How Do You Decorate a Small Dining Room Table?

Small dining tables ask for editing rather than adding, and the most attractive ones are styled with restraint. This guide starts with a practical calculation of how much surface you can actually spare once place settings are allowed for, then explains why a single low centrepiece works better than a collection of small pieces. We look at using texture instead of volume, keeping the palette narrow, and letting the material of the table do some of the styling, particularly with glass and warm timber tops. There is advice on slim chairs and benches that keep the outline neat, hanging a pendant to create a focused pool of light, and giving post and bags somewhere else to live so the table stays clear. A simple everyday formula rounds it off. Because a small table often doubles as a desk, we also explain the tray based approach that lets you clear and reset the setting in seconds....