How to Create a “Dining Room” In Even the Smallest of Homes

Amelia Lawrence

published Oct 8, 2017

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Your urban rental will almost certainly include a bedroom (or sleeping area), a bathroom (heaven forbid you have to live college dorm style!), and a kitchen (no matter how small, it still counts), but to have a designated dining room is about as common as having a designated bathtub for washing your dog. Regardless of whether your dining area doubles as a kitchen prep station, coffee bar, or workspace, here are ideas to help you “have your cake and eat it, too” when it comes to living in the city and having a place to sit down and enjoy a meal.

(Above) Create a little eat-in kitchen area like this one seen on Gravity Home with a small wall-mounted high top table, and slim Scandinavian stools that tuck nicely underneath. You can make your own using a slab of your favorite wood cut to size, a 2-by-4, also cut to size, some hinges and screws, and large wooden dowel that can lock into place underneath for support.

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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

See how Tiffany from Offbeat + Inpsired created her very own cafe window seat using embellished shelf brackets and a wood board. The project cost her less than $200 (including the bar stools!), so not only are you saving on space, but also on budget.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Increase your counter space, or reserve this hack for dinners at home, by following this ikeahackers.net project. By adding a metal bar and cutting channels into the side of this EXPEDIT customization, Marie created the perfect solution for her small-space dilemma. The added storage makes it even more appealing!

Space-Saving DIY Pull-Out Table from Mountain Modern Life (Image credit: modernmountainlife.com)

If an RV has room for a dining, it’s safe to say any space can make way for a collapsible or pull-out table. This project may intimidate the average DIYer, but in keeping with the same idea, you can build a pull out table that tucks away into cabinets using console extension slides (like drawer tracks that pull out…) and custom table leaves that can be stored when the table is not in use. Check out the creative tutorial for more.

IKEA Bench Multi-Purpose Room from Little House Big City (Image credit: littlehousebigcity.com)

If you aren’t looking to build a tiny dining room from scratch, grab a pair of IKEA MOLGER benches for seating (and storage), and a petite round table. You can fit the benches and table in a nice corner nook that can double as a workstation. When you’re ready to eat, simply move your work into the storage bins below and enjoy your table space (and meal) like a real adult.

IKEA Hack Storage Table from Landeelu (Image credit: www.landeeseelandeedo.com)

For another storage-friendly, eat-in option, look to Landeelu’s tutorial. convert an IKEA LINNMON table top and KALLAX into a bar top table for eating and prepping food. It’s affordable and only requires minimal modifications.

Angela & Tania’s Beadle Box Murphy Table (Image credit: Lindsey Kay Averill)

Lastly, get inspired to build your own murphy table from built-ins. This cleverly designed piece from Angela and Tania’s home features two hinged cabinet doors that fold down and out to create the perfect seating area for a nice home-cooked (or take out) meal.