It’s no secret that dining tables act as one of your home’s most essential pieces of furniture. They’re where you will spend a lot of time with friends and family—but they also need practicality to blend in with your home style.

Dining room sets can take up a lot of room, so you might want to consider some alternatives if you live in a small space. In this post, we’ll provide dining table ideas for small space options for an expandable dining table for small spaces and a narrow dining table for small spaces, as well as space-saving furniture in Australia.

Expandable and Drop-Leaf Dining Room Tables

When living in a small space, you will need to think about dining table ideas for small spaces. Creating more room in your home might give you a hard time. However, you can have an easier time with some creative storage options or multi-purpose furniture.

Fortunately, there are two styles of tables that allow you to save space and create more accessible storage without sacrificing style; expandable dining tables and drop-leaf tables.

Using an expandable dining table offers an excellent way to make the most of your tiny dining area. The stylish yet functional table can act as a large dining room table, or it can easily fold in half and become two smaller tables—excellent for hosting parties and small get-togethers. It’s perfect if you need extra seating but doesn’t have enough floor space. You can also use the new additional space for an extra kitchen prep area, decorations, or hobby area.

A drop-leaf dining table serves as a great space saver for those who live in an apartment or smaller home. These tables serve as fantastic additions to your home because you can either use them as two separate tables or one large table with plenty of seating room. You can also try them to expand your kitchen or dining room space when needed, maximising floor space for a minimal cost.

Space-Saving Table Shapes That Suit Your Home Designs

When finding the right dining furniture that meets your needs, you should decide on an ideal size and shape.

The average family has around six people sitting at dinner time—this means you’ll need a table that sits up to eight comfortably (depending on chair style).

Dining rooms have become more stylish over recent years, so don’t just think about function when choosing—think about design requirements too.

Is a round or rectangle table better for small spaces?

Round tables take up less space but only work if you plan to place them in the middle of the room. A round dining table set for six people would take up the same amount of space as a square. However, more people could sit around it.

Moreover, other shapes exist that you may want to consider that may suit your needs better—such as oval or octagonal. Check out our dining table buying guide on how to choose the perfect fit for your dining rooms.

You can push square tables into a corner and will fit a larger amount of people. If you only need a table for one or two people sitting, you should have a square table in the corner or against the wall.

You can use one of these small dining tables for limited spaces that has an expandable design.

You may want to consider a pedestal table if you find your home limited in space. These table styles may not call for much legroom beneath them; however, they should have a sturdy enough foundation to avoid wobbling and tipping.

Furthermore, a free-standing table best suits a space such as a kitchen if more people will sit around it.

What Are Seating Options for Dining Table in Small Spaces?

When selecting chairs for your dining set, ensure they will fit comfortably under your table when sitting.

We suggest only having a max space of 30 cm between your chairs’ seats and the tabletop’s bottom to make sure you’re getting the most out of your space. When considering seating options for your tables, you should look into the following options to maximise your space.

Armless Chairs

Consider armless chairs as opposed to their armed counterparts. With chairs having armrests, you can’t fully push them underneath the table; therefore, not fully maximizing your space use.

Folding Chairs

If you have storage space limitations, folding chairs serve as a great option. You can store them in a closet or stacked against each other, meaning they take up less room than regular chairs. There are several options for folding chairs that offer more comfort. For example, a chair crafted from rattan has foam padding inside the seat and backrest.

Benches

Benches provide comfortable seating and can double as storage in small spaces.

Even better, a bench with a hinged seat doubles as both seats and extra space. A great way of saving floor space, benches allow you the luxury of having more room left over for other living areas. Benches require less space than traditional dining furniture pieces like tables or chairs would.

Moreover, they remain just as functional when it comes to providing adequate seating at your dinner table.

What Options Do I Have for Taller Tables in Dining Rooms?

When adding taller dining room tables to your home, you only have a couple of options: bar- and counter-height tables.

Both add extra height, which doubles your tabletop as extra space to prep for meals. Moreover, they create an attractive restaurant-like style in your kitchen.

Bar-Height Tables

The height of a bar table appears as the only difference between them and counter-height tables. Bar tables stand close to 101 to 106 cm tall instead of standard kitchen counters measuring around 86 cm high.

Counter-Height Tables

Some refer to these tables as Bistro tables. They offer a perfect size and height for an outdoor table. However, they also work well in small spaces inside too. These round and versatile little pieces of furniture come in a range from 34-36 inches high.

More Narrow Dining Table Ideas

If you need a space-saving or a narrow dining room table for tiny spaces and will still accommodate all of your guests at home, many options exist. Hopefully, this piece has inspired you to find multi-purpose furniture. Before making any final decisions on tables or chairs, explore more of our buying guides for inspiration or browse our space saving-furniture in Australia.