Budget Decorating - Decorate Your Dining Room for Less

In most households, the formal dining room has lost ground to a more casual, laid back family space.  On the other hand, most households prefer eat-in kitchen spaces or family rooms as a place to gather together.  Many families simply use their more formal dining rooms for special dinners or holiday dinners.  A nice dining room is preferable, too, if you like to entertain in style.

The room that you look forward to sitting in is always going to be the one that makes you feel welcomed – it can be whimsical and eclectic or formal and elegant.  When decorating any room on a budget, the key thing you need is imagination.

When you’re furniture shopping for your dining room, don’t overlook reproduction pieces, as they can look just as authentic as real period pieces but at a much more affordable price tag. 

If you prefer a traditional style, try using a rug or a coverlet to cover your table. In the early 19^th century, some rugs were thought of as being too valuable to simply put them on the floor, so they would drape them on tables or even beds.

If you like always having fresh flowers on your table, you can lessen the cost of your bouquets by mixing in some silk or even dried florals with your fresh flowers – when they’re all mixed together it’s hard to distinguish which is which.

Tablecloths aren't important or even always necessary – go with a colorful runner instead and it’ll give you more of a natural feel.

To play up basic painted chairs, attach seat covers that match using Velcro, then you’ll also have it easy when it comes time to remove and wash them. 

You can add a furniture items that will enhance your room without breaking the bank.  There are many available “ready-to-assemble” furniture pieces, like armoires, sideboards, and buffet or side tables, that you can purchase rather inexpensively and then you can easily give it a custom paint job to match the room.

For a bit of whimsy and surprise, instead of spending money on expensive art for the wall, place an inexpensive, old, rustic screen door against the wall as an art piece itself. Actually, you can use this tip in any room of your house.

Mismatching can be good, don’t be scared of it.  Think outside the box and do some creative repurposing.  Add character to a simple color palette by using all different chairs around the dining table.  Instead of a buffet or sideboard, use a potting bench – a great alternative and much more affordable in some cases.

When selecting colors for your linens and windows in the room, look to your wall color to help guide you in the right direction, it’ll help keep everything cohesive.

Easy and cheap changes such as new shades for a light fixture or a new centerpiece bouquet can go a long way to creating a dining room that looks and feels fresh and new.  Little things such as these can be done, and adjusted accordingly for each season, too. 

1. A small bud vase placed at each place setting with one to three simple floral stems and perhaps a ribbon tied around the stem would give the table a lovely touch.  If having a lot of guests, you could customize the vases or the ribbons with the names or initials of your guests.
2. A single rose bud inside the “cup” of an upside-down wine glass is an inexpensive way to create a stylish look for your table.
3. Use a pretty ribbon to wrap three candlesticks together and use that as a place setting and as a favor that your guests can take home to remember the evening by.  Make sure that the ribbon matches your table settings, though.
4. Go to your local Good Will or other thrift store and buy a bunch of mixed flatware, assorted dishes and perhaps even some fun linens.
5. A simple, inexpensive flower pot is a creative and fun way to serve flatware or napkins that are rolled.
6. Small pre-seeded flower pots can be purchased at a reasonable price and you can use one at each place setting, marked with each guest’s name.  Again, it makes the table look nice, and doubles as a favor that your guests can take home.

These are just a few suggestions to inspire you to try and make simple, low-cost adjustments to your dining room that will make both you and your wallet smile!