Jazz Up Your Dining Room for Less Than $500
New lighting, colorful dishware, fun fabrics and other small updates add up to a big-time facelift on a little bitty budget
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
My husband and I have dubbed 2012 The Year of Thinking Small. Instead of tackling big renovations in areas of our home that sorely need it, we're going for instant gratification — minor changes that make a major difference. First up: making over our dining room, a bland space with a formal dining set, an outdated chandelier and not much else.
I have tons of ideas for giving this room a little more zing, but I don't want to spend a fortune. So I'm looking for ways to add panache on a $500 budget, and that means scrimping in some areas and splashing out in others. My biggest splurges will be fabrics — a pricey custom table runner in a pattern I couldn't resist, as well as a complementary print to cover the chair seats. But I'll need to restrain myself when it comes to a new light fixture, accent china and artwork, so seeking out budget-friendly finds will be key.
If you're looking to give your own dining room a new spin, try mixing and matching some of the well-priced picks below. And if you've recently pulled off an affordable makeover, tell us about it in the Comments!
I have tons of ideas for giving this room a little more zing, but I don't want to spend a fortune. So I'm looking for ways to add panache on a $500 budget, and that means scrimping in some areas and splashing out in others. My biggest splurges will be fabrics — a pricey custom table runner in a pattern I couldn't resist, as well as a complementary print to cover the chair seats. But I'll need to restrain myself when it comes to a new light fixture, accent china and artwork, so seeking out budget-friendly finds will be key.
If you're looking to give your own dining room a new spin, try mixing and matching some of the well-priced picks below. And if you've recently pulled off an affordable makeover, tell us about it in the Comments!
1. Spice up plain china with colorful accents. If you're bored with your wedding china or the basic white dishware you bought in your salad days, there's no need to box it up and start from scratch. Layer in plates, cups, goblets and other pieces in bold, fun colors to give the old standbys a new spin. Here, sprightly majolica updates a group of simple serving pieces.
by Anthropologie
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These brightly hued plates would be right at home next to the family Wedgwood, but there's not a whiff of the formal or fussy about them. Vary the colors for an appealing collected look.
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by UncommonGoods
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| Strokes of color give these wineglasses enough personality to punch up traditional crystal. |
by Restyled Home
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2. Install an eye-catching light fixture. Old-school chandelier not doing it for you? Replace it with a showy model that won't stress your bank account. The Ikea Maskros Pendant Light in this dining room became a classic almost as soon as it hit the U.S. market, but also check out more options, next.
The classic crystal chandelier goes sleek and streamlined in this incarnation. It's a terrific way to bridge the gap between formal furniture and down-to-earth style.
I can't imagine a space that this pendant wouldn't suit — you could dress it up or down, depending on the rest of your decor. Made from thin strips of wood veneer, it adds a top note of texture.
Tip: Shop kid- and teen-focused retailers for affordable accents on a shoestring budget. This fixture is from PB Teen, a branch of the Pottery Barn family.
Tip: Shop kid- and teen-focused retailers for affordable accents on a shoestring budget. This fixture is from PB Teen, a branch of the Pottery Barn family.
by Lamps Plus
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This drum pendant looks like an expensive designer model. It also plugs in, which means you don't have to get a pro to fiddle with electrical wiring.
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| 3. Swap out chair fabric. If your chairs have upholstered seats that are screwed into the frames (check the bottoms to see), it's a snap to cover them with new fabric. |
This crisp indoor-outdoor print, full of energy and movement, lends a masculine touch that would contrast beautifully with a dainty chair frame.
Tip: Because they withstand spills and stains so well, indoor-outdoor fabrics are ideal for dining room upholstery.
Tip: Because they withstand spills and stains so well, indoor-outdoor fabrics are ideal for dining room upholstery.
by Fabric.com
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Sweet yet mod, this lively floral is a pretty choice for refreshing a cottage-style dining area. It's also an ideal choice for beginning DIYers because there's no tricky repeat and there are no lines that must be straight.
A rainbow of zigzags turns this print into a playful riff on classic chevrons.
by Jennifer Young
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4. Add a chic table runner. Less expensive and more casual than tablecloths, runners can instantly update a dining room. If you're at all handy with a sewing machine, you can stitch your own to size, but the following picks are easy on the wallet.
Try this rooster-bedecked runner in a French country–style space. At this price, you could even buy two or three and drape them crosswise in lieu of placemats.
by Supermarket
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No, it's not a Rorschach test. An inkblot print gives this runner a playful note that would fit right in with an eclectic or modern look.
by MultiChic.com
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How can you go wrong with black and white? Offset this runner with a simple white bowl, platter or tureen to let the graphic pattern shine.
5. Set your space aglow with candlelight. Candles make even the humblest space look elegant, and they cost next to nothing. Fashion a set of hurricanes out of everyday jars or vessels, with pillar candles embedded in sand, rock salt, pebbles or another fire-safe material.
When these votive holders are massed together, their free-form shapes create a lovely, organic focal point.
Longing for high-end glamour at a low-end price? Reflective candleholders create twice the sparkle and shimmer. And what a deal!
A tiered, swiveling tea light holder takes the classic candelabra into new territory.
by Shirley Meisels
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6. Dress the walls with affordable art and objects. You could always go the DIY art route, but some of us (read: me) aren't that motivated. Browse the directory of professionals on Houzz to find artists who offer inexpensive works or source originals from local art shows, art students and online vendors. You can also hang favorite finds, from plates to posters to patterned textiles.
Imagine a trio of these lavish-looking frames filled with black and white photos and hung on the dining room wall. The bold color updates a very traditional form.
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| Seahorse-shape wooden cutouts are just right for a coastal space. |
7. Roll in a bar cart. Expand serving and storage space without spending major cash. Bar carts are the ultimate multitaskers — they morph from party buffet to cocktail station to decorative display without breaking a sweat.
This workhorse looks anything but utilitarian, thanks to its cheerful paint color.
by Z Gallerie
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A petite bar cart topped with trays feels more upscale than the price tag suggests.
by CWB Architects
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8. Update the paint color. You've heard it before, and it still holds true: Paint gives you far and away the most bang for your buck. Whether you limit the new hue to an accent wall or splash it across the entire space, it can completely transform the look of your dining area.
Because dining rooms tend to be used most often in the evening, consider a color that will look prettier as the sunlight fades. This orange-red shade radiates coziness and warmth at nighttime.
Because dining rooms tend to be used most often in the evening, consider a color that will look prettier as the sunlight fades. This orange-red shade radiates coziness and warmth at nighttime.
by Farrow & Ball
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Who wouldn't look good against this barely-there blush color? It's expensive, but you can source similar, less pricey shades from if you'd rather devote your decorating dollars elsewhere.
This rich blue grows more mysterious with the deepening dusk.
As the sun goes down, spicy orange heats up. I'll bet this color looks simply bewitching in candlelight.
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by Benjamin Moore
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| If you'd rather stick with tried and true white, go for it — just pick a warm, creamy shade such as this one. |
9. Jazz up case goods with new hardware. Give an old sideboard or hutch a minifacelift by changing up the knobs and pulls.
Tip: If you have leftover wall paint, consider painting a freestanding shelf or a china cabinet the same color to give it a built-in look.
Tip: If you have leftover wall paint, consider painting a freestanding shelf or a china cabinet the same color to give it a built-in look.
These pretty cut-glass knobs would look just right on a painted or pale wooden piece of furniture.
This sleek rope-style pull adds a touch of nautical detailing.
Add a hint of the exotic to a simple buffet or breakfront with octagonal, horn-look hardware.
Comments
olldbobbi The table runner is a great idea. I would get one in a light, solid color fabric, then put fabric markers out on the table for people to doodle with! Great way to break the ice. I also like the Nantucket Bar cabinet pull, very different, very cool!
10 months ago · Like
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thegreenbee I have been looking for a fun chevron pattern for a table runner, and I love the Remix Bermuda Zig Zag fabric- thanks!
10 months ago · Like
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dchaz All the other sources for paint colors are mentioned. How about telling us the orange of the dining room wall with the black birds? Love it.
10 months ago · Like
Lisa Frederick Dchaz - per the designer, the paint color is Benjamin Moore's Tropical Orange 2170-20. Bobbi, what a great idea about the fabric markers!
10 months ago · Like
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dchaz Thanks for the paint color
9 months ago · Like
Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel You rock! Great, low-cost ideas.
9 months ago · Like
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kkaghazi Where can I get the pink and green floral fabric? Adorable!
9 months ago · Like
Lisa Frederick kkaghazi - If you click on the image, you'll see a link that says "Visit store" and that will take you right to it. Happy shopping!
9 months ago · Like
lorirobinson In this economy some wonderful practical ideas that anyone can do! Don't forget plates and beautiful old fabrics can sometimes be found at garage sales and thrift stores! You've inspired me to try and redo my bedroom for under 500$. Should be fun to try. Thanks Lisa!
9 months ago · Like
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henleyot $45 for a table runner is not affordable to me. I just found some beautiful fabric at West Seattle Fabrics... very inexpensive. I don't sew, but with my iron and some hem tape I'm going to whip out some custom table runners - about $8 each.
7 months ago · Like
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Ideabook updated on Sept. 5, 2012.
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