A Dozen Dining Room Updates

Give your dining area a face-lift with these DIY ideas

Michelle GageMay 16, 2016

Michelle Gage is a Philadelphia-based interior designer with an affinity for playful prints and whimsical designs. Her career began as a buyer for Anthropologie Home where she was tasked with selecting everything from art and antiques to decorative textiles. In 2015, Michelle embarked on her own and founded Michelle Gage Interiors. *** Please note, as of 2019, we have stopped sharing our new work here. To view our recently-completed projects, please visit michellegage.co.

Put your dining room on your summer to-do list. While the days are longer, you can take your space from drab to fab with DIY updates that don’t require a whole lot of money or time.

Michelle Gage | Interior Designer

1. Reupholster. Freshen up tired chairs. With seats like these, all you need is new fabric and a staple gun. This print is actually a vintage rug that’s been cleverly repurposed.

The Perks and Perils of Reupholstering Old Furniture

Brintons Carpets

2. Paint your walls. Splashing a fresh coat on your walls is one of the most affordable ways to transform your space. White or neutral shades will create a clean slate this summer.

From the Pros: How to Paint Interior Walls

Inner Visions Interiors

3. Paint a feature. If you don’t want to paint your entire dining room, think about highlighting a feature — like the back wall of your hutch or built-in shelving — in a fun color. This is an easy project that can be done in a matter of hours.

KCS Residential Design

4. Paint the window frames. Another feature to consider painting is the window trim. Although most people will want to lighten up their space for summer, try the opposite and paint them darker.

Home Design & Decor Magazine

5. Paint your chairs. Choose something fresh and clean or bright and bold. While you can always go neutral to be on the safe side, chairs can offer the perfect opportunity to experiment. If there’s an edgier color you’ve had your eye on, go for it — you can always repaint later.

Designer's Brew

6. Update your centerpiece. A bouquet of flowers is a classic choice for the center of your dining table, but, alas, they don’t stay fresh for long. Consider creating a living centerpiece with succulents. Get a vintage iron bin and fill it with succulents and stones.

ArchiTK

7. Create a live plant wall. Already have a centerpiece you like but want more greenery in your dining room? Try adding a living wall. Hang special shelving to hold some lush plants, and be sure to water them regularly to keep the life in your live wall.

How to Add a Living Wall

Chris Snook

8. Add a gallery wall. This look is sophisticated yet playful at the same time. Treat your space like your own personal museum, and switch out your artwork on a rotating schedule to keep your gallery fresh and interesting.

Curate by Tara

9. Get artistic. Although you could frame and hang some prints, why not make the art yourself? Get creative and express yourself.

User

10. Plate it up. Dishes don’t have to stay on the dining table. Gather your mismatched plates or stock up at your local thrift store. Then create an artful arrangement on your wall with favorite picks that pop.

Geddes Ulinskas Architects

11. Accent with wallpaper. Using a pricey treatment on just one wall can make the cost more tolerable. Choose a pattern you can live with year-round for this option. Wallpapering is a job for the more advanced DIYer, but limiting it to only one wall is a great way to learn.

Considering Wallpaper? Here’s How to Get Started

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

12. Put up wainscoting. Speaking of advanced skills, if you’re thinking about installing wainscoting for the first time, you may want to get professional guidance. But whether you go DIY or pro, wainscoting lends charm, and the dining room is the perfect place for the classic detail to shine.

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