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
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 First up: making over our dining room, a bland space with a formal dining set, an outdated chandelier and not much else.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.
Kamala Dessert Plates
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.
Splash Wineglasses, Set of 4
Strokes of color give these wineglasses enough personality to punch up traditional crystal.
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.
Eurofase 12260-010 Vidal 1-Light Pendant, Chrome/Clear Crystal
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.
Austen Wood Veneer Pendant
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.
Travelers Compass Giclee Plug-In Swag Chandelier
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.
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.
Anew Twist/Caviar 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.
Amy Butler Midwest Modern Fresh Poppies Fuchsia Fabric
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.
Remix Bermuda Zig Zags Yardage Fabric
A rainbow of zigzags turns this print into a playful riff on classic chevrons.
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.
Red Rooster Table Runner
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.
Inkblot Table Runner
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.
Black and White Chain Link Table Runner
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.
Coral Votive Holders
When these votive holders are massed together, their free-form shapes create a lovely, organic focal point.
Antique Silver Cylinders
Longing for high-end glamour at a low-end price? Reflective candleholders create twice the sparkle and shimmer. And what a deal!
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.
Baroque Turquoise Frame
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.
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.
Råskog Kitchen Cart, Turquoise
This workhorse looks anything but utilitarian, thanks to its cheerful paint color.
Bordeaux Bar Cart
A petite bar cart topped with trays feels more upscale than the price tag suggests.
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.
Pink Ground Paint | Farrow & Ball
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.
Benjamin Moore Ben Paint, Blue Danube 2062-30
This rich blue grows more mysterious with the deepening dusk.
Marigold SW6664 Paint
As the sun goes down, spicy orange heats up. I'll bet this color looks simply bewitching in candlelight.
Mayonnaise OC-85 Paint
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.
Glass Melon Knob, Brass
These pretty cut-glass knobs would look just right on a painted or pale wooden piece of furniture.
Laurey 3-Inch Satin Pewter Nantucket Bar Cabinet Pull
This sleek rope-style pull adds a touch of nautical detailing.
Layered Ocatagon Horn Knob
Add a hint of the exotic to a simple buffet or breakfront with octagonal, horn-look hardware.