The best dining room storage isn’t just a useful place to put your dinner ware and serving dishes. As well as keeping your dining room nicely clutter free, dining room storage should be lovely to look at, in keeping with your dining room style and decorative in its own right.
We like the look of a bookcase in a dining room – and it doesn’t have to hold just books. Arrange a creative display of your favourite types of pottery, like jugs, bowls or vases. Or devote an entire bookshelf to a revolving display of your kids’ art projects. Or, if you prefer your shelves to perform the purpose for which they were intended, introduce a fresh and interesting look by mixing and matching large coffee table books with retro paperbacks.
Console tables are also great places for displaying objects. With a spacious top surface and useful lower shelf, they can easily accommodate two rows of colour-coordinated serving dishes or an entire vintage tea service.
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If your dining room is on the larger side, you can take care of all your dining room storage needs with a classic painted dresser with hutch. This is basically a large sideboard with a glass-fronted display case placed on top, a clever arrangement which gives you the benefit of both open and closed storage so you can hide away all your basic crockery and cutlery items – and display your more attractive pieces.
Or how about that design classic, the bar cart? Full of retro charm, a drinks trolley is the perfect piece for a smaller dining room and a great place to hold nice glassware and a bottle of your favourite tipple.
Into upcycling? A French-inspired armoire with decorative details can be used as a large storage piece. Some original vintage armoires come with shelves already built in, so you can simply remove the hanging rail and substitute with additional shelves. If you’re particularly handy, think about removing any door panels – often surrounded by decorative carvings – and replacing with glass.
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Formal dining rooms often have, well, a formal feel. Introduce a contemporary edge with more modern dining room storage solutions. Floating shelves have a cool minimal appearance and are a great way to display pieces of art or even a row of paperbacks with colour-coordinated spines.
Need more display space? Consider a ladder bookcase. Exactly as the name suggests, this is an open plan book shelf that leans against the wall and has broad shelves spaced like the rungs of a ladder. Ladder shelving is very functional as the shelves are graduated in size and are often wide enough to accommodate larger pieces of pottery or framed photos. And because they're open plan they’re an excellent place for a cool and modern display.
If contemporary is most definitely your style, you’ll find plenty to love at Furniture Village. Take a look at dining room storage pieces from ALF, an Italian brand that’s famous for its sleek and precisely-engineered contemporary sideboards, curio cabinets and display units, and Habufa, masters of modern rustic storage solutions.
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If you’re the kind of homeowner that believes in a place for everything, and everything in its place, finding dining room storage with a very specific purpose will appeal to your innate love of order.
Whereas some of us might line up our wine bottles on the kitchen counter, you might prefer to invest in a wine cabinet – one with neat rows of individual compartments for bottles and perhaps a drawer or two for coasters and bottle openers. You may also choose a buffet over a sideboard, as the increased length will allow you to use this piece as intended – as a serving counter for those big family meals.
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If you prefer your dining room storage to be as beautiful on the outside as it is functional on the inside, take a look at the storage solutions created by our favourite top furniture brands. At Furniture Village we’re proud to champion handcrafted furniture produced in both Britain and Europe.
Ercol delivers an iconic look with retro charm; every piece more than meets the brand’s ethos of design for comfort, design for function, and design for beauty. And for sleek, beautifully engineered storage solutions, it’s hard to match the cool contemporary look that’s the hallmark of Italian brand Calligaris. Finally, if you love the simple natural beauty of oak furniture, you’ll love the pieces crafted for us by Furnitureland.
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If you’d describe your home as compact, you’re probably very good at finding perfect furniture items – small sofas with narrow arms, neatly proportioned kitchen tables, armless dining chairs and the like. There’s another way to maximise space and that’s by choosing dining room storage pieces that cleverly perform more than one function.
A storage bench is a great idea. First, bench seating is more economical space-wise than regular dining room seating – you can seat up to three on an average size bench that takes up the same space as a pair of dining chairs. And second, a storage bench has a spacious compartment under the seat, ideal for board games or table linens.
Display cabinets come in all shapes and sizes. Many offer a useful combination of open and closed storage so that you can hide away general dining room clutter and also display favourite treasures.
And in a compact room it’s important to utilise every available square inch. Alcove shelving makes good use of space that might otherwise be wasted.
There are many reasons that sideboards are so popular. They provide really functional dining room storage and because they’re available in a huge range of styles, sizes and finishes, it’s easy to find the perfect one for you, whether you’re looking for a more compact sideboard or a large sideboard with cupboards, shelves and drawers.
Sideboards have been around a long time, yet they’re still an on trend storage solution. Many of our favourite brands have made a name for themselves by designing sleek contemporary sideboards with soft-close doors and drawers, hidden handles and even hidden compartments.
Love the look of a traditional wooden sideboard? We’re right there with you. Oak’s rich warm colour and beautiful wood grain just never goes out of style. Choose an oak sideboard for your dining room storage and you’re choosing a family heirloom that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
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Creating symmetry is the key to this look. "Achieving balance and proportion with your furniture will give your space a natural flow," says Bana. Match lamps on either side of a fireplace or place identical armchairs next to each other to bring calm and order to your interior. Keep the layout balanced with thoughtfully placed accessories and zone areas using rugs to establish a sense of harmony. Echoing style notes throughout the space - like gold details or marble accents - also reinforced unity.
A timeless palette of soft neutrals like taupe, grey and brown offsets the opulent backdrop. "Muted shades infuse the space with sophistication without overwhelming the senses," explains Bana. Layer soft tones to add depth and warmth while mixing in greys and creams to enhance the less-is-more ambience. To make it even more inviting, consider a soft linen bedspread or upholstered divan for luxurious lie-ins.
In true Parisian fashion, this look thrives on the contrast of old and new. "Heirlooms sit side by side with modern pieces for a timeless feel," advises Bana. Experiment with different eras: place mid-century armchairs next to a contemporary stone coffee table or a vintage mirror above a modern console table. This unique mix of period charm and clean-lined design adds a refreshing cosmopolitan flair to an otherwise classic look.
Next up, introduce soft metallics for a touch of glamour. "Flashes of chrome, gold or bronze amplify your room’s light and warmth," suggests Bana. Metallic accessories such as mirrors, cushions and decorative trays reflect light and bring a subtle sheen to forgotten corners. “Embrace small details like a gilded frame or brushed bronze drawer handles to infuse your space with a natural Parisian elegance that feels chic yet understated.”
"Don’t be afraid to embrace ornate touches," says Bana. Whether it's a delicately carved marble bust or a richly textured rug, luxe accents elevate your key pieces. Elsewhere, invite the comfort of plush velvet sofas, soft cushions and sumptuous textiles to enhance the richness of your room and create an intimate setting that’s perfect for both quiet moments and lively soirées.
We hope this guide has inspired you to embrace the je-ne-sais-quoi beauty of Paris in your own home. For more stylish updates, follow us on Instagram and don’t forget to share your interior looks with #MyFVHome for a chance to be featured on our feed!
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