Welcome back to the third post in my 1969 home remodel series! So far, I’ve walked you through the guest bedroom and guest bathroom. Today, I’m diving into the dining room — a small, boxy space that lives next to the living room. By making budget friendly furniture choices and repurposing décor I already owned, this makeover proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a room you love.
Before: Dated and Drab
This chandelier is right out of the 70’s! And the chain… I just can’t!
Dining Room Makeover Budget Breakdown
This was probably the least expensive room to furnish because I was able to repurpose some things. Here are the things I budgeted for in the room:
- Dining Room Table/Chairs
- Light Fixture
- Centerpiece
- Artwork
- Greenery
I budgeted a total of $1,500.
Choosing the Right Dining Table for a Small Room
Because the dining room is small, I thought a round table would work best. I chose a dining room set that included a round table and 4 chairs from a local furniture store called Mor. The set was $850.
The Funky Light Fixture That Changed the Room
I’ve mentioned before that I like a bit of funk in every room. Check out the throw pillows in my guest bedroom. In the dining room, that funk would be the light fixture! My house is largely traditional, so for the dining room light fixture I wanted a little sass.
I’ve learned in all the remodels I’ve done that you don’t have to spend a great deal of money to get what you want. I buy a lot of things from Lowe’s and Home Depot. I’ve found that I gravitate more toward Lowe’s for décor and Home Depot for remodeling supplies, but having said that I’ve still purchased a fair amount of home décor from Home Depot.
The light fixture I chose for the dining room remodel was a brushed nickel pendant I found at Lowe’s. It contrasted really nicely with the rustic artwork I was planning to hang.
DIY Artwork
A few years ago I wrote a post about these faux reclaimed wood frames I made. They are an homage to my parents and I love how they turned out. Instead of buying new artwork, these rustic frames worked perfectly in my budget friendly dining room remodel.
A Touch of Greenery
I mentioned in my guest bedroom post that I like greenery in a room but I don’t have much of a green thumb. So, silk plants it is! I got this one from Amazon.
Because it had a plain base, I also got this planter from Amazon.
There’s also a little window to the left that has glass shelves on it. I added 3 faux succulents to the shelves, at $4.99 each. I bought them at At Home.
Last Touches – Table Centerpiece
I’ve had these candlesticks for a few years and they work great on my new dining room table. I bought them from a site called Décor Steals.
Since you can’t always get them at Décor Steals, here’s a couple of similar rustic ones on Amazon…
Under the window I put this little bottle crate foot stool that I also got at Décor Steals several years ago and was able to repurpose.
Final Budget Numbers
In the end, all I really needed to buy was a dining room table, some greenery and a light fixture. For the centerpiece and artwork, I used what I already had. Overall, I budgeted $1,500 for the room and came in $386 under that. Yay!
And the Final Reveal
A reminder of what it looked like before…
and After!
I hope this dining room makeover shows that you don’t need a massive budget to create a space you love. With a few smart purchases, some repurposed pieces, and a little creativity, even the smallest rooms can feel fresh and stylish. Have you tackled a dining room makeover of your own? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Happy tinkering,
Susan
