Dining Room Refresh under $100

I don’t know about you, friends, but after a year of spending extra time at home, I was more than ready to make a few changes. Looking at the same things day after day can leave all of us in need of something a little bit different. However, with costs rising on everything and our budget staying the same, I had to make those changes without spending a small fortune. Here’s a quick peek at how I gave our dining room a fresh look for under $100.

1. A Fresh Coat of Wall Paint

The previous homeowners had painted all the walls on the main level a cream color that was almost yellow. It was neutral enough that we didn’t repaint when we moved in, but giving the walls a new color was always on my to-do list. My whole-house color scheme is greys, teal, white, black, and wood, so the yellow undertone just wasn’t quite right. I replaced it with a very light grey called “Snowed In,” which gives the room cool undertones and makes it seem bigger than ever.

2. A Fresh Coat of Furniture Paint

In addition to painting the walls, I also gave a fresh coat of paint to the two main pieces of furniture in the room. First, the dining table. When we moved in, the dining set was literally the same color as the floor, so the whole room was nothing but brown. Plus, I had spilled nail polish remover on the table leaf, damaging it considerably. So, I used chalk paint to freshen it up. At the time, I painted the chairs teal and the table white. Since then, I discovered that white tables are incredibly difficult to keep clean! After five years, the tabletop was in need of a new paint job, and this time I decided to go with a dark grey chalk paint instead. I can’t get over how it looks like a whole new table!

The other piece I repainted was my roadside rescue buffet. Originally, I had painted the whole thing light grey, but once I painted the walls of the room, I felt like it needed to “pop” a bit more. So, I kept the front panels the same, but painted the top and bottom edging in the same dark grey as the tabletop, and painted the rest white. I had always liked the original “makeover,” but now I like this one even more! For a quick how-to on painting funiture with chalk paint, check out my “Easy Guide to Painting Furniture” post.

3. New Tabletop Decor

To freshen up the newly painted table, I purchased a runner and a set of cork mats from Target. The centerpiece; three jars in a metal basket, was something I already had from Hobby Lobby. I purchased a few new faux herbs from Hobby Lobby to put in the jars.

Threshold Cotton Striped Bistro Table Runner: Target

Threshold Buffalo Check Cork Placemats: Target

Glass Vases in Metal Basket: Hobby Lobby

I also purchased a few pieces for on top of the buffet, all from Walmart! The pitcher, plant stand, and faux rosemary all came from the craft section of the store. The “Happy Home” sign was less than $4 in the photo frames and decor aisle.

4. New Wall Art

I already had the perfect piece for over the buffet; the chalkboard coffee art I created and shared in my book Hand Lettering Off the Page. On the largest wall, I replaced an old mirror with a new farmhouse sign from Hobby Lobby that I absolutely love. I waited for a sale and was able to get it 50% off! The final thing I added was a lamb’s ear wreath, also 50% off from Hobby Lobby.

“BLESS” Wall Art: Hobby Lobby

Lamb’s Ear Wreath: Hobby Lobby

Since I didn’t have to buy any new furniture, and I already had paint, this dining room refresh ended up costing me less than $100. I absolutely love how fresh it looks and so far, the table top has held up well to daily use…much better than the white! What are some of your favorite easy and inexpensive ways to give your space a little makeover? I’d love to see your tips and photos in the Amy Latta & Friends Facebook Group. See you there!