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Whether or not you’re planning on hosting over the holidays, winter is the perfect time to make some updates to your dining area. As seasoned readers of this blog know, interior design on a budget does not have to mean cheap-looking or poorly functioning. There are plenty of ways to freshen your formal dining room, multi-use dining room, or even breakfast nook, that look great without breaking the bank.
Scroll down for all our favorite budget-friendly design and decoration tips that will enliven your home – and whet your appetite – well beyond the holiday season.
Paint and Color: Setting the Mood
When considering modern dining room wall décor trends, the first decision point you’ll come to will be color. Do you want the sumptuous elegance of jewel tones, the subdued refinement of neutrals, or a multi-hued pattern to draw the eye?
Whatever you choose, you’ll want to match the colors to the emotions you’re trying to evoke. According to This Old House, some folks choose to paint social areas (e.g., breakfast nooks, kitchens, and dining rooms) in warm colors like yellow, maroon, and coral. If your dining area doesn’t have many windows, you may prefer lighter shades to brighten and expand the area. And if it’s a chic dining room you’re after, metallics, rich hues, and even a pleasing neutral or nuanced white might fit the bill.
Our top tip is to visit your local paint store, buy several sample colors, paint them on poster boards, and hang them up around the room for a week or so. This will help you see the shades at different times of day and night and think about how they affect your mood – and hunger levels. After all, you want to make sure anything you choose is as inviting to the stomach as it is the eye.
Dining Table Centerpieces: Simple Elegance
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Dining table centerpiece ideas are a dime a dozen. From homey to elegant, complex to basic, and even modern to retro, you’ve got your hands full when trying to figure out the direction to go. For our money, simple elegance is the way to go. That means placing a few matching candlesticks and complementary tapers together and then supplementing them with seasonal flowers when you’re hosting. For Christmas, add berry sprigs, noble fir, holly, and pinecones. For Thanksgiving, choose lilies, sunflowers, and roses in various shades of orange and yellow. And for summer get-togethers, go bold with hydrangeas, peonies, or orchids.
By keeping your dining table centerpiece pared down and chic, you’ll be able to easily – and cheaply – supplement it for various holidays to create a custom effect. Just remember to keep anything you come up with low enough to see your guests across the table.
Dining Room Art: Affordable Masterpieces
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Dining room wall art is another area where you can make a big impression with a limited number of bucks. There are several retailers online selling canvas versions of both classic and contemporary pieces that will instantly add depth and charm. We recommend buying one oversized piece to draw the eye with a bold statement.
If you’d prefer your dining room art to incorporate a number of separate components, you can’t go wrong with a gallery wall. Simply stick to either a single type of frame, shape, color, or subject matter to provide visual cohesion and a sense of order to the display. One of our favorite breakfast nook ideas, for instance, is a gallery wall featuring framed snapshots of family members eating. Whatever way you choose, be sure to organize them on the floor or table before hanging, as it’s always better to rearrange when there aren’t nail holes involved!
Wall Décor: Adding Personality
Dining room wall décor doesn’t all have to mean paint, paintings, and photos, however. There are a number of ways to add texture, reflection, and movement either with dining room artwork – or without!
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The Power of Mirrors
Mirrors have been used for decades to make rooms seem bigger, lighter, and more majestic than they are. It may, in fact, be the oldest trick in the book. We love an ornate framed mirror over a sideboard, a series of smaller mirrors over a mantel, or simply mirrored wallpaper to create the chic dining room of your dreams.
Geometric Patterns and Decals
If you’re renting, you might already be a fan of removable decals. But even if you own, these relatively cheap, easy-to-apply pieces are a great way to try out new patterns or looks without the commitment of paint or wallpaper. A geometric wall pattern is one of our favorite small formal dining room ideas, but abstract ones can work just as well for a larger or more bohemian space – it’s all about the mood you want to create.
Lighting Makeover: Setting the Tone
If you’re looking for dining room lounge ideas, lighting is one area where you can get a lot of bang for your low-budget buck. To begin with, install dimmers on the switch plates of any overhead lights or wall sconces. Then, supplement what you’ve got with battery-operated, remote-controlled candles and table lamps. On that note: Don’t be afraid to use lighting that might be more frequently seen in a living room; it can add charm and a touch of whimsy to any dining area.
Mirrors can be placed strategically near light sources to reflect and enhance the light. We also like to lower the overhead fixture so that the bottom is roughly 30-32” above the table. This will showcase your guests with a warm glow, while still allowing plenty of room for a dining room centerpiece.
Window Treatments: Enhancing Elegance
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Window treatments are all too frequently ignored in favor of splashier pieces like tables or paintings. Don’t make that mistake. Think of window treatments as the jewelry for your dining room outfit. Like jewelry, the right choice can enhance elegance without cratering your bank account.
When choosing window treatments, determine if you want a clean minimalist look or something a bit more dramatic and go from there. For the former, we love a cordless rattan roller shade, which can be ordered online for a low cost. If it’s the latter, look for floor-length drapes and ornate tiebacks. These come in every fabric under the sun, but velvet is often preferred for its elegance and light-blocking capabilities.
Tips on How to Shop Smart
Regardless of whether you’re hunting down décor, design elements, furniture, or art for a dining room, you’ll be well-served by giving yourself time to shop around. Check out some more smart shopping tips below:
Interior Design on a Budget: Thrift and DIY
When it comes to making your home look expensive on a budget, we always recommend checking thrift stores, flea markets, and online marketplaces before buying anything new. If a piece has good bones, you can give it new life with a little imagination and DIY effort.
Reuse and Repurpose
Another place to check? Your self-storage unit. That’s right: shop your storage to remind yourself of what you’ve already got – and what you might be able to repurpose.
New Furniture: A Fresh Start
If you’re in the market for a new item, try to invest in something that will stay out of the landfill for at least a few years. Check reviews to make sure anything you do buy is both designed and constructed to stand the test of time.
We hope these dining room ideas have given you plenty to think about – and put into action. Interior design on a budget doesn’t have to be boring, plain, or cheap looking. A little bit of imagination – and a little bit of time – can put you well on the way to the dining room of your dreams…with plenty of money left over for food and wine!
For even inspo, check out the resources below:
How Do I Decorate my Dining Room on a Budget? – Homes & Gardens
65 Elegant Dining Room Décor Ideas – Good Housekeeping
