A round table is smaller than a rectangular one; armless chairs go all the way in.
Good interior design, especially in small spaces, employs the practice of editing as much as choosing the right elements. Small dining rooms in particular present a bigger challenge than most other small spaces simply because dining tables tend to take up a lot of space. A small dining room appears larger when you design it with smaller-scaled furniture, minimal accessories and a light-toned color palette.
Scale
In a tight space, you can have all the traditional dining room elements if you begin with a scaled-down table. A small rectangular table that snugly fits four armless chairs--two on each long side--takes up less space than even a standard-size round table. Only the most compact spaces won't have enough room for a scaled-down buffet along one wall. Antique writing desks or library tables offer the right proportions as do some modern writing desks.
Table Options
Generally, the first and last piece of advice when designing a small dining room is to use a round table. An oval table is another space saver if the room is long, but if the room is square, go with a round table. It doesn't matter what the style of the table is, but a pedestal table takes up less space than a table with four legs. Likewise, a drop-leaf table takes up even less space when its leaves are down. Glass-top or fully acrylic tables give the illusion that the space is larger than it is.
Chair Options
Armless chairs are a better option than chairs with arms because you can push them all the way into the table, thereby creating more of a path in the room. As with tables, acrylic chairs give the illusion that the space is larger because they're transparent. In dining rooms that are on the small side--but not overly tiny--upholstered dining chairs are an option as long as they're armless. Keep any upholstery used in a small area a light, neutral color, or match the wall color for visual continuity.
Color Palette
Small spaces seem larger when they're lighter. Dark paint colors effectively shrink a room. In addition, several colors at play on the walls, trim, ceiling and upholstery also appear to make the space smaller. Use one main color and one light neutral to visually expand the space as much as possible. Use a light or pale hue rather than a saturated color. Echo the wall color in chair upholstery and tablecloths.
Floor Plan
If you must make due with a square or rectangular table in a small dining room, consider putting one side of it up against a wall, or better yet--a window. Not having a table in the center of the room will greatly increase the width of the walking area and possibly allow you to put a small sideboard on the opposite wall for storage.
Tags: dining room, round table, less space, small dining room, give illusion, give illusion that, illusion that