9 Ways to a Dining Room Makeover on a Budget
Check out these purse-friendly tricks to help you create a dining space that works for every occasion
For many of us, the dining table is a destination for us to catch up, laugh, eat and rejoice in good company. Whether it’s a whole room, a kitchen-diner or perhaps just a small table in the corner, dining areas come in all shapes and sizes. With some simple tips and tricks, any space can become the perfect hub for entertaining – all, of course, without spending too much cash.
Roll out a rug
Use a statement rug to energise your dining room. To choose one that works effectively, take note of your flooring and contrast the rug accordingly. Here, the stripes are bold and give the space a slightly glamorous edge – exactly what you’re looking for when hosting a dinner party.
Plenty of stores sell inexpensive rugs, or why not look at getting a carpet cut and bound? While there are some tutorials on how to do this yourself online, if you’re not used to this kind of project, it’s probably best to head to a carpet retailer – you might be surprised at how many of them offer this service.
Use a statement rug to energise your dining room. To choose one that works effectively, take note of your flooring and contrast the rug accordingly. Here, the stripes are bold and give the space a slightly glamorous edge – exactly what you’re looking for when hosting a dinner party.
Plenty of stores sell inexpensive rugs, or why not look at getting a carpet cut and bound? While there are some tutorials on how to do this yourself online, if you’re not used to this kind of project, it’s probably best to head to a carpet retailer – you might be surprised at how many of them offer this service.
Pick out an accent colour
A great way to ramp up the style in your dining room is to choose a strong accent colour and run with it across the whole room. Whether it’s the table itself, the chairs or a rug, picking one colour is an effective way to create a cohesive scheme.
Try keeping old glass jars and swirling them with the paint colour of choice for quick and easy tealight holders or vases, or buying cheap place mats and customising them with scraps of paper and magazine cut-outs in the same colour. You’ll find tutorials for both these ideas online.
A great way to ramp up the style in your dining room is to choose a strong accent colour and run with it across the whole room. Whether it’s the table itself, the chairs or a rug, picking one colour is an effective way to create a cohesive scheme.
Try keeping old glass jars and swirling them with the paint colour of choice for quick and easy tealight holders or vases, or buying cheap place mats and customising them with scraps of paper and magazine cut-outs in the same colour. You’ll find tutorials for both these ideas online.
Mismatch your chairs
Who says everything needs to match? A great way to pick up dining room furniture on a budget is to let go of the assumption you have to a buy matching set. If you accept individual pieces are OK, you’d be surprised at how easy it is to pick up great finds in charity shops, at car-boot sales, and through online sites such as Gumtree, Freecycle and eBay. You might even find an old dining chair in the street.
Think about getting a good mix of materials and colours – you want the vibe to be eclectic, so you don’t need to worry about matching the chairs to your dining table or existing furniture.
Put the message out there and ask your friends and family – you never know who might have something they want to clear out.
Who says everything needs to match? A great way to pick up dining room furniture on a budget is to let go of the assumption you have to a buy matching set. If you accept individual pieces are OK, you’d be surprised at how easy it is to pick up great finds in charity shops, at car-boot sales, and through online sites such as Gumtree, Freecycle and eBay. You might even find an old dining chair in the street.
Think about getting a good mix of materials and colours – you want the vibe to be eclectic, so you don’t need to worry about matching the chairs to your dining table or existing furniture.
Put the message out there and ask your friends and family – you never know who might have something they want to clear out.
Add a pinch of personality
It’s always been said that your home should reflect your personality. So why not use those bits and bobs you keep stored away in a box to decorate your shelves, rather than shelling out for new ornaments? They will make the space really feel like your own, and when it comes to entertaining, there will be plenty of talking points.
Anything from artefacts from your student days to photos from your childhood can be used to create a personalised statement in your home. Currently, we have Mark’s old saxophone on a floating shelf and we love the way it looks on the wall – plus it gives guests another insight into his personality.
It’s always been said that your home should reflect your personality. So why not use those bits and bobs you keep stored away in a box to decorate your shelves, rather than shelling out for new ornaments? They will make the space really feel like your own, and when it comes to entertaining, there will be plenty of talking points.
Anything from artefacts from your student days to photos from your childhood can be used to create a personalised statement in your home. Currently, we have Mark’s old saxophone on a floating shelf and we love the way it looks on the wall – plus it gives guests another insight into his personality.
Colour-match your accessories
A simple idea such as matching the colour of your tea towels to your mugs, plates and cups, can be a great way to get an effective and inexpensive theme running through your dining space. Here, the collection of red glassware chimes with the red in the artwork. If you have a kitchen-diner, go one step further and get your kettle and toaster involved.
A simple idea such as matching the colour of your tea towels to your mugs, plates and cups, can be a great way to get an effective and inexpensive theme running through your dining space. Here, the collection of red glassware chimes with the red in the artwork. If you have a kitchen-diner, go one step further and get your kettle and toaster involved.
Add some retro hues
Don’t be afraid to buy second-hand – there are so many great items to be found in junk and charity shops. Retro drop-leaf tables, like the one in this little dining space, are a godsend for the budget- and space-conscious, and can easily be found in charity shops and at vintage fairs, such as Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair in London. This is a good way to introduce colour to your dining space, as they’re often covered in Formica in bold shades – which can be picked up in other accessories, such as seat cushions.
Don’t be afraid to buy second-hand – there are so many great items to be found in junk and charity shops. Retro drop-leaf tables, like the one in this little dining space, are a godsend for the budget- and space-conscious, and can easily be found in charity shops and at vintage fairs, such as Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair in London. This is a good way to introduce colour to your dining space, as they’re often covered in Formica in bold shades – which can be picked up in other accessories, such as seat cushions.
Add a flourish with flowers
You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again – flowers! There’s no simpler way to refresh a space. Whether it’s a statement flourish in the centre of a table or little additions in tea cups, as seen here, using flowers picked from your own garden is a wonderful (and free) way to update your dining room.
Think about seasonal updates, such as using holly leaves around Christmas and daffodils in Easter. They’re obvious touches, we know, but ones that go a long way.
See artful ways to display fresh flowers
You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again – flowers! There’s no simpler way to refresh a space. Whether it’s a statement flourish in the centre of a table or little additions in tea cups, as seen here, using flowers picked from your own garden is a wonderful (and free) way to update your dining room.
Think about seasonal updates, such as using holly leaves around Christmas and daffodils in Easter. They’re obvious touches, we know, but ones that go a long way.
See artful ways to display fresh flowers
Choose a chalkboard
If you’re at a dinner party, you want to be sure conversation will flow easily. A great way of keeping any awkward silences at bay is to involve some board games. Why not dedicate an entire wall to some fun using chalkboard paint? You’ll have a ready-made games board and, what’s more, during the day it can double up as a to-do list or space to write notes and reminders to family or housemates. Just make sure there’s nothing breakable around – if you’re anything like us, it can get competitive!
Read more:
10 Best Dining Tables for Relaxed Get-Togethers
Quick DIYs to Setting Up a Festive Table
Tell us:
Have you refreshed your dining space on a budget? How did you do it? Share your tips, tricks and photos in the Comments below.
If you’re at a dinner party, you want to be sure conversation will flow easily. A great way of keeping any awkward silences at bay is to involve some board games. Why not dedicate an entire wall to some fun using chalkboard paint? You’ll have a ready-made games board and, what’s more, during the day it can double up as a to-do list or space to write notes and reminders to family or housemates. Just make sure there’s nothing breakable around – if you’re anything like us, it can get competitive!
Read more:
10 Best Dining Tables for Relaxed Get-Togethers
Quick DIYs to Setting Up a Festive Table
Tell us:
Have you refreshed your dining space on a budget? How did you do it? Share your tips, tricks and photos in the Comments below.
Lighting can completely transform the ambience of a dining room, so liven your up your space with a statement piece. Whether it’s an oversized pendant light, colourful table lamps dotted throughout the room, fairy lights adorning a wall, or a giant Anglepoise-style floor lamp positioned over the table, there are plenty of lighting options to make your dining room shine.
Although lighting may seem expensive, think less about investing in something overpriced and instead look at cheaper but still impactful options. For example, paper pendant shades are inexpensive, but come in interesting shapes and sizes. If it’s table lamps you’re going for, there are simple edits you can do yourself. For instance, switch an ordinary light bulb for a vintage-style Edison one for an industrial look, or revamp the base with spray paint.