April 22, 2025, 12:02 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
In small living spaces, there’s often no room for a dining area. The only solution is usually to make use of the kitchen. Space-saving mini dining areas serve their purpose while creating space where it’s urgently needed. myHOMEBOOK presents some solutions here.
Space in the kitchen area is a rare commodity. Especially in a small home, there’s often no room for a cozy dining room. The kitchen, in particular, tends to be quite small. Yet, meals still need to be eaten, so effective measures are needed for a separate dining area within the kitchen. myHOMEBOOK presents seven ideas for mini dining areas in the kitchen.
1. Foldable Table
Foldable furniture may have a simple, less elegant image, but they undoubtedly represent a lot of pragmatism in living spaces. And as living in small spaces—such as in tiny houses—becomes increasingly attractive, foldable furniture is gaining more interest in home design. Fortunately, the market now offers many tasteful, space-saving furniture options. Once the dishes are cleared, the tabletop can be quickly folded against the wall, freeing up more space in the room.
2. Mini Dining Areas in Furniture Pieces
Modern, minimalist interior designs have been setting new standards for efficient space utilization for some time. Furniture often has multiple functions and blends into one another. In this case, especially with minimal kitchen needs, a niche within a piece of furniture can also be used as a mini dining area in the kitchen. The bench can also serve as additional storage space beneath the seating area. Simply open it up, and table linens, old cookbooks, or rarely used pots and pans can disappear here.
3. Dining Area by the Kitchen Window
Another idea that can be implemented well and is especially space-saving is connection with a window. With a standard windowsill height of 80 cm, this area can also be used as a mini corner in the kitchen. Ideally, a tabletop rests directly on the windowsill and is supported by a single leg at the other end. A definite advantage of this idea is the view outside while dining. And similar to a real bar counter, the stools can quickly disappear under the tabletop afterward.
4. Counter at a 90-Degree Angle to the Wall
The counter principle can also be realized as a mini dining area in a small kitchen at a 90-degree angle to the wall. The bar stools can be practically stored under the table after eating. With a model featuring an integrated folding function, the tabletop can quickly and almost completely disappear from view. In a fixed model, the tabletop can be beneficially used as a shelf or workspace during the day.
5. Extendable Mini Dining Area
Extendable furniture is primarily known from dining tables that can be enlarged with an additional leaf when needed. In this case, the principle works a bit differently: Modern kitchen designs often feature a pull-out that reveals a table or additional work surface. In some cases, these are so stable that they don’t require a table leg, while other models have a foldable table leg underneath. Admittedly, this idea for a mini dining area in the kitchen is only suitable for dining for two, not for larger gatherings.
6. Kitchen Dining Areas Along the Wall
A counter running along the wall is also practical. With a wide shelf board, this mini dining area in the kitchen can be implemented similarly to a bar solution. The advantage here is that no furniture, neither tabletop nor bar stools, protrudes deeply into the room. However, since the view while eating inevitably falls on a bare wall, it’s advisable to enhance the area with some light and color accents for more atmosphere. Again, an alternative solution when not in use is as a storage surface.
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7. Round or Half-Round Table as a Mini Dining Area
Round furniture is generally more suitable for small spaces than square ones. Their organically smooth shape reduces disruptive edges in the room. A small round table combined with similarly rounded chairs takes up significantly less space in the kitchen than a more boxy counterpart.
Especially if the table has a pedestal instead of many chair legs, all seating can be pushed further under the tabletop. In a particularly small kitchen, a half-round model that can be mounted on the wall is also recommended. Common, but especially helpful, is again the folding function.