How to Make Your Dining Room Look Like a Million Bucks

Are you looking at your dining room and thinking it’s a little dull? Or maybe you can’t remember when it last functioned as a dining room? Don’t worry; I’ve been there before. And luckily, a good eye and a few bucks can transform your dining room. Today, we’re looking at how to make your dining room look like a million bucks without spending too much money or time. 

Declutter and Clean Out

If you don’t often use your dining room to eat in, chances are it has become the place to drop everything when you come home for the day. While I agree that everyone needs a place to drop their bags and jackets, a functioning dining room is just not the place to do it! Go ahead and declutter and clean your dining room before doing anything else. This way, you have a clean slate ready to transform or freshen up. And if this is as far as you go, I promise you you’ll still love it 100 times more than when you started.

Choose Artwork that Speaks to You

It’s a big misconception that the more expensive a piece of art is, the better it looks. Realistically, art doesn’t need a high price tag, but it should speak to you. So instead of spending your whole budget on one art piece, go thrifting for some art pieces, look on Facebook Marketplace, or make your own (if you’re crafty enough). Artwork in a dining room is a perfect conversation starter, and it greatly helps show off your unique tastes. If you add or highlight anything in your dining room, it should be the artwork.

Add Decorative Molding

Adding decorative molding is a project that will elevate your dining room, but it can be more expensive and time-consuming than other projects. But if you’re handy with tools and a paintbrush and have the time and money, adding decorative molding to your dining room is a great way to elevate it. Look up a couple of how-to videos on YouTube and get working! If you already have decorative molding in your dining room, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. While you may not have the budget to repaint your entire dining room, repainting the molding will be cheaper and still give you a good return on your investment.

Use a Tablecloth

If you have a beautiful, spotless dining room table, you can probably skip this step, but if you don’t love the look of your current dining room table, why not cover it up with a beautiful tablecloth? You can find many attractive options on Amazon, and it doesn’t take much to set it out. Whether you want a classic, modern, boho, farmhouse, or any other style in your dining room, there is bound to be a tablecloth that will help everything come together and hide the imperfections underneath.

Add a Buffet, Sideboard, or Bar Cart

If you have extra room in your dining room, consider adding a buffet, sideboard, or drink cart. These options are perfect for adding storage to your dining room without bringing a cluttered look into the room. I love a sideboard with closed cabinets to store large serving plates when they’re not in use. Plus, this piece of furniture gives an excellent opportunity to tie in your style by propping a large piece of art and adding a vase of flowers or plants.

Switch to Gold Flatware

Gold flatware is more of a trend than a classic design choice, but it’s worth mentioning here. Gold flatware can go with any dining room style, with the only exception being one that leans heavily on silver tones. While switching to gold flatware may be a bit pricey upfront, you’ll get your money’s worth. Amazon and Target have some great affordable options, and this detail will get many compliments. If you don’t like the boldness of gold flatware, using matte black flatware is another trend that can give you the same “bang for your buck.” Using eye-catching flatware will elevate your dining room without a lot of effort.

Conclusion

If you don’t have people in your home often but want to start making it a habit, elevating your dining room will basically force you to have people over. And if you wish to invest in your living space for yourself or your family, having a beautiful dining room is an excellent investment. With dining rooms, having a clean space filled with little, intentional details goes a long way. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Go ahead and make your dream home a reality!