Clever Storage Spaces In Dining Rooms
Nowhere to put your tableware? Make the most of your dining area with these chic storage solutions
Cheryl F
23 March 2018
Houzz Contributor. I'm a London-based journalist with years of experience writing for the UK's top interiors titles. I love shopping for quirky accessories, have a passion for rummaging through vintage stores and I'm ever-hopeful of finding that elusive perfect paint shade.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a London-based journalist with years of experience writing... More
It makes sense to build storage into your dining area, as it will give you easy access to dinner sets, serving dishes, linens and wine glasses, and free up space in the kitchen. Make the most of your eating area with these great dining room storage ideas.
Build it in
In this dining area, the clever integrated L-shaped dining storage bench is not only compact and streamlined, it features built-in drawers for stashing napkins, cutlery, table mats or whatever you fancy.
If your eating area is on the mini side, then a bespoke solution like this could help you make the most of your storage potential without using up wall space.
In this dining area, the clever integrated L-shaped dining storage bench is not only compact and streamlined, it features built-in drawers for stashing napkins, cutlery, table mats or whatever you fancy.
If your eating area is on the mini side, then a bespoke solution like this could help you make the most of your storage potential without using up wall space.
Tuck in benches
Here’s another long, low seating bench that incorporates dining storage, this time featuring shelves, drawers and all manner of handy nooks and crannies.
If you have a long wall, don’t be afraid to stretch out. Here, the seating extends beyond the dining table. Keeping storage low means it doesn’t eat into the room as much visually.
Think carefully about the finish on your storage – the different wood tones of the floor, benches and chairs in this room work together for a natural yet sophisticated feel.
Take a look at these table and chair combinations
Here’s another long, low seating bench that incorporates dining storage, this time featuring shelves, drawers and all manner of handy nooks and crannies.
If you have a long wall, don’t be afraid to stretch out. Here, the seating extends beyond the dining table. Keeping storage low means it doesn’t eat into the room as much visually.
Think carefully about the finish on your storage – the different wood tones of the floor, benches and chairs in this room work together for a natural yet sophisticated feel.
Take a look at these table and chair combinations
Have a cabinet meeting
A vintage or antique cabinet can make a lovely addition to a dining room. Scour vintage stores for interesting glass and wood pieces, perhaps from old shops or drapers.
This glazed unit makes a great divider between a kitchen and dining area, and adds a pretty, retro touch.
Fill yours with all your favourite china, cake stands and teapots – it’ll make you far more likely to actually use your nicest things if they’re on view.
A vintage or antique cabinet can make a lovely addition to a dining room. Scour vintage stores for interesting glass and wood pieces, perhaps from old shops or drapers.
This glazed unit makes a great divider between a kitchen and dining area, and adds a pretty, retro touch.
Fill yours with all your favourite china, cake stands and teapots – it’ll make you far more likely to actually use your nicest things if they’re on view.
Divide and conquer
Solve the problem of how to break up an open-plan living and dining space with a clever storage wall. This bespoke unit is roomy enough to hide away every mug in the house. However, incorporating sliding doors means the contents can be on show if desired, too.
The result is ‘broken-plan’ – a room that’s neither open-plan nor closed off, but with all the benefits of both options.
Here’s how to master the open plan living
Solve the problem of how to break up an open-plan living and dining space with a clever storage wall. This bespoke unit is roomy enough to hide away every mug in the house. However, incorporating sliding doors means the contents can be on show if desired, too.
The result is ‘broken-plan’ – a room that’s neither open-plan nor closed off, but with all the benefits of both options.
Here’s how to master the open plan living
Seek out a sideboard
A sideboard is a classic dining room storage cabinet for a reason. It provides a home for bulky items inside the cupboards, and vases, pictures and houseplants on top.
For extra storage, make the most of its low stature by placing shelves above, as these homeowners have done.
A sideboard is a classic dining room storage cabinet for a reason. It provides a home for bulky items inside the cupboards, and vases, pictures and houseplants on top.
For extra storage, make the most of its low stature by placing shelves above, as these homeowners have done.
Showcase a dresser
Like the sideboard, a dresser in the dining area is an oldie but goodie. Whether you go for a trad number or a modern-rustic spin-off, like this handsome design, it will provide a homely touch.
Dressers offer a winning combination of out-of-sight storage and on-display shelving. Use the bottom drawers for your flatware (saucers, plates), serving spoons, linens and napkins.
Check out these ingenious storage tricks
Like the sideboard, a dresser in the dining area is an oldie but goodie. Whether you go for a trad number or a modern-rustic spin-off, like this handsome design, it will provide a homely touch.
Dressers offer a winning combination of out-of-sight storage and on-display shelving. Use the bottom drawers for your flatware (saucers, plates), serving spoons, linens and napkins.
Check out these ingenious storage tricks
Go up and around
Make use of vertical space by building up and around a long bench. It’s a clever way to use potentially dead space up high and down the sides of the walls.
In general, tucking shelves just below the ceiling can be a clever way to fit in more storage. If your dining room layout is unlikely to change in the future, this idea could be worth considering.
Make use of vertical space by building up and around a long bench. It’s a clever way to use potentially dead space up high and down the sides of the walls.
In general, tucking shelves just below the ceiling can be a clever way to fit in more storage. If your dining room layout is unlikely to change in the future, this idea could be worth considering.
Increase your shelf life
If you have a spare blank wall in your dining area, why not fill it up with stylish shelving? Build high and wide, and create a chic feature like this one.
This wall-to-ceiling grid has been filled with jugs, glasses and other items for a look that’s one part cool and stylish, one part super-practical.
By having more shelf space, you’ll be able to spread things out and create an uncluttered look.
If you have a spare blank wall in your dining area, why not fill it up with stylish shelving? Build high and wide, and create a chic feature like this one.
This wall-to-ceiling grid has been filled with jugs, glasses and other items for a look that’s one part cool and stylish, one part super-practical.
By having more shelf space, you’ll be able to spread things out and create an uncluttered look.
Bag a locker
If your look sits on the industrial or vintage side, why not go for something more unusual in your dining space? These pleasingly weathered metal lockers work a treat, and are roomy enough to use for whatever you fancy.
Alternatively, you could hunt around for a lacquered Chinese cabinet or a unit filled with wickers baskets – think about what would work with your personal style and go from there.
If your look sits on the industrial or vintage side, why not go for something more unusual in your dining space? These pleasingly weathered metal lockers work a treat, and are roomy enough to use for whatever you fancy.
Alternatively, you could hunt around for a lacquered Chinese cabinet or a unit filled with wickers baskets – think about what would work with your personal style and go from there.
Concoct a bespoke cabinet
This brilliantly useful wonderwall of hidden storage weaves around the dining table, and has a space for everything, including a fabulous wine rack.
Talk to local joiners and cabinet-makers to see if something like this would work in your dining room. If bespoke is too pricey for you, there’s no reason why standard kitchen cabinets can’t be employed in a dining area for a similar effect.
Read more:
16 Unique & Clever Storage Solutions for the Entire Home
Tell us:
What kind of dining room storage have you chosen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
This brilliantly useful wonderwall of hidden storage weaves around the dining table, and has a space for everything, including a fabulous wine rack.
Talk to local joiners and cabinet-makers to see if something like this would work in your dining room. If bespoke is too pricey for you, there’s no reason why standard kitchen cabinets can’t be employed in a dining area for a similar effect.
Read more:
16 Unique & Clever Storage Solutions for the Entire Home
Tell us:
What kind of dining room storage have you chosen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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I love the green dresser in image no:6, enhanced by the rustic backdrop and No:8 looks fab in its 'industrial' setting. The locker (image 9) nice though it looks, will surely be devoid of shelving so its vertical space useless for plates etc. I have to accommodate my crockery/ tableware within existing cupboards/drawers in my kitchen. The plate/bowl storage system from IKEA that I use for my 'entertaining' crockery, works a treat and not only makes access easier but also better use of space within a deep and low cupboard.
In case anyone is wondering about the plate storage from IKEA. It's called VARIERA. The smaller plate unit lifts up easily from the larger one without having to precariously shift plates to get to a lower stack and they adapt to accommodate (slightly) different sized plates. The photo below is from Google Images!
The last picture features different size bespoke cabinets which I think is a really good idea. It shouldn’t be too hard to replicate this with Ikea units.