and flow. Moveable kitchen furniture aids a small kitchen idea because it feels less restrictive.
3. Incorporate storage to save space

When space is limited smart design is a must. To afford the space for a small kitchen table try seeking a multifunctional design that doubles as a savvy small kitchen storage idea. This brilliantly clever design at IKEA, the experts of problem solving furniture solutions, provides additional storage while serving as a dining table.
The underside of the table features storage compartments to keep placemats, tableware and kitchen clutter – even laptops and home office must-haves if needed. The smart design also accommodates the chairs when not in use, to prevent them taking up valuable floorspace.
‘IKEA’s range of drop-leaf tables, such as the new KALLHÄLL table, can be pressed up against any free wall space, and extended only when needed’ explains Clotilde Passalacqua at IKEA. ‘The table also multi-tasks as storage where you can keep foldable chairs when not in use.’ Genius.
4. Keep the dining chairs to a minimum

When your kitchen is lacking space any surface is valuable, whether it be for dining or preparing food – so how you organise a small kitchen is key. By keeping the seating less formal your kitchen table can feel more flexible in use. For example small table placed adjacent to the units can create a galley-style kitchen and form more of a worktop when not being used as a dining table.
Choose a similar style tabletop to the kitchen counter makes it feel even more forgiving – creating a sense of an extension of worktops.
5. Seek space-saving bench seating to tuck under

When space is tight it helps to keep furniture to a minimum, to avoid a feeling of overcrowding. Having said that what’s the point of having a dining table with no chairs? The smart solution to provide seating and save space at the same time is bench seating. Bench seating is flexible enough to provide plentiful seating while also having the ability to hide away, under the table out of sight, when not in use.
Having seating that disappears is also a great solution if you have a wall to push the table flush against. This gives you the freedom to move the table to one side and use the wall as a buffer for stacking items against. Or also idea for a party buffet table, over to one side out pf the way. Read More…