Living & Dining: Storage & Space-Savers in the Dining Room

Looking to throw a killer dinner party but worried your dining space is on the small side? Smart storage choices will help you to keep clutter to a minimum and give you more freedom to move, especially when you’re living in a small or open-plan space.  Here are a few ways to level up your hosting game and make an impression on your guests.

Pull up a seat  Instead of high-backed chairs, choose dining benches that can be pushed in underneath the dining table when they’re not in use. Even better, ottomans with a lidded top will give you space to store all sorts of bits and pieces. Table and bench sets are also a stylish and versatile option that work well for busy families. Dinner time is a breeze, as is homework, games and crafts. Then simply tuck the bench seats under the table to create more space.

Separate your spaces  Use a tall storage unit or modular bookcase as a ‘storage wall’ to break up your living room and dining room space. Choose one with a variety of open shelves and sliding doors or closed drawers, so you can hide away the extra mismatched crockery but still show off your hottest decor. 

Raise the bar  Choose a chic bar cabinet for your drinks and glassware. A cabinet with wheels will give you added convenience, as you can easily move it to another room when you need extra space. If you don’t have space for a bar cabinet, a tabletop wine rack is  a more compact way to keep some bottles ready for popping.

Think multitasking magic  Choose a buffet table or sideboard that can serve as a multi-purpose storage unit. The right sideboard can double as a bookshelf or display cabinet, making the most of your living room and dining room spaces. If your space is too small for a sideboard or storage unit, opt for a narrow bookcase to make the most of an otherwise unused corner.

Add some optical illusions  There are a few tricks you can use to make your dining room look a bit bigger. Hang floor-to-ceiling curtains, to make the ceiling of the room look higher. Choose a few big accent pieces instead of lots of smaller knick-knacks, to keep the room from looking crowded. To hide clutter in a flash, opt for a woven storage basket or two, arranged in an empty corner alongside a tall lamp or an artificial potted tree.

Add a mirror to one wall, to reflect the space and bounce more light around the room. An eye-catching ceiling light will also draw your focus upwards, adding height to the space.

Browse the selection of home organisation solutions available from Freedom; you’ll find living room and dining room storage products that are practical, versatile and elegant