Some of the first DIY projects that I ever did in our current home were in my dining room. I took a basic dining room and made it a cozy space that is loved by everyone who sees it. Come check out my dining room makeover projects to see the transformation in one of the most used rooms in our home. And don’t forget, for more DIY projects and videos, follow along with me on Instagram at @howwedo208!
Included in my Dining Room Makeover, I did the following projects that you can easily do too! Check out the link to get all the details on each project.
- Installed LVP flooring
- Board and Batten wainscoting wall
- Shiplap Wall
- Created a Gallery Wall
- Peppercorn Paint
- Installed window trim
- Switched out lighting and added wall sconces
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Dining Room Before Pictures
I don’t have true before photos of our dining room, but basically it was really plain. The walls were all beige, there was no board and batten or shiplap, and the chandelier was a very basic builder-grade light fixture not shown in these photos. Our dining room was very loved before our dining room makeover. It had hosted several memorable parties with friends and family and had served us well. But the wall paint was looking dated and dingy, and there were dings in the walls from kids and chairs. Overall I never loved the look of it, and it was time to make it a space that I would love.
I wanted to create an inviting, sophisticated space in which we could continue to love and make memories as the kids grew. It was a very gradual transformation that happened slowly, project by project over several years. I am absolutely in love with how it turned out. If I can transform what you are about to see into a sophisticated dining room, you can too! All you need is time and a few DIY projects to create a dining room space that you love!
Dining Room Makeover
When it came to the dining room, I wanted to give it a look that could be used as an everyday eating area and one we could easily transform into a formal dining room with just a few simple decorative changes. I wanted it to be moody but still airy and bright. I am pretty sure I did that with this transformation.
Some of my first DIY projects I did not document, which I am pretty bummed about! Maybe I will be able to recreate them in the Ranch house; you never know!
Chad and I started with creating a board and batten wainscoting wall on half the back wall. I painted the board and batten wainscoting a nice bright white. It is perfect for a dining room because you can easily wipe it clean, and it protects the wall from further damage from chairs running into it. It stayed that way for a few years, with the original beige paint color on the top half of the wall. I also switched out the original light with the one seen in the above before photo.
We then did a shiplap wall which I instantly fell in love with on the peek-a-boo wall! It added so much more character to a somewhat awkward wall.
Our original flooring wasn’t the best quality, and it was pretty scratched at this point. We installed LVP flooring throughout our dining room, kitchen, and living room.
Eventually I was ready for a pop of color, so I painted the top half of the board and batten wall the color Peppercorn by Sherwin Williams. It was the perfect combination. I wanted the peppercorn wall to be an accent wall that everyone was immediately drawn to, so I created a gallery wall. It is one of my favorite projects, and I love to see all the pictures of my kids. I love having family photos displayed in a room where they are easily seen multiple times a day.
I decided I didn’t love the light fixture, plus it blocked the view of our family photos. I wanted a pretty chandelier, but it’s not easy to find one that is a semi-flush mount style. I searched and searched and finally found one that made my heart skip a beat. (I love it so much that I actually just took it down to take with us as we move in the next month!) I also added wall sconces to give the dining room all the finishing touches that it needed.
I love the large window in this dining room, but I felt like it was pretty boring with no trim and standard white blinds. I added some trim around the window and upgraded the blinds to this natural woven shade. I love the warmth that it adds to this room. Plus one of my favorite color combinations is grey and cognac, so I think the new shades really complement the grey wall.
Ready to see the final dining room makeover pictures?
Dining Room After Pictures
Love the look? Here’s What I Used
- Gold Chandelier
- Gold Wall Sconces
- Dining Room Table
- Window Curtain Rod
- Curtain Panels
- Rug
- Gold Picture Frames
- Woven Window Shade
Be sure to visit my posts on how to Shiplap a Wall and how to create your own gallery wall for all the details so you can do your own dining room remodel on a budget! There you have it! How to give your dining room a major upgrade on a budget! If you like video tutorials, you can visit me on Instagram. Be sure to tag me on Instagram in your finished projects so I can see how amazing they turn out! #howwedoandyoucantoo
