3 ways to set up a practical dining area using IKEA Kreativ

Is it time to refresh your dining space but unsure where to start? We’ve all been there. That’s why our designers put together some beautiful dining room ideas to inspire you. And when you’re ready to visualize how those arrangements can come to life in your own space, try IKEA Kreativ. Once there, you can shop for items while you design a virtual space and see how everything looks together before you buy anything.

1. Entertaining

If you enjoy hosting friends or family for meals, try this setup. Here, we used the “neutral standard” empty space in IKEA Kreativ and added the MÖRBYLÅNGA table and six ODGER chairs in anthracite. The smooth surfaces in this dining set make for easy clean-up after a night of entertaining. Design-wise, the oak veneer on the table ties together the dark brown elements on the BESTÅ cabinets as well as the two TOLKNING ottomans under the window. We made sure to maintain a wide walkway around the table, so it’s easy to serve, and if you’re hosting more than six people, there is enough space to pull up the ottomans at each end of the table for extra seating.

2. Smaller spaces

While you may think you don’t have enough room to accommodate a dining set in your small apartment or studio, using IKEA Kreativ will help you visualize what can fit and what design options might work for you. In this example, we recreated a studio apartment using the “mid-century modern” empty space in IKEA Kreativ. We added the JOKKMOKK table and four chairs on the hard floor to ensure easy clean-up of crumbs and spills, while the HOLMSUND sleeper sofa sits on the low-pile HILLESTED rug, creating a subtle visual separation between the two spaces. The HEMNES storage combination, with drawers, doors, and open shelves provides a ton of storage for a wide variety of items, including dishes, games, books, and even clothes. Finally, we used the TINGBY side table in the studio to add versatility. With it, you’ll have a coffee table that can roll aside when you open the bed at night, and you can use it to hold snacks or appetizers next to your dining area when you need the table for game night.

3. Family gatherings

The EKEDALEN extendable table offers a versatile, comfortable gathering spot for you and yours. Shown here in an eat-in kitchen using the semi-furnished “homey dining vista” in IKEA Kreativ, EKEDALEN tables make it easy to seat lots of people for a meal. They come in a few different sizes, and you can try them individually or as a dining set with chairs in IKEA Kreativ to see what might work for you and your family. A single person can extend the tables to accommodate four-six or six-eight chairs, and if you have more guests, you can add additional seating on either end.