Paper type
Weight
Finish
Process & materials
Space is often a precious commodity among people who live in apartments, especially when it comes to the kitchen and dining area. If you’re an apartment dweller yourself, you’ll know the value of maximising every square foot you have. But that doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice the style or functionality of these areas, and in terms of your quality of life and your enjoyment when cooking and dining, it may be worth it to put a little effort into decorating these areas.
With a little creativity, you’ll be able to transform your small kitchen and dining space into a place you and your guests will enjoy lounging around in. Here are some tips from trusted art platform DROOL for how to infuse your kitchen and dining area with a little more warmth, style, and personality:
1) Make Smart Colour Choices
Colour plays a crucial role in creating the illusion of space in a small apartment kitchen and dining area. To achieve this, opt for light, neutral colours on walls, cabinets, and counter tops. Consider colours like whites, greys, and pastels, as these can help brighten the space and make it feel larger and more open.
If you want to add more personality to your kitchen and dining area without being in danger of cluttering the space, marry style and function with vibrant dishware and furnish the walls with artwork like cool art prints, contemporary art posters, graphic design prints, or framed illustration art posters. All the better if you can spruce up your blank walls with artwork related to themes of food, dining, and gathering together!
2) Enhance the Space with Better Lighting
More strategic lighting choices can also help illuminate the space and make its atmosphere more inviting. Great choices include recessed lighting, pendant lights, or under-cabinet lighting. These will also work well to define the different zones of the kitchen and dining room if these comprise a single space. You can also install pendant lights above the dining table to make it a focal point of the space and provide ample lighting when you’re eating.
3) Combine the Kitchen and Dining Area
If there are barriers between the kitchen and dining area, consider bringing them down to achieve a more open and spacious feel. Removing unnecessary walls or partitions to create an open-concept layout will allow for seamless flow between the two areas and make both you and your guests feel more relaxed and at ease.
You can also find creative ways to designate zones within the combined space for cooking and dining to help maintain organisation and functionality. Kitchen islands or breakfast bars, for example, can serve as both focal points and functional dividers. Both are also clever ways to provide additional workspace and seating options.
Alternatively, you can incorporate a dining nook into the kitchen area to maximise space, or explore a built-in banquette or cosy corner with a small table and chairs.
4) Add Personal Touches
You may have more space than you think to impart your kitchen and dining room with character and charm. Decorate using indoor plants or miniature herb gardens to bring a touch of nature indoors and breathe life into the space.
Don't be afraid to mix and match textures and patterns, too, especially on surfaces like your kitchen and dining room floor. Add a cool-looking mat near the sink or a rug under the dining table to make the space feel friendlier and more lived-in.
5) Take Advantage of Your Vertical Space
Even if your apartment kitchen and dining areas are small, you can still decorate both by learning to make the best out of your vertical space. Install floating shelves on empty wall areas to create additional storage and display opportunities, for examples. Use your shelves to showcase decorative items, cookbooks, or kitchen essentials in stylish containers.
You can also create a gallery wall using framed artwork, photographs, or even decorative plates. Consider mixing and matching different sizes and styles of frames for a dynamic and visually interesting look.
6) Select the Right Table and Chairs for the Space
The dining area is often the heart of the home, where friends and family can gather with you to share meals, stories, and important life updates. Much of your enjoyment will revolve around your choice of dining table and chairs. Opt for furniture that fits the space without overwhelming it, for example by getting a round or oval table instead of a large rectangular one. These shapes will offer more seating without taking up a lot of horizontal space.
7) Save Space with Multi-Purpose Furniture
Another way to furnish and decorate your apartment kitchen and dining area at the same time is through your furniture. Look for multifunctional pieces that serve dual purposes, such as a kitchen island with built-in storage or a dining table that doubles as a workspace.
Foldable or collapsible furniture items are also lifesavers in tight quarters. They can provide extra seating and tables when needed, like when you have more guests over. On such occasions, you can easily tuck the furniture away once the gathering is over.
8) Make the Dining Table the Star of the Room
Take every opportunity to decorate your dining room, especially if you’re entertaining guests at your apartment. Style the table with linens, centrepieces, and special dinnerware when the occasion calls for it.
It’s just in your best interest to avoid large and bulky pieces, as these can make the table look cluttered. Opt for smaller and subtler decorative elements instead. A sleek vase with a few fresh flowers or a small, stylish candleholder will work great for romantic dinners or small, intimate holiday get-togethers.
Apartment kitchens and dining rooms may seem a bit tricky to decorate at first because of the limited space, but they are among the best places to unleash your creative and innovative side. Think outside the box with these practical tips from DROOL, and see how you can transform even the most compact kitchens and dining areas into cosy, open spaces you’ll love staying in.
