Decorating Your Dining Room on a Budget

How does one decorate a dining room on a budget? Well, it's not nearly as complicated or impossible as one might think. I live in a "space-challenged" apartment, with a tiny "cubby-hole" for a dining room, and have had to re-decorate a couple of times when we've changed our lifestyle or circumstances with our family have changed. It's amazing the things you can do with any room on a tight budget! None of my re-decorating has cost me more than $25.00, and yet, completely changed the look of my dining room everytime I've done it. All it takes is a little bit of imagination and willingness to put forth the effort to do it yourself. It's as simple or as difficult as you make it, as cheap or expensive as you want.

Paint/Wall Decor: If you are limited on whether or not you can paint, there are many other things you can do to change the look of your dining room to make it warm, inviting and comfortable for your family and guests as well. If you are lucky enough to be able to paint, then you can paint one wall or all walls, and completely change the look of your dining room. There are many painting methods which can be used to update your dining room. Paint is a relatively cheap fix. You can "sponge" or "rag" paint in more than one color, for a "multi-colored", textured effect. You can paint halfway up a wall, and then do an inexpensive wallpaper border as well, for a "chair-rail" trim effect. Wallpaper borders are easily found and inexpensive at dollar stores and discount retail stores, for as little as $1.00 a roll. You can add a wallpaper border around the tops of the walls, right below the ceiling as well, or even around the wall for the "chair-rail" effect, with or without painting. Tables/Chairs: There are many different ways to update a current dining table and chairs to re-decorate. Adding a pretty, inexpensive table cloth and chair pads is a good solution if you can't afford to buy a new dining table or chairs. Taking a leaf out of the table or adding one, is also another good solution, it can completely change the dimensions of your dining room. I had a beautiful dark cherry wood dining table and chairs that was a bit "beat-up", I removed the middle leaf, used some oil and "scratch cover" on my table and chairs, added a pretty vase of silk flowers as a centerpiece, and completely changed the look of my dining room. Garage sales and thrift shops are also excellent places to find quality, used dining tables and chairs, and sometimes used furniture stores will take your older pieces as trades towards the purchase of a different set. A simple dining table and mismatched chairs can all be tied-in together with a pretty table cloth and matching chair pads, and will give your dining room an "eclectic" feel.

Other Furniture: If you have enough space in your dining room, adding another piece of furniture to become a focal point for your dining room is also a good option. At one point, I had my triple-dresser with a mirror on it, in my dining room for use as a "buffet" or sideboard. I've used end-tables meant for a living room in my dining rooms with pretty flower arrangements on them to add warmth or coziness to them. You can find inexpensive baker's racks or bookcases at thrift shops or yard sales as well, to display figurines, your "special" China or other items in your dining room.

Floors: If you have hardwood floors, sanding them down and re-staining them is a good option to give your dining room a "new" look. You can also add a large area rug under your dining table, in a carpeted or hardwood floor dining room. Use your imagination!

Decorations/Knicknacks: If you have a window in your dining room, changing window-coverings is a quick and easy solution to changing the look of your dining room. You can add or remove mini-blinds or curtains. You can remove heavier, darker drapes or curtains and add lighter-weight, lighter-colored curtains, or a simple set of mini-blinds... This can really open up your dining room and give it a larger feel. Adding a large mirror or a collection of smaller ones on one wall can make your dining room feel a bit larger and lighter. You can give your dining room a more "opulent" feel with heavier framed paintings or pictures, or you can decorate with something as simple as a quilt on a wall.

Decorating your dining room is probably the simplest, easiest decorating project you'll find around the house. It's only as difficult as you make it, and you can get as complicated or as simple as you want. The sky's the limit, simply use your imagination!